Help! Advice needed with Cancellation fees

[Rachaelb]

Hi,

I’m hoping someone can advise on the best course of action.

 

I was planning to go away with work overseas for a week next month and had booked my dogs into a home boarders for 7 days/nights.

I had visited the boarders a month ago with my dogs and must admit didn’t feel very comfortable leaving them there .

 

Not only did the man discipline one of my dogs in front of me (Mog, she was very nervous of him and barked which resulted in a harsh telling off from him) but he also had no experience of the breed and was reluctant to deviate from the strict two hours walk each day. I should have cancelled there and then really but I had no other option.

 

My overseas meeting venue went into administration without warning and I had to replan the entire event using a local UK venue which was an absolute nightmare. 

 

I contacted the home boarders 19 days before my booking to advise cancellation and was advised I needed to pay a 50% booking cancellation charge - that’s a total of £138 for the pleasure of not boarding my dogs!!!

 

At no time was I advised of the cancellation policy and although I did complete paperwork while I was there, I certainly wasn’t made aware of these charges. I don’t even have a copy of the paperwork!!!

 

Checked other boarders, the maximum cancellation fee is £30 for cancelling within 24 days so I do think £138 is absolutely extortionate!!!

 

I don’t have an issue with a small cancellation fee but simply cannot afford to pay 50% of the entire booking! 

 

Before it escalates, is there anything I can do?

[honeybee13]

Hi.

 

I expect people will be along to advise over the course of the day. We may move your thread to a more specialist subforum, this will leave a link for you to follow.

 

Does the kennels have anything on their website, if they have one, about Ts and Cs?

 

HB

[Rachaelb]

Thank you! Sorry, I couldn’t see a forum which matched this type of query.

 

No they don’t have a website, just a FB page where no pricing schedule or terms & conditions are given. I did complete and sign a form per dog while I was there but at no time was I advised about their cancellation charges or any T’s & C’s for that matter, nor was I given a copy of the forms I completed.

 

All I was given when I left was a business card with a handwritten £17 per dog per night on it so I have no way of knowing if even this is what he actually charges.

 

i appreciate there’s a potential loss of earnings here for him but is it fair to charge 50% when I’ve given 18 days notice and have not been made aware of the charges?

 

Thing is I can see this escalating as I’ve said so want to handle this correctly and carefully 

[honeybee13]

Have you asked them for a paper copy of their Ts and Cs or a copy of what you signed?

 

HB

[honeybee13]

I just had this thought. If you were organising this for work, assuming you're an employee, can you claim for the extra expense? After all, the need to cancel isn't your fault.

 

HB

[Rachaelb]

I’ve not asked for a copy of what I’ve signed or their T’s & C’s yet but I can do. I’ve not responded as I was so shocked! Should I ask for these?

 

Good point about asking work to pay - not sure I can as it’s a university and they’re pretty tight on what you can claim for. I’ll check.

[honeybee13]

Other people are better on consumer matters than me, but either way it looks as if you need to start building a paper trail to argue with the kennels or to show to the university.

 

HB

[ericsbrother]

if you were not made aware of the terms then you cant be held to them. the telling bit here is you were not given a copy of the contract so as far as unfair contrcats  terms legislation goes the contract doesnt exist and you owe nothing.

waht you need to do s stop fretting and let the kennels owner huff and puff but dont pay up

What we see a lot of is peopel paying and then moanng afterwards, dont be one of those.

[slick132]

If the kennel owners feel that strongly, let them take action against you for what they think you owe. I doubt they'll bother.

 

Until then, ignore any demands for payment.