Sykes cottage cancellation fee for cancelled wedding accoms end of Aug

goenry

Hi, so I have had a booking with Sykes since January but from around May, I started getting in touch around trying to move the dates / cancel because the wedding was likely to be postponed. The wedding was postponed but now that restrictions have lifted the company is saying it is safe to travel so will not cancel free of charge. What is the best course of action? I have a deadline of 17th July to pay the full amount so need to decide whether to pay off the £360 cancellation fee in the next 2 days or some other solution. I signed up to their £20 deposit scheme so could I just stop payment and be in breach of contract but would have a good case because wedding was cancelled so not using the house for intended purposes? Or do I pay the full amount and then claim back via insurance? 

[Deleted User]

Sykes aren't responsible for the wedding so that's not a good case at all.

I doubt your insurance would cover you for a cancelled event but check the policy documents.

mr_stripey

depends on the T&C's in your booking.
The wedding is irrelevant so forget about that.
How much have you paid so far - just the £20?
What is the full price of the booking?

JGB1955

It doesn't look as if you have a good case at all, and will have to pay, as a minimum, the full deposit.

goenry

They had a low deposit scheme which allows you to book for £20 but if you cancel you're liable for full deposit, around £360. A small print i hadn't appreciated. The full payment is due 17th £1110 so worried I end up getting stung for more if I go past the 17th. 

mr_stripey

goenry said:

They had a low deposit scheme which allows you to book for £20 but if you cancel you're liable for full deposit, around £360. A small print i hadn't appreciated. The full payment is due 17th £1110 so worried I end up getting stung for more if I go past the 17th. 

I think you are liable for the full deposit. You could of course stop the payment but I would expect Sykes to chase you for it.

KellyLiam

hmm, same case I had a few days ago..

MalMonroe

Deleted_User said:

Sykes aren't responsible for the wedding so that's not a good case at all.

I doubt your insurance would cover you for a cancelled event but check the policy documents.

That's just not helpful, is it?

MalMonroe

There's been a lot of publicity about Sykes and how at first they refused to return deposits but then they reversed their policy. I'd keep going at them and asking them to cancel. Just because SOME restrictions may have been lifted (although coronavirus is still with us) doesn't mean that they can refuse to refund your deposit. They could offer you some vouchers if you book later on but they've been having such adverse publicity I think their popularity will be affected, I hope so anyway.

These are unusual times and obviously you wouldn't have cancelled normally. It's like an act of god, out of your control. You could try contacting somewhere like the Guardian, they have a facility where you can tell them your problem and they help you - my daughter had a big problem with PayPal and as soon as they intervened, hey presto! - she received a full refund and a big apology plus compensation. Sykes needs to be publicised as a company who are selfish and money grabbing. What kind of holiday would it be in semi-lockdown, without the prior wedding, anyway?! You need to keep contacting them and asking for your money back and cancellation. They are obviously losing money hand over fist but this is absolute and utter daylight robbery. I wouldn't pay them a penny more, either.

sharpe106

Why is this daylight robbery? The OP booked a cottage, Sykes has provided said cottage. The OP now wants to cancel as the wedding they were going to has cancelled. Why is that Sykes fault ? The OP can go to the cottage if they want to, they just don't so it is now a change of mind, not that they can't. So the original terms and conditions should be in play. 

mr_stripey

MalMonroe said:

Deleted_User said:

Sykes aren't responsible for the wedding so that's not a good case at all.

I doubt your insurance would cover you for a cancelled event but check the policy documents.

That's just not helpful, is it?

Pointing out that the wedding, or lack of one, being totally irrelevant to the cottage booking is hepling to answer the question