Holidaycottages.co.uk

Bubble2012

Hello All

We are due to travel to a cottage in Devon booked through holidaycottages.co.uk in September. Yes, I know it's a long way off, but 2 members of our 11 strong party have been made redundant and 1 has had to relinquish their business. Unfortunately this means that even if the situation we are in now eases, the chances of people being able to afford the rest of the holiday plus travel costs and spending money is unlikely.

The website says I can't do anything until nearer the time and I do accept this given how far off our departure date is, but it also says that if I don't cancel soon then we are liable for more of the holiday cost. There is also no clear guideline around how we stand on a refund. Their phone lines are closed and emails get no response due to how busy they are (and please understand I do ave sympathy for them). Even their Facebook messenger team can't help and just tell me I have to wait for them to respond to my emails.

Does anyone else have any experiences of such scenarios or the company themselves?

Regards
Bubble!

omnipeta

My wife and I have booked a cottage with this company (holidaycottages.co.uk/) for next week, however as we fall into a certain category the Gov't deems at risk we have cancelled. I informed them that I'd be happy to rebook at a later date and don't necessarily want a refund, hopefully when this Covid issue is past, still waiting for them to get back to me.
I totally understand that its actually no ones fault, just wondering what my rights are?

[Deleted User]

Your rights are to ask them for a goodwill gesture. 

That's about it.

omnipeta

zx81, that made me smile, I'll let you know when I know. :-)

Cliff1954

Due to government advice on covid-19, I cannot go to the holiday cottage I booked. The company is only offering deferred dates and not refunds. I would prefer refund, what can I do?

DonnySaver

We are in a similar boat with cottages.com
Due to go on 6th April for 4 days. They are saying that we can only rebook for another date within 12 months and not get a refund. Other people seem to be getting told the same but are finding that the same property in a years time is 20-30% more expensive!

For us the coronavirus situation is bad enough as we have 3 people in our party all over the age of 79. To top that, my father-in-law fell down stairs the other night and has broken his leg in 2 places, his pelvis and his arm and is now in hospital for the foreseeable. We took cottages.com holiday insurance at the time of booking and they are not paying out! 

Vegastare

We are due to pay a balance early April for travel in June.....seems they want payment even if deferred....we asked as a goodwill gesture to go with a September date and pay the balance in April....said sorry no can do - this was 2 weeks back before the restrictions....the September date has gone so has dates in Oct.....think they are just pushing people back.
My husband said he had responsibility of 80 year Mum and was told by company they could still not offer alternative date.
I really would like to know the legal rights....unlike overseas travel there is no ABTA .

Aylesbury_Duck

Cliff1954 said:

Due to government advice on covid-19, I cannot go to the holiday cottage I booked. The company is only offering deferred dates and not refunds. I would prefer refund, what can I do?

Cannot or should not?  That's the crux of it as I see it.  There have been a number of similar enquiries this week and the consensus seems to be that if the cottage you've booked is still available, they are providing the service you paid for and so they don't have to do anything.  It is your choice not to travel (and a sensible choice, I might add), the government has not made it forbidden to do so.  That the cottage is offering alternative dates is a service they're providing beyond what they're obliged to do.

If the cottage itself was closed, you'd be entitled to a full refund.  

MadMoney

My mates is having the same problem. They booked a place at cotsworld for a stag do in June, but the guy is saying he won't give a refund.

Aylesbury_Duck

Vegastare said:

We are due to pay a balance early April for travel in June.....seems they want payment even if deferred....we asked as a goodwill gesture to go with a September date and pay the balance in April....said sorry no can do - this was 2 weeks back before the restrictions....the September date has gone so has dates in Oct.....think they are just pushing people back.
My husband said he had responsibility of 80 year Mum and was told by company they could still not offer alternative date.
I really would like to know the legal rights....unlike overseas travel there is no ABTA .

Your legal rights are that you are entitled to a refund if they do not provide the service you paid for.  If they're still offering the original dates and you decide not to go, you're not entitled to a refund.  If they are saying they cannot offer the cottage in June, then you can ask for a refund.  I'm afraid your personal circumstances and choice to travel or not is not their problem.  That sounds harsh, but it's the reality of the situation.

Aylesbury_Duck

MadMoney said:

My mates is having the same problem. They booked a place at cotsworld for a stag do in June, but the guy is saying he won't give a refund.

Is the place closed for the dates in question, or are your mates choosing not to go?