Right to refuse payment?

Cougartattgal

Just back from a terrible UK break in holiday cottage. Went with 2 of my friends for my birthday. We are all middle aged ladies who just wanted to chill out and get away from our stressy lives at home.

So I booked this cottage directly with owner who said we could have it for £350 for 3 nights. Cottage looked nice online, variable reviews on TripAdvisor but thought we would be ok. So I booked it and paid £150 deposit. Rest to be paid on arrival.

So we get to cottage and tbh the grounds and area looked a bit grim. The cottage looked ok though. Lounge and kitchen all new . Bathroom ok. Bedrooms were small but ok on first inspection. Hot tub had strong smell of chlorine , but I thought that would go with lid off for a while.

So the first night we find out the tv didn't work as described. Had a wee now tv box not sky as stated. We are all middle aged and just fancied a wee bit telly .
Hot tub was hot but very strong smell of chlorine still. Neck cushions missing so not that comfy at head level.
Then we went off to bed. First bed collapsed!! Slats came off base and we couldn't fix it. We told owners son the next morning and he tried to fix it. He just put slats back in place. So the next night the bed collapsed again. This time my friend hurt her arm and shoulder due to this.
The other bed was very uncomfortable also but bearable. Certainly not luxurious as we had been led to believe!!
Was told they had no hot tub cushions but no sorry or anything. Like it or lump it attitude. Had to get help again as hot tub stopped working and owners son had to come out again to fix it.
So no sleep, crappy hottub ....so much for relaxation!!

Several emails back and forward to owner who was far from helpful really. Just kept telling me how expensive the bed was an nobody has complained before. Not true as complaints on trip advisor with comments back from her.

So last night when we were told bed was not fixable but we could get a mattress from them my friends decided to cut our losses and come home.

On arrival owners son had not asked for the £200 due but I thought I could just pay him at end of holiday.
So as I said my friends and I all sore and tired and fed up decided to come home.
I contacted owner and owners son to tell them. Also said that due to all the tasked and cottage not being as advertised I was not willing to pay the extra £200 to her.
Owner got back to me saying her son would be along to lock up and get £200 due to her.
We waited an hour for him. My friends shoulder was very sore from bed collapse so we locked up , put key in safety place and texted owner to say we were away.
Owner gets back to me late last night going on about broken bed and says she is calling the cops on us due to the £200 Not paid to her.:mad::mad:

I've not responded and I've heard no more today.

The way I see it the cottage was not as advertised. Not fit for purpose due to missing bits on hottub and collapsing beds leading to injury. Had to get owners son out several times to fix major things wrong etc. Really spoiled our well needed break.:mad::mad:

Any advice? I would like my deposit back if possible as holiday was totally spoiled. Certainly don't want cops after me!! :mad::mad:

Totally fed up. Hope someone here can advise a way forward. Planning to call trading standards tomo and warn others with a full but fair trip advisor review. Lounge and kitchen was nice !! Lovely squirrels raking in the bin outside our front door. Train line between Edinburgh and Glasgow about 500 metres away from our allegedly tranquil cottage :eek::eek:

Quentin

Write and ask for your refund.

If they refuse then you are left with deciding whether or not to issue a small claim in the county court. (You pay all court fees and add them on to the claim. If you lose in court you cannot recover the court costs )

wealdroam

Cougartattgal wrote: »

Just back from a terrible UK break in holiday cottage. Went with 2 of my friends for my birthday. We are all middle aged ladies who just wanted to chill out and get away from our stressy lives at home.

So I booked this cottage directly with owner who said we could have it for £350 for 3 nights. Cottage looked nice online, variable reviews on TripAdvisor but thought we would be ok. So I booked it and paid £150 deposit. Rest to be paid on arrival.

So we get to cottage and tbh the grounds and area looked a bit grim. The cottage looked ok though. Lounge and kitchen all new . Bathroom ok. Bedrooms were small but ok on first inspection. Hot tub had strong smell of chlorine , but I thought that would go with lid off for a while.

So the first night we find out the tv didn't work as described. Had a wee now tv box not sky as stated. We are all middle aged and just fancied a wee bit telly .
Hot tub was hot but very strong smell of chlorine still. Neck cushions missing so not that comfy at head level.
Then we went off to bed. First bed collapsed!! Slats came off base and we couldn't fix it. We told owners son the next morning and he tried to fix it. He just put slats back in place. So the next night the bed collapsed again. This time my friend hurt her arm and shoulder due to this.
The other bed was very uncomfortable also but bearable. Certainly not luxurious as we had been led to believe!!
Was told they had no hot tub cushions but no sorry or anything. Like it or lump it attitude. Had to get help again as hot tub stopped working and owners son had to come out again to fix it.
So no sleep, crappy hottub ....so much for relaxation!!

Several emails back and forward to owner who was far from helpful really. Just kept telling me how expensive the bed was an nobody has complained before. Not true as complaints on trip advisor with comments back from her.

So last night when we were told bed was not fixable but we could get a mattress from them my friends decided to cut our losses and come home.

On arrival owners son had not asked for the £200 due but I thought I could just pay him at end of holiday.
So as I said my friends and I all sore and tired and fed up decided to come home.
I contacted owner and owners son to tell them. Also said that due to all the tasked and cottage not being as advertised I was not willing to pay the extra £200 to her.
Owner got back to me saying her son would be along to lock up and get £200 due to her.
We waited an hour for him. My friends shoulder was very sore from bed collapse so we locked up , put key in safety place and texted owner to say we were away.
Owner gets back to me late last night going on about broken bed and says she is calling the cops on us due to the £200 Not paid to her.:mad::mad:

I've not responded and I've heard no more today.

The way I see it the cottage was not as advertised. Not fit for purpose due to missing bits on hottub and collapsing beds leading to injury. Had to get owners son out several times to fix major things wrong etc. Really spoiled our well needed break.:mad::mad:

Any advice? I would like my deposit back if possible as holiday was totally spoiled. Certainly don't want cops after me!! :mad::mad:

Totally fed up. Hope someone here can advise a way forward. Planning to call trading standards tomo and warn others with a full but fair trip advisor review. Lounge and kitchen was nice !! Lovely squirrels raking in the bin outside our front door. Train line between Edinburgh and Glasgow about 500 metres away from our allegedly tranquil cottage :eek::eek:

How did you pay the deposit? By card?

Cougartattgal

I paid my deposit by BACS