Holiday cottages who cannot provide service due to lockdown rules

nikki_matthews33

Hi, I’m really hoping someone can advise me. Me and 11 others have paid over £100 deposit each for a cottage for a hen do taking place at the end of March. We obviously won’t be able to attend this under government guidelines unless something miraculous happens. But the owner of the cottage says she won’t refund us and if we wish the keep the booking we need to pay the rest of the fees which is another £55 each. So she will have almost £1500 which is non refundable and is 99% unlikely we will be able to legally attend! 

Where do we stand with this? Surely due to covid and the fact she will not even be providing us a service mean we are due a full refund when the date passes?? I would be so grateful for any help. Thanks so much. Nicola

[Deleted User]

If at the time she's not able to open, then you will get a refund.

However, if she is open but you cannot/do not go, you'd need to claim on your travel insurance.

If you don't make payments when due, you will be cancelling the booking and be subject to the cancellation fees specified in the contract.

JamoLew

To add to the above - each individual needs to claim of their own insurance (unless someone took out a group policy when you booked)

Aylesbury_Duck

How are you 99% sure the cottage won't be able to host you at the end of March?

Just wait until the end of March.  If they weren't able to host you, you're owed a refund. If you don't pay the balance, you're cancelling. 

[Deleted User]

Agree with others. If you do not pay the balance when due, you will be cancelling the contract.  If the accommodation is not able to open by the date in March you will be entitled to a refund and although the rest of the country will be hoping lockdown is lifted you would probably benefit from it still being locked down .  Reason being, if it is open but numbers are limited then it brings another quandary for you all.   But ... I digress.  

Obviously if you decide now you do not want to go no matter what then cancelling may be your better option.  You will lose what you have paid so far but you won’t be throwing any more money at it.  The problem with such large groups is you all have to be in agreement.  

JamoLew

Op indicates 12 people are attending -- I really doubt that multiple households will be allowed to mix by the end of March 

It will probably be insurance if in place - if not, you need to make contingency plans as a group.

Personally - I would just cut my losses as it could get messy

DCFC79

I hope everyone has taken out insurance for this.

Tammykitty

DCFC79 said:

I hope everyone has taken out insurance for this.

Insurance is basically worthless in this situation - £100 is likely to be around the excess amount and unless it was taken out pre Feb 2020 won't payout anyway for COVID cancellations.

OP - when did you book this, if it was pre covd, probably get a lot more goodwill on here and even from the cottage owner

Its highly unlikely 12 households will be able to meet up in March, but how was the cottage booked - as one booking as 12 individual bookings?
If booked as 12 bookings - then the cottage owner will not legally be able to provide the service, but if booked as one booking, how is the cottage owner to know if it is one family, 2 families or 12..., so they would have no obligation to provide a refund..
Have you considered asking for a credit or rebooking for another time?