Villa in the Canaries are trying to rip me off!!!

saving1232

Hello all!
received an email from Booking.com requesting I make a payment of 500 euros to the Villa provider as they are saying more guests stayed than permitted - seems likely to have something to do with the UK closing the border again......

I simply can’t afford to pay the money, and am not particularly interested in doing that either! What are the laws on this? Can they just deduct from my card? Should I cancel my card so they have no chance? Will booking.com chase me over the funds? 

My initial plan is to ignore their contact and get a new card and let the bank know to reject any attempt on my account.
is this a decent plan or risky?

thanks!

eDicky

Please clarify the exact reason for the payment request as stated in the email.

TELLIT01

If indeed more people stayed in the accommodation than was permitted I would question who is the one being ripped off.

saving1232

eDicky said:

Please clarify the exact reason for the payment request as stated in the email.

The exact reason is ‘the Villa has reported 6 guests stayed rather than 2’ but 6 guests did not stay! Legally can they do anything?

eDicky

saving1232 said:

eDicky said:

Please clarify the exact reason for the payment request as stated in the email.

The exact reason is ‘the Villa has reported 6 guests stayed rather than 2’ but 6 guests did not stay! Legally can they do anything?

So if indeed only the two guests occupied the accommodation, you can reply to the email politely but firmly to that effect,  also asking to see any reason or evidence that would give rise to the claim. Copy it to the villa provider if possible, keep a record and timeline of all communications, and if they do take any money you can present it to your bank for a chargeback.

But if they do have evidence of violation of the terms of rental they are of course entitled to charge your card accordingly, and can probably do so even if you 'cancel' it.

[Deleted User]

saving1232 said:

Can they just deduct from my card? Should I cancel my card so they have no chance? 

That just leaves you without a card. They'll still take the payment.

As above, just inform them that only 2 of your stayed in the villa.

Pollycat

saving1232 said:

Hello all!
received an email from Booking.com requesting I make a payment of 500 euros to the Villa provider as they are saying more guests stayed than permitted - seems likely to have something to do with the UK closing the border again......

I'm a bit bemused by the bit in bold.

Is the OP suggesting that because UK Government have advised against all but essential travel to Spain, villa owners/booking agents are trying to raise income by going back to previous renters and asking for more money?

NoodleDoodleMan

I suggest you report it soonest to the credit card company - then your denial of a claimed breach of the villa terms and conditions is on record.

Caz3121

saving1232 said:

The exact reason is ‘the Villa has reported 6 guests stayed rather than 2’ but 6 guests did not stay! Legally can they do anything?

Any ideas why the villa owners would think that there were 6 guests? number of beds used? any social media that may have pictures of more than 2 guests at the property?

Ganga

Also cancelling the card will not work ,the claimant will get the funds from the bank and then they will chase you, if what you are suggesting worked people could shop in the morning and cancel the card at lunchtime and walk away from the debt.

martindow

Did you behave like Goldilocks and try out all of the beds?  That could lead them to believe that there were more than two of you.