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Hi,
I haven't found any help specific to my situation, so I've joined to post.
I have received a Court Claim and Particulars Of Claim through the post today. It relates to a 3 night stay at a holiday let over a weekend last year.
No security deposit was taken. No inventory was produced or signed. No check-in / check-out took place.
The owners have alleged that during our stay, we caused a burn to an expensive Indian carpet, which they have had repaired at a cost of £520. After we left, they allege they found a poker lying on the rug and upon lifting it up, discovered the burn mark. Out of the 6 guests, no-one recalls mis-placing a poker on the floor. This poker is for a wood burner, which was used during our stay.
We made a 'Without Prejudice' offer of goodwill to meet halfway (£260) - purely to keep a good relationship, be amicable, with the hope of returning this year. They declined the offer and have now taken court action.
This was our fourth visit to this particular holiday let with no trouble ever before. The POC contains a timeline of events (from booking the let, to the claim submitted), one extremely poor quality photo of the burn mark (which isn't dated) and then goes on to make defamatory comments about our alcohol consumption, ending with saying we were negligent in our behavior.
My layman view is they have no solid evidence to prove it was us that caused damage to the rug (no signed inventory, no dated before and after pictures of the rug). I was going to reply to the form stating "This claim is neither admitted nor denied. I require the claimant to prove this claim with evidence", and leave it at that.
I'd like to point out that none of us feel responsible - we are all honest, hard-working people that would admit any wrongdoing. It feels like its our word against theirs. I also feel gutted we even made an offer to help with half the cost now they have gone down this route.
What are your guys thoughts?
Cheers.
I haven't found any help specific to my situation, so I've joined to post.
I have received a Court Claim and Particulars Of Claim through the post today. It relates to a 3 night stay at a holiday let over a weekend last year.
No security deposit was taken. No inventory was produced or signed. No check-in / check-out took place.
The owners have alleged that during our stay, we caused a burn to an expensive Indian carpet, which they have had repaired at a cost of £520. After we left, they allege they found a poker lying on the rug and upon lifting it up, discovered the burn mark. Out of the 6 guests, no-one recalls mis-placing a poker on the floor. This poker is for a wood burner, which was used during our stay.
We made a 'Without Prejudice' offer of goodwill to meet halfway (£260) - purely to keep a good relationship, be amicable, with the hope of returning this year. They declined the offer and have now taken court action.
This was our fourth visit to this particular holiday let with no trouble ever before. The POC contains a timeline of events (from booking the let, to the claim submitted), one extremely poor quality photo of the burn mark (which isn't dated) and then goes on to make defamatory comments about our alcohol consumption, ending with saying we were negligent in our behavior.
My layman view is they have no solid evidence to prove it was us that caused damage to the rug (no signed inventory, no dated before and after pictures of the rug). I was going to reply to the form stating "This claim is neither admitted nor denied. I require the claimant to prove this claim with evidence", and leave it at that.
I'd like to point out that none of us feel responsible - we are all honest, hard-working people that would admit any wrongdoing. It feels like its our word against theirs. I also feel gutted we even made an offer to help with half the cost now they have gone down this route.
What are your guys thoughts?
Cheers.
)
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