cancellation charges

[maxinep]

1. Can anyone advise me if someone can charge a cancellation fee for something without a signature, what's happened is I had my animals booked in a cattery/kennel I have cancelled it with 8 days notice they sent me an email back saying as I haven't given 10 days notice and if they can't fill it they will send me a bill for the full amount if time the animals were booked in for. I only booked by email no forms completed or signed. I found the owner quite abrupt on the email, just wanted to know if they can charge this please

[des8]

Re: cancellation charges

As you booked by email what did the acknowledgement of the booking say?
Does the cattery have a website, and do its terms and conditions appear on that website?

[Johnboy007]

Re: cancellation charges

Did you just email the cattery/kennel and say you wanted to book it for X amount of days?
Now if there is nothing in any acceptance or acknowledgement email of your booking, stating that you have to give ten days notice to cancel.
Then they can ask you for a fee, but they cannot take lawful action to recover one.
So you can politely decline to contract with them, and decline their invitation to pay any fees.

[maxinep]

Re: cancellation charges

Yes they acknowledged the booking with an email and said 10 days notice is required and terms and conditions say that but does that stand if nothing is signed

[Kati]

Re: cancellation charges

Were you informed there would be a cancellation fee in any of the earlier emails?? Or told you would have to give a specific amount of notice??

Is the kennels a well known/well used place ... Or one that always has spaces??

It seems a little unfair of them to charge you full price (if at all) for something you are not going to be using ...

[maxinep]

Re: cancellation charges

When I booked they sent an acknowledgement email I have just checked this it says please give 10 days notice, in the email after I cancelled it says refer to term conditions which I have it says will Bill for full charge,, I'm not sure if this is a always full one as new to me she said as we care full that week we could have filled my space and prob too late now so will send me the bill

[Kati]

Re: cancellation charges

Hmm ... I really can't see a way out of it if they say there needs to be a 10day cancellation deadline ... Can I ask why you have decided to cancel?? Have you put your pets somewhere else, or has something come up meaning that you are now not going away??? Is there any way you can still use the booked places??

[des8]

Re: cancellation charges

As you were advised of the ten days cancellation, and did not comply with that you are in breach of your contract.
They however have to mitigate their losses, and are attempting to do this by being prepared to accept alternative bookings by other customers.
If they don't fill your booking they can charge you for their losses.
Their losses are not your boarding charge, but their loss of profit.
They have to deduct the costs they do not now have to meet.
I would assume this will be cost of food, and possible heating costs and cost of cleaning the individual cat pen and bedding (if supplied by them)

[Johnboy007]

Re: cancellation charges

Technically, you would be in breach of your contract if you don't give the ten days.
Now whether they will actually bill you, depends on circumstances.
If they do bill you and you don't pay it, will they pursue it in a small claims court?
Again it depends on the amount claimed, and if it would be worth their while.
But next time you book something, read the small print

[maxinep]

Re: cancellation charges

I do read the small print but we have had a family bereavement and have had to cancel the holiday. Normally I would never do this I have explained thus to them, I gave 8 days notice like I said to them you can't plan this.

[Kati]

Re: cancellation charges

I am sorry for your loss ... is there any way the lady at the kennels will defer your booking until a later date??

[maxinep]

Re: cancellation charges

I've explained the situation to her all she says is u will have to pay if I can not fill the place.

[wales01man]

Re: cancellation charges

Seems fair maybe she will fill the place .Sorry for your loss but they may have turned down bookings between your email booking and your cancellation.

[Johnboy007]

Re: cancellation charges

If you had a family loss, and can get hold of a copy of the death certificate.
Then send this copy with a covering note explaining why you had to cancel.
Only giving eight days notice instead of ten to cancel is understandable, given the circumstances.
If the kennels decided to take OP to court, I very much doubt they would win.
The circumstances were exceptional and OP had no control of these.
So I would not pay the full amount claimed, and instead let it go to court if that's how the kennels want to play it.
I believe a judge would rule that the kennels are being unreasonable taking all of the circumstances into account.