Travelodge Smoke Detector Fine *SUCCESSFUL*

[johnnyfeng]

Hi,

 

I have just recieved a letter from a civil claims company saying that when we stayed at Liverpool Central The Strand Travelodge on sat 19th may 2012 a piece of fire detection equipment had been tampered with. I have been hit with a £150 charge for loss of earnings from the hotel.

 

I contacted the travelodge to refute these claims and also find out actually what they were on about and I was told a plastic bag had been placed over a smoke detector.

 

I stayed in the room with 2 of my friends and none of us smoke, there was nothing in the letter to say they could smell smoke in the room, just this plastic bag over a smoke detector.

 

Now this could have been there days or weeks before we got there as apparently they are above head level, this is a brand new hotel and im told brand new smoke detectors come brand new in a plastic wrapper when being installed, I am absolutely furious with this letter and will go to court if thats what it takes.

 

Judging by the amount of threads on here this £150 is quite common, I have been told I have to write a letter to the claims company if I deny all accusations.

 

What would be the best sort of response to give??

[silverfox1961]

Hi and welcome to CAG

 

If you do a search for Travelodge in the box on the top right, you will find others in the same situation.

Plenty of good advice on those threads so have a good read then come back with any questions

[MARTIN3030]

Which firm have sent the letter ?

[johnnyfeng]

Which firm have sent the letter ?

 

 

 

 

 

Its a company called CRS (civil recovery solutions)

[stu007]

Hi

 

Also what exactly is there evidence of this apart from writing to you and stating it in a letter i.e. where is there photographic evidence which I would expect them to have done for such a claim.

 

Put it this was any monkey could have written that letter to how many people claiming the same thing.

 

Put them to proof of their claim and until then you fully refute their claim.

 

1. You require the photgraphic evidence of this claim.

2. What checks were carried out before you were allocated that room and by who.

3. Date the Smoke Detector in your room was checked.

4. Date of your Recent Fire Inspection and who it was carried out by.

5. Copy of the Fire Action Plan for my Allocated Room.

6. Date of your recent Health & Safety Inspection and who carried it out.

 

Also if the first you new of this was the CRS Letter then as well as writing to them (Recorded Delivery always keep a paper trail) I would send Travelodge a strongly worded Formal Complaint asking them why they did not contact you before passing this to CRS.

Edited June 1, 2012 by stu007

[MARTIN3030]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?339648-Help!-Letter-received-from-CRS-reg-Travelodge-claim-against-me-x&highlight=CRS

[johnnyfeng]

I have sent a letter categorically denying this claim, i'll let you know the outcome in due course....thanks, Mark

[johnnyfeng]

I have had a response from CRS and they have said the following:

 

We have discussed your correspondance with travelodge and they have confirmed that they believe that blatant evidence of smoking was found in room 607, which was allocated to your booking. When the cleaner attended room 607 following your departure, not only did it smell strongly of smoke but an asda carrier bag was found covering the smoke detector. This was not present prior to your booking. As you will agree, this is not something that could have gone unnoticed by the staff or guests.

 

The letter goes on to say that the client will rely upon witness statements and cleaning logs etc.... they included a photo of an asda carrier bag covering a smoke detector.

 

 

 

I can honestly say that I totally deny this incident had anything to do with myself or my 2 friends. None of us smoke!

 

The other thing that I find strange is in the first letter that was sent there was only one accusation and that was tampering with a smoke detector, now the room stunk of smoke, the room had to be 'deep cleaned' and this costs £59 apparently!

 

I am so annoyed, what would you suggest I do? I don't want to reply in writing straight away as I may put something in that I may regret due to my frustration.

 

Thanks, Mark

[MARTIN3030]

Since they state that they will be relying on witness statements to prove their case (or attempt to prove) then you will obviously have to do the same in defence and your 2 friends will be needed to help.

Perhaps a simple but frank response to their letter that you deny all the allegations,and that you will yourself be providing witnesses should it go to court will be enough.

It may also be an idea to inform them that you are aware of other allegations of the same nature being reported on the internet,some of which have turned out to be groundless.

It may be possible to get witness statements from these to use in your case,which is well worth a shot.

[stu007]

Hi

 

But with Travelodge having a really good record of accusing the wrong people how can we be sure it was actually "ROOM 607".

 

How can we trust that Travelodge employees are not using this as a money making tactic i.e. who is to say a travelodge employee for example never put that bag on the smoke detector to accuse the occupant for travelodge to gain money as I am really not liking the theme here especially when Travelodge have admitted in a previous thread that there first stage is not to contact the occupant but to send direct to CRS for recovery but as has been pointed out is the not against DCA pre action protocals.

 

In fact it seems that Travelodges tactic is to accuse anybody of XXXXX damages and your GUILTY with no right to defend yourself against the claims as Traveldoges First Stage is to accuse you and immediatley employ the services of CRS to recover said damages cost so everyone staying in a Travelodge you are GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY with no proof or evidence or even a right to defend yourself against these accusation.

 

All I will is HUMAN RIGHTS ACT, EQUALITY ACT

Edited June 27, 2012 by stu007

[johnnyfeng]

The photograph sent was laughable, no date & no proof that it was room 607. It could have been put up and sent yesterday for all I know. I have sent a very strong worded e-mail to the CEO of travelodge and also I am sending a final letter letter to CRS detailing the arguments that I have should it go to court. As another thread says i'm sure the media would love to hear these stories, it might just happen very soon.....

[lv1987]

The photograph sent was laughable, no date & no proof that it was room 607. It could have been put up and sent yesterday for all I know. I have sent a very strong worded e-mail to the CEO of travelodge and also I am sending a final letter letter to CRS detailing the arguments that I have should it go to court. As another thread says i'm sure the media would love to hear these stories, it might just happen very soon.....

 

Hi can you keep me updated on your situation. I've just been invoiced for 150 also and looking to follow the route your taking, got the letter today. I'll keep intouch

[MARTIN3030]

Hi can you keep me updated on your situation. I've just been invoiced for 150 also and looking to follow the route your taking, got the letter today. I'll keep intouch

 

Welcome to the site.

Can you give some more details,and we can start a thread for you.

[lv1987]

How can they use a witness statement from a Travelodge employee it sounds silly. Especially when their employee has a self-interest for the company. It's the same as your friend giving a witness statement. They are not independent at all. I'm going to write a letter to them today, your proceedings have given me a heads up on how they will respond, thank you

[johnnyfeng]

How can they use a witness statement from a Travelodge employee it sounds silly. Especially when their employee has a self-interest for the company. It's the same as your friend giving a witness statement. They are not independent at all. I'm going to write a letter to them today, your proceedings have given me a heads up on how they will respond, thank you

 

 

 

Its total nonsense, when my case is resolved i am going to gather stories and get in touch with the media. It seems as though they use the same trend to con innocent, decent people. Can i ask what you have been accused of? I have been accused of tampering with a smoke detector using an asda carrier bag!

[johnnyfeng]

Just a quick one to say after emailing the CEO and also speaking to someone on the online chat facility about this case i have recieved a response. The staff confirmed that a plastic bag was found covering the smoke detector, they have check sheets to prove it. But human error could have missed the bag (in other words it may have been there from the previous night). So the outcome is that they have decided not to pursue the matter. So the message is to everyone who recieves a letter and is innocent, DO NOT GIVE IN! I feel justice has been done. Thank you to everyone who has helped me during this ordeal.

[MARTIN3030]

Thats good.Common sense has prevailed.

The disturbing thing here is,that there would be some who faced with threats and demands,may actually pay up.

Given that this is the second such incident we have seen in these forums recently,which have both concerned allegations of conduct which require them to be compensated,and then found to be groundless,is extremely concerning indeed.

 

I hope they have apologised.

If I were you I would also send them a section 10 notice under the Data Protection Act to make sure they do not further process or share any of your personal data.

[numbers666]

Hmm,

 

Interesting... did you know that under misc revenue, a forecast is made each period for income from 'damages recovery' and forms part of each units p and l ???? This is also budgeted for yearly.....

 

N

[dadtaxi]

Just a quick one to say after emailing the CEO and also speaking to someone on the online chat facility about this case i have recieved a response. The staff confirmed that a plastic bag was found covering the smoke detector, they have check sheets to prove it. But human error could have missed the bag (in other words it may have been there from the previous night). So the outcome is that they have decided not to pursue the matter. So the message is to everyone who recieves a letter and is innocent, DO NOT GIVE IN! I feel justice has been done. Thank you to everyone who has helped me during this ordeal.

 

Hmmm -- what happened to the 'smell of smoke' and the 'deep clean' then? Smells of something , mabye not smoke though?

[andydd]

Yet another Civil Recovery claim by a hotel chain collapses as soon as someoen starts to question the hotel.

 

Ill change title

 

Andy

[johnnyfeng]

I am going to send another email to the travelodge requesting for any black marks against my name to be removed. I had a problem with british gas about 7 years ago and was left with a black mark against my name as they threatened me with a ccj. I can honestly say its the last time i book a travelodge, they are conning people and like somebody said some folk will pay up. As soon as I fought back they backed down, if they had such 'clear cut' evidence then surely they would have continued with court proceedings. They didn't have a leg to stand on as there was no smell of smoke and no dated proof that a bag was placed over a smoke detector.

[BankFodder]

Hmm,

 

Interesting... did you know that under misc revenue, a forecast is made each period for income from 'damages recovery' and forms part of each units p and l ???? This is also budgeted for yearly.....

 

N

This is very intresting. Could you let us have the source for this please.

 

On another angle, on what basis does the Travel Lodge share your personal data withe Civil Recover people?

 

Do you sign something when you take the room? and if so, what does it say?