LHH Scotland cottage booking refund

Sutch

I'm in the same situation as most complainants on this site. The CMA has threatened enforcement action against Hoseasons, Cottages.com and Sykes Cottages resulting in all of them reversing their policy and offering full and unconditional refunds. LHH is running a clever but flawed argument. Covid-19 results in legal "frustration" of the contract which means that all parties are relieved of their obligations and should be restored to their former position, i.e. full refund.
I have contacted the Competition & Markets Authority and received an acknowledgement and reference number. It needs everyone on this board to do the same if we are to get the CMA to threaten enforcement action. LHH's argument is basically wrong, they cannot deny you your holiday and withhold your money. You don't need to be a lawyer to understand that is THEFT!
It's also worth providing feedback on the Trustpilot website here https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/lhhscotland.com 
Profiting from others misfortune is not morally ethical or legally justifiable.

Nebulous2

I see they're challenging reviews and getting them removed for review. I then found this Which article about companies that pay trustpilot versus those who don't.
"Did travel companies pay their way to better ratings on Trustpilot? – Which? News" https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/07/did-travel-companies-pay-their-way-to-better-ratings-on-trustpilot/

whinlatterdrive

Thats interesting.  I noted many of the reviews from the many unhappy customers of LHH had been removed and wasn't sure why.  My review is also being investigated on Trustpilot.  Surely this is shocking?  Can't we do something about it?

Sutch

I have written to Trustpilot on the same issue. The whole point of Trustpilot's forum is to be impartial and to provide genuine feedback and guidance to future customers. Strangely in the last 24 hours 3 new 5 star rated comments have appeared when yesterday there was only one glowing report by a former employee. If honest and free speech isn't permitted, what is the point of the site? My post on their site was highly critical as were most others, but it was also factual. I'm watching this with great interest

whinlatterdrive

You can also log into Trustpilot and write about your experience with LHHScotland.  Plenty of unhappy customers there.
https://uktrustpilot.com and in Search Box type LHHScotland.  Interesting!

bigbarryobama

Pretty shocking if we can no longer trust Trustpilot!   Kind of undermines their whole premise.  I notice some more raving reviews published after a negative one,  this has clearly got Lhh’s attention.  Time to keep hammering hope the real story on trustpilot then!

bigbarryobama

BTW,  have LHH taken their Facebook site down?  Cant find it anymore

whinlatterdrive

Keep the honest reviews coming in from unhappy customers both here and on Trustpilot.  LHH certainly have had to work hard to find some positive customers. We too were regular customers, but loyalty stood for nothing when it came to a refund!  I'm assuming the more positive reports came from folks who haven't lost their money to LHH and are still able to have their holiday??????  Strange that they would want to comment at this particular time!!  I think Trustpilot uk itself needs investigating if this is how they are working. Every negative report is being investigated ..........  does that not seem a bit suspicious?

[Deleted User]

Keep on to it Whin.   I suspect that Trustpilot isn't so trustworthy, as you suspect.   Wasn't there something on here about firms being able to pay them?   Not sure what all that was about but I do know that one of my posts was removed despite it being 100% accurate and within the t's and c's i.e. no swearing or being derogatory to any one person (not for LHH I have to add though)   So if firms can pay for genuine posts to be removed then what is the point? 

 I had same with Trip Advisor, wrote a completely truthful review of a hotel as I was treated - and if you could see my TA account 95% of my reviews are positive because it takes a lot for me to complain about anything!   The post was put up one day and the next day was removed - which again makes me wonder what is the point?  I asked for an explanation but non given, of course!    Am I right in thinking LHH have not refunded anyone to date?    Surely CMA must be looking into them now with so many complaints - assuming everyone who says they are doing, does do?    

Julba1978

We too are victims of LHH. Booked in February, paying a deposit on my debit card then final payment on my credit card. After LHH cancelled they refused a reschedule or cancellation and told me to claim my travel insurance. Emails to date have been generic and attached 2 lawyers letters which fail address the issue. LHH have taken and retained funds for a service they have failed to provide and admitted in an email they passed my payment to the property owner despite us not being able to travel. I have reported them to the CMA and I am hopeful if enough of us do this they will take action as they have advised me they do not investigate individual cases. I have requested 2 charge backs for my debit and credit card transactions and made a referral to the financial ombudsman. My husband put a negative review on their social media pages which soon got deleted and he has been blocked, however they have also closed all their social media accounts. They even emailed me to ask my husband to stop commenting on social media. It is also interesting to note that the lawyer they use is listed as a secretary of LHH.