UK Holiday booking cancelation am I liable for full amount?

Onum

Hi, I booked a "luxury caravan" for 4 nights in mid august and paid a deposit. The balance is due on July 1st but I'm unable to go anymore. The booking conditions state that I will liable for the full amount if cancelled. I accept the loss of the deposit as a matter of course but as there will still be 6 weeks until the booked date the requirement to pay in full seems a bit much (and it's over £800) is this enforceable? I admit I didn't pay too much attention to the T&C's at the time of booking so it'smy own dumb fault but I wasn't expecting to have to cancel either.

user1977

Being automatically liable for the full amount is unlikely to be enforceable, but in theory you could be if they are unable to find somebody else to take your place. The amount of any deposit isn't really relevant to what your liability would be (you could have no deposit and still have to pay up).

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Hello OP

As there isn't a right to cancel accommodation for a specific date or period where you breach the contract (i.e cancel anyway) the Consumer Rights Act prevents the trader from charging you a disproportionate charge, typically the  ordinary position applies which means they can either claim their costs or their loss of profit but they can't claim loss of profit if they can find another customer and typically you'd expect that to be on the easier side during August. 

Where did you book OP? 

LightFlare

You could always claim on insurance if you have any.

Its one thing people dont typically think about when booking in the UK unfortunately 

DullGreyGuy

LightFlare said:

You could always claim on insurance if you have any.

That would depend on why the OP can no longer travel, insurers only cover certain perils (sickness, jury service, major damage to your home etc) and dont cover all circumstances (eg fallen out with the people you were travelling with or been offered a better holiday somewhere else)

Grumpy_chap

Onum said:

Hi, I booked a "luxury caravan" for 4 nights in mid august and paid a deposit. The balance is due on July 1st but I'm unable to go anymore. The booking conditions state that I will liable for the full amount if cancelled. I accept the loss of the deposit as a matter of course but as there will still be 6 weeks until the booked date the requirement to pay in full seems a bit much (and it's over £800) is this enforceable? I admit I didn't pay too much attention to the T&C's at the time of booking so it'smy own dumb fault but I wasn't expecting to have to cancel either.

When you booked, were you offered "cancellation cover" at check-out?   It is often pre-selected and you have to opt out to avoid the charge.  That is worth double checking.

Do you really want to cancel the booking, or would you be able to change the booking?  Perhaps a change of dates?  There might be an adjustment to the price and an amendment fee.  Typically, that would be £40 - £50...

What do the Ts&Cs say about cancelling?  I just looked at one site and they say:
more than 70 days before arrival - lose deposit plus admin fee
less than 70 days - lose 100% of holiday value

Although, for a caravan in peak school holiday time, whether the 100% loss is a fair contract term and enforceable might be debatable as you'd expect the site to be fully / over-booked...