Lastminute.com say overbooked, hotel says untrue and plenty of space.

Westin

Meeting Point was also part of the FTi collapse.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/fti-touristik-collapse-cancelled-holidays-b2558658.html

https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/fti-touristik-failure-the-story-so-far-and-knock-on-effects-for-the-uk-travel-trade-46795

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/administrator-of-failed-fti-cancels-175000-holidays

NoodleDoodleMan

There should be a separate forum dedicated to issues with Lastminute.com - they have messed so many clients about.

Westin

NoodleDoodleMan said:

There should be a separate forum dedicated to issues with Lastminute.com - they have messed so many clients about.

I remain amazed that so many people book with them.  I expect everything is okay until it isn’t. Then things go pear-shape and troubles begin.

twopenny

I think you should go to the hotel and say that you need an answer because otherwise you are booking with another hotel because you need to get everything sorted for the people you are meeting.

Do it with a slight smile of appology, don't get angry.

If they have plenty of rooms left, expecially with a colapsed partner, they will welcome you.

Looks like they are pressing for a higher price when they need your booking.

Never sure why people book through 3rd parties and bed sellers. The risk is always there and impossible to sort out for a relatively small discount.

OhJustSomeGuy

All sorted! 

The original booking in March was £294.59, so I make clear to the hotel that I won't pay more than that. It's obviously more than the hotel would originally have received, because LM, Hotel Beds, and Meeting Point would all have had a cut.

The lowest the hotel would accept under the exceptional circumstances was £400 (usually it's far higher this late) but I still refused to pay.

I went back to LM chat and they tried to book for this price but were unable to get a response after 10 minutes, so LM authorised me to pay and reclaim. I have the chat transcripts saved. I then paid the hotel the £400 on credit card and so we won't be homeless sleeping literally On The Beach tomorrow.

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies steering me in the right direction.

NoodleDoodleMan

"so LM authorised me to pay and reclaim."

The cynic in me suspects that will be another drama, hopefully not.

 

Grumpy_chap

OhJustSomeGuy said:

I've checked the travel insurance document. It's called Leisure Guard 'Flexi'. It's a bit hard to get my head round but it doesn't mention "supplier failure" and under a section entitled "What's not covered" it includes:

15. Any claims relating to the insolvency of the public transport operator and/or accommodation provider.

Insolvency of the accommodation provider would appear to be a form of "supplier failure".