Charged for toiletries

M1ntY1

There is no mention in T&C's of the b&b website of any charges for toiletries, it was one 250ml bottle of handwash and one 250ml bottle of shower gel. How are they to know that we did not consume the whole contents of the bottles during our stay?

King_Nothing

250ml are pretty big, that's the size of my regular shower gels that I buy, hotel ones are normally much smaller, which probably means you shouldn't have taken them.

Andypandyboy

Yes, 250 ml bottles are the usual size. Unless you were staying a week or more it is unlikely you would have used anything near the whole bottles. I expect they have it all the time and just got sick of people taking almost full bottles home.

If they gave you the option of return or payment there is not much you can do I suspect, they are consumables and like mini bar items can be charged to your card after you have left if they tell you so.

Pennywise

Almost certainly they will have chosen to use larger bottles for the very reason of being able to fill them up again for the next guests. They're hardly likely to throw away say 100ml of shampoo every time a guest vacates are they? May even use larger "catering" size bottles to fill them up. Now you've stolen the bottles, they'll not only have to buy the contents, but also the bottles themselves. At the end of the day, they never expected you to use the entire 250ml for a single night stay would they?

It's like nicking the tomato sauce bottle out of a cafe. The cafe owner didn't expect you to use it all on your burger, so would likewise be pretty peeved if you walked out of the cafe with it with your excuse being that you could have eaten it all if you'd wanted to!

At the end of the day, they gave you warning to return them, but you ignored them, so really only yourself to blame!

Johnnytwostep

I think the hotel are quite within their rights to charge you for it. Under no circumstances, in any hotel that I have stayed in, would I assume that a 250ml bottle was mine to take home.

The usual ones I find in hotels are 30ml, and are good for one, possibly two showers, and wouldn't be used again, so you could take them/use them. but 250ml, no chance.

rockiedog

Can you name the B&B?

shaun_from_Africa

M1ntY1 wrote: »

How are they to know that we did not consume the whole contents of the bottles during our stay?

Unless you were drinking the stuff or suffer from a severe case of OCD, how would you use an entrire 1/4 litre of shampoo and 1/4 litre of handwash during a one night stay?

You were given the option to return the toiletries but declined this option so you have been rightfully charged.

photome

M1ntY1 wrote: »

There is no mention in T&C's of the b&b website of any charges for toiletries, it was one 250ml bottle of handwash and one 250ml bottle of shower gel. How are they to know that we did not consume the whole contents of the bottles during our stay?

Given they were 250ml bottles, I am sure you knew that they were not to be taken away.

Even if you had used all the contents which was unlikely they would have refilled the bottles

(not sure why one poster says yuk as it is very common to refill bottles)

You had the chance to return and ignored, dont see that the B and B has done anything wrong

daytona0

M1ntY1 wrote: »

There is no mention in T&C's of the b&b website of any charges for toiletries, it was one 250ml bottle of handwash and one 250ml bottle of shower gel. How are they to know that we did not consume the whole contents of the bottles during our stay?

...or that you actually took them!


I'm a bit concerned that they did not lay down any particular terms and conditions relating to these toiletries. If it wasn't for your own admission then they would have nothing on you and the charge can be disputed.

You were, however, given the opportunity to return the items and you didn't so they have charged you.

It is a sort of debate between whether you have stolen, or whether they have. If you have openly admitted taking the items then it could constitute as stealing property which does not belong to you!

All in all you COULD go down the legal route, but I have no idea on how good your chances are. You could also dispute the charge with your bank and they may be able to offer advice. All in all, though, you kinda deserved it to an extent. Stealing is naughty, and if you are going to do it then make sure that they don't have your card info!!!

comeandgo

Good on the B and B. Many of the smaller places are just refilling larger containers.
There was probably no mention on the t and c as they would not expect some one to steal the soap.