Chargeable deposit abroad

jamesyboy7471

On holiday in Portugal,renting a villa,paid €300 deposit for breakages/damages by credit card.2 days in I reported a damaged sunbed my wife had tried to use which subsequently collapsed.
On the strength of my picture the letting agent informed me that this would be chargeable,as it was a new bed ?
Since then I have been back and forward to the agent requesting how they can tell from my picture was one of their new beds,as they admit they have a mix of new and not so new.
I was told they carry out "vigorous" checks on sunbeds,I then asked for details/recording of checks,are they visual or is each bed physically checked.
I have since questioned their whole checking regime as a light fitting in one of the bedrooms had exposed wires.
I am told all information is recorded on their "system",and I requested further information on the details listed above,as yet nothing.
On checking the reviews about this company,based in England,there are multiple complaints about deposits being held back for "damages" .
Is there any way my Credit card provider can "hold" this money while I dispute their findings ?
They do not carry out inspections till tenants move out,and like me,will be out of the country,they then have carte blanche to inflict more recharges as they appear to have done repeatedly.
Any advice would be welcome.

Mark_d

Does it matter whether the sunbed was new or "not so new"?  It sounds uncontested that the damage was caused by you (more specifically your wife).  I would be surprised if you can get anywhere with this.

born_again

If they have already taken the funds then no.
If not, no they can not block the payment & stopping your card will not stop the payment.

Aylesbury_Duck

There's no tactful way of asking this...how did your wife break it?

Second question: How much are they proposing to charge, and what is the cost of that type of sunbed when brand new?

jamesyboy7471

Reason for difference between old and new is that they inferred that if it was an old one,it would have wear ware and tare and not chargeable,this is why I have requested the details/number of sunbeds.I do not believe that "thorough" checks were carried out at all.

My wife,all 8 stone of her,merely tried to lie on the bed.

Aylesbury_Duck

jamesyboy7471 said:

Reason for difference between old and new is that they inferred that if it was an old one,it would have wear ware and tare and not chargeable,this is why I have requested the details/number of sunbeds.I do not believe that "thorough" checks were carried out at all.

My wife,all 8 stone of her,merely tried to lie on the bed.

I assume you mean they implied it was an old one.  They shouldn't need to infer the age of it if they own it, or perhaps that is the problem, i.e. they're guessing?

You've answered the tricky question, a sunbed should be able to cope with eight stones.

What is the value of a new sunbed of that type, and what are they charging you?

jamesyboy7471

They are charging me on the basis it was "one of the new beds" ,had it been an old one,there wouldn't be a charge.
My point is they are saying from my picture that it is a new bed and therefore chargeable,but cannot supply any further information about the remaining beds as I don't believe they have an inspection regime.
There is a more detailed review on trusting that explains things in more detail if interested.
algarvevacation.net
Date of review today