no we were going to get it the same time as we booked parking etc....

Hello. We booked a holiday at the start of last november for this year, we have had news that my wife has to have a major operation this year which due to the nature of the recovery is being planed for the school holiday period. I had already payed £250 low deposit and the remainder of the deposit (£550) was due last week, i have phoned them today to tell them we cannot make the holiday and they still want the £550 to cancel it or they are passing it on to a debt collector to regain it. I'm self employed and work has been slack since christmas and we cannot afford to pay the remainder. Is there justification that the cancellation of this holiday so early would cost them £800...? Is there anything i can do.. Thanks