Accommodation is reported as a Scam how do I get a refund ?

jaybay

Hi
Apologies for my ramblings but I'm in a hurry.
26 ladies have booked an apartment in Liverpool from the companies own website (was advertised on all reputable UK short break sites but now removed ).
Paid £2200 to arrive this Friday 11th May.
There were no reviews on any properties at the time of booking.
Now there are negative disgusting reviews available stating they are a scam company and many people are taking legal action and there are pictures to back the state of the Accommodation up. Not fit for purpose and is a Health hazard !
We have tried to contact the company no answer and no answer and minimal response to emails avoiding our questions about the state of the apartment. I feel sick to my stomach and just don't know what to do.
I have emailed begging for a refund so we can get alternative accommodation, I have messaged the people who left the reviews recently to see if they can talk to me. We have reserved alternate accomodation with another company but obviously that's over £2200 cost again.
Any help please ??
Thank you so much

Alan_Bowen

Did you pay by credit or debit card by any chance? You might be able to make a claim under the Consumer Credit Act or ask your bank for a chargeback, but in both cases, you would have to show a breach of contract and for that, you would have to actually arrive at the property and prove it was unfit to live in. You cannot depend on others comments complaining to justify a claim against a bank.

There is also a real issue that section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act does not always work when one person pays using their card but collects payments by cheque or cash from everyone else, as they technically have not paid by card at all.

If as I fear you paid by bank transfer, it is the same as paying cash, the only way to get the money back is to sue the person or company who received the funds in the first place, and you may be certain there won't be any money left in the account.

If the property didn't exist at all, and by the sounds of it that is not the case here, it could be considered fraud in which case you could report the matter to Action Fraud who pass matters on to police and if necessary Trading Standards.

Best of luck

jaybay

Thanks for your reply.
We paid the deposit of £600 by card which we know we can try to claim the remainder was paid by bacs.
We are going to visit the apartment and take pics for evidence etc but it's clear we cannot stay there, live wires hanging off the walls, showers not attached etc.
We have a fight on our hands.
Thanks for your advice, it's appreciated.

TBagpuss

If you paid part by credit card, then you can reclaim the full amount from the card issuer.

prenton01

What is name of apartments ? i live in Liverpool you do know it's light night in Liverpool this Friday so hotels will be very busy and will be at a premium

DCFC79

Any news OP ?