Is this Fair

Essendee

Is this fair, a couple of weeks ago I booked a weekend break at Potters Resort in July 20022, at the time I also took out the option which they promoted of extra cancellation  deposit.

Unfortunately I mixed up the dates for another holiday so I phoned to cancel this week, which they said they would, but less the deposit ,which worked out as £197.40, I gasped and said how can this be so as it seems an awful lot, they said it a 20% deposit , I explained that I took out the extra cover but they said my cancellation excuse isn’t covered under the deposit scheme.

It seems unfair to me that they can take this amount even though they have more than enough time to advertise and rent this room out , it not like I let them know the night before.

I feel that I have been ripped off for close on £200.00 and warn any one who decides to book at Potters Resort to think twice and make sure that they are definitely going to go to this resort before booking.

Chris_English

Yes, that seems fair enough. You agreed to terms, and those terms were honoured.

Next time write down the dates that you have booked holidays for so that you don't make the same mistake again.

Caz3121

Essendee said:

I explained that I took out the extra cover but they said my cancellation excuse isn’t covered under the deposit scheme.

"We strongly recommend that guests take out Cancellation Protection Cover where, in the event of sickness, compulsory quarantine, injury, death or redundancy, all monies paid except the Deposit and Cancellation Protection premium will be refunded."

looks like your loss would have been the same even if your reason was covered...

it would probably have been better to amend your booking by changing dates rather than cancelling

https://www.pottersholidays.com/terms-and-conditions/

Essendee

Thanks for information, no one told me that I could change my dates, but 20% (£197.40) deposit is a lot of money as the room will be more than likely rented out and there is no cost at all to company besides admin, even then all it takes is to delete my name of the computer I have not received any correspondence except a email, companies like TUI only charge £50.00 deposit, and most hotels now give free cancellation, still seems like a rip off to me, 

elsien

“If for any reason you have to cancel your reservation, cancellation charges will be incurred. In all cancellations the deposit payment is forfeited. “

The cancellation tend are clear and not hidden away.
Did you read to check what the additional  policy covered before you bought it?

Try calling them again and see if they will do a date change instead of cancelling, if they haven’t already actioned it. You may need to pay more depending on the dates. 

I’d suggest anyone booking any holidays checks the terms and conditions before paying. 

Chris_English

Essendee said:

Thanks for information, no one told me that I could change my dates, but 20% (£197.40) deposit is a lot of money as the room will be more than likely rented out and there is no cost at all to company besides admin, even then all it takes is to delete my name of the computer I have not received any correspondence except a email, companies like TUI only charge £50.00 deposit, and most hotels now give free cancellation, still seems like a rip off to me, 

The time to decide that you did not like the terms was before you signed up for the holiday.

It's not clear why you were perfectly happy with them upfront but now think that they are unfair.

Even if people did agree with you that they were unfair though, what would that matter? They are what they are, you accepted them, it's time to move on now and not worry about it.

And, as I said, please do check your diary next time you book a holiday so that you don't double book.

Essendee

Chris_English said:

Essendee said:

Thanks for information, no one told me that I could change my dates, but 20% (£197.40) deposit is a lot of money as the room will be more than likely rented out and there is no cost at all to company besides admin, even then all it takes is to delete my name of the computer I have not received any correspondence except a email, companies like TUI only charge £50.00 deposit, and most hotels now give free cancellation, still seems like a rip off to me, 

The time to decide that you did not like the terms was before you signed up for the holiday.

It's not clear why you were perfectly happy with them upfront but now think that they are unfair.

Even if people did agree with you that they were unfair though, what would that matter? They are what they are, you accepted them, it's time to move on now and not worry about it.

And, as I said, please do check your diary next time you book a holiday so that you don't double book.

Thanks for your concern I have moved on but still think it a excessive deposit, quite willing to pay a sum that would be fair as for the reasons I wrote before, this serves as so others will not make my mistake and lose this significant amount of money for no services provided, but  thanks again.

Caz3121

Essendee said:

companies like TUI only charge £50.00 deposit, and most hotels now give free cancellation, still seems like a rip off to me, 

the devil is in the detail. If you look at the t&cs for a TUI hotel only booking. If you cancel more than 49 days before travel you pay 50% of the total cost (worse than your 20%)
not all hotels give free cancellation, sometimes there are 2 rates shown, a refundable one and a cheaper non-refundable one. Other times, as in your case, there is only one non-refundable rate

Essendee

Caz3121 said:

Essendee said:

companies like TUI only charge £50.00 deposit, and most hotels now give free cancellation, still seems like a rip off to me, 

the devil is in the detail. If you look at the t&cs for a TUI hotel only booking. If you cancel more than 49 days before travel you pay 50% of the total cost (worse than your 20%)
not all hotels give free cancellation, sometimes there are 2 rates shown, a refundable one and a cheaper non-refundable one. Other times, as in your case, there is only one non-refundable rate

It seem like you must have a interest with Potters,  TUI deposit is as follows from there T&C`s

70 days or more before travel: Loss of full deposit

69 - 63 days before travel: 30% of total booking price

62 - 49 days before travel: 50% of total booking price

48 - 29 days before travel: 70% of total booking price

28 - 15 days before travel: 90% of total booking price

14 - 0 days before travel: 100% of total booking price

i would of been travelling in 152 days  so my deposit would of been 30% £60.00 a bit better than £200.00

Caz3121

I assumed you were referring to Accommodation only booking with TUI rather than a package holiday
https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/booking/tandc?ptype=AO

note when cancelling a package with TUI the full deposit is due...extra on top of the low deposit
eg for shorthaul destinations full deposit is £200 per person