Sykes cottages forbearance?

stephenhouse2 · 16 January 2021 at 5:03PM

Just wondered if anyone has advice for me ? I was furloughed in March 20 and as I am clinically extremely vulnerable I haven't returned to work as of yet so my wage has been reduced to 80% and my wife has lost her job due to coronavirus, we had a holiday booked in July 2020 with sykes cottages and called to cancel, they would not allow us to do this so we had to pay to move it to July 21 as we were hoping for the best but things are now worse than ever and I called them today to cancel again giving them a whole 6 months to fill the booking i thought they may be understanding, however they tell me to cancel I need to pay over £300 on top of the £100 I have already paid which I cant afford to do. What are my options? Can they still ask for a cancellation fee?

jonesMUFCforever · 16 January 2021 at 5:26PM

You need to refer to your booking terms.

Sykes were one of the worst holiday booking companies during the first lockdown from last March onwards, which was highlighted in the press - I did think they had changed their ways - maybe not - you have clouded the waters by accepting a voucher for 2021.

When you have had time to read your contract - come back with more information.

stephenhouse2 · 16 January 2021 at 6:07PM

Thanks, I have just googled the sykes cottages and the issues others faced during 2020 spring/summers national lockdown, it states sykes did a u turn on their cancellation policy but I was never offered vouchers, or a free cancellation I was made to call back multiple times and I was told my only options were either i had to pay £300 to cancel or pay £40 to change the date.

If I was given one of those options I would have cancelled.

The terms were the same in 2020 as they are for 2021 and I have to pay £300 which is 30% of the balance.

sheramber · 16 January 2021 at 9:10PM

I think the u turn was for those holidays which Sykes cancelled due to accommodation not being available.
If you chose to cancel, rather then they cancelled, then the normal terms and conditions would apply.

jonesMUFCforever · 17 January 2021 at 12:56AM

sheramber said:

I think the u turn was for those holidays which Sykes cancelled due to accommodation not being available.
If you chose to cancel, rather then they cancelled, then the normal terms and conditions would apply.

Agreed so the OP needs to tell us what is in the terms that was signed (electronically or physically).