Cinnamon Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Ok, this is the story. Hubby is going snowboarding in Meribel on Sunday with a friend,a cousin & a friend of the cousins. We booked the holiday & paid in full on my Mastercard. We have had the money (£500) from everyone but the cousins friend,who then informed us a couple of days ago that he now cannot come as his car tyres were slashed & its cost him £900 to replace them.Today he also lost his job.Needless to say,he didn't get travel insurance,despite my telling them all to Hubby says its fine,he will pay us his £500 when he gets another job. I say no, actually,its not fine & if he didn't have the money in the first place why did he even say he could come? My MC payment is due in 2 weeks. I want to send a letter asking for the £500 in 4 weeks or we take it to Small Claims - Hubby says I am being shrewish,mean minded & unreasonable Your thoughts please......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Hi Sarah Could he not have claimed for his tyres off his car insurance or didn't he have that either I would be furious too. Chili xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 they shouldn't have said they would come if they didn't have the money you've every right to be mad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I would be mad too, that is so unreasonable, perhaps hubby or cousin can find someone else to go at the last minute? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 He says he has a £1000 excess on his car insurance. Oh, & did I mention that he bought the car 3 months ago...................for £10,000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 no wonder you're seething! I would be. It sounds like this bloke knows exactly what hes doing and your nice husband is too nice and matey is taking advantage. £900 for 4 tyres must be some posh car!!! i thought our landrover's tyres were dear at £400! I would be mad. Sorry, not helping you calm down much am i?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 if he's the cousins' friend then i'd say the cousin should stump up, not you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 if he's the cousins' friend then i'd say the cousin should stump up, not you. Yes! never thought of that - quite right poet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 25, 2008 Author Share Posted January 25, 2008 Weeeeeeeeeeel, its not really the cousins fault,is it? I don't think he sould be reponsible - he is angry about it too He feels really bad about it - he (the cousin) is out of work at the moment too, & has saved long & hard to be able to come........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Are you going to send the letter Cinnamon? or was that a heat of the moment remark?! Hope he doesnt make you wait too long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I think you should seethe .....then get them to sort it out between them eg is there another friend who could go in his place? Here's hoping you have got over the initial shock and have sorted something out? Maybe they could all chip in to pay you back? Including hubby And I suppose its a lesson learned - don't stump up for people you don't know? It was a kind gesture but its a lot of money to lose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Sarah i would be spitting feathers too! One thing that really gets me is people who make a commitment and back out at the 11th hour without a valid reason. I wouldnt send him a letter in anger though as this may come back and bite you on the bum however i would write a very straightforward reply explaining that you were kind enough to book the holiday on your card and that he should be expected to pay his share now irrespective of whether or not he can make it. If he hasnt already I would get cousin to pop round and have a word in his shell too - explaining things in plain English about responsibility and being trustworthy enough to honour the agreement. I do hope this has a happy ending Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I would be seething too . Perhaps you could tell him that you can't afford to pay off his £500 on your Mastercard so you'll have to pass on the interest charged to him? (You could pay it off in case that backfires, but the threat might make him think about stumping up?) Make sure he knows that the longer he takes to pay up, the more the "interest" will accrue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Thats a good point. Charge him interest on his debt untill it clears. You may not be in a position to pay his £500.00 debt off for him. Why should you suffer being out of pocket to the tune of £500.00. Sarah, im not surprised you are hopping mad. I would be too. Its so difficult being in this situation, buying tickets etc for others on your card. It needs to be made plain it is HIS problem. Try and get the cousin to sort it out in a nice way first, this may well sort out in the next few days, without the pain. If not, go for the big guns.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 The best thing is to write the letter and get it out of your system and then burn the letter and you will honestly feel better for getting it off your chest!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Good lord! It is certainly not your responsibility to pay this jerks share of the holiday. Did you get any committment in writing initially in writing from him re the booking of the hol? Any case against him would be stronger if you had. I's be inclined to speak to him first. He may see reason and stump up. If he fobs you off then I'd threaten him with the Small Claims Court. It should be easy enough to get a judgement against him, although time consuming. Enforcing the judgement afterwards is not always so easy. You can check whether he has any other judgements by contacting **The Registry Trust**. There is a fee of £8 I'm afraid. Still...if you find he has heaps of judgements you might decide it is not worth pursuing. The cousin should take a share of the responsibility/loss if you decide not to go down that route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Oh dear, you poor thing. I think I would have reacted in the same way Sarah. He really nees to pay you and shouldn't have made that commitment if he wasn't sure in the first place (on eof my bug-bears). I've been bitten before and now ask for money up front in any dealings. Do you want to borrow the chainsaw? You could offer to bury him c/o OH's cement mixer Never mess with an Italian... revenge is always sooo sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 He's going to wake up to find a horses head on the pillow next to his now that Claret is in chain saw mode. Money up front is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 He's going to wake up to find a horses head on the pillow next to his now that Claret is in chain saw mode. Money up front is the way to go. Too right! You don't want to be on my list Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 Too right! You don't want to be on my list Can I just apologise now for any comments I may have made in the past or may make in the future that have caused/might cause you any offence or embarrassment . Actually, I reckon you're unembarrassable . Am I right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I think you're absolutely right to be seething - I'd be beside myself! However, in the cold light of day, a letter sent in the heat of your anger may, as someone else so rightly said, come back and bite you. I don't think you can blame the cousin - he's not responsible for his friend, although perhaps he could have warned you (I bet this guy has done it before). I would get the sopcalled friend's number, if you don't already have it, and make it very plain that you expect him to pay because you are out of pocket and it's his fault. However, it might be politic to let the holiday happen before you start threatening recovery etc - what if he decides that if he has to pay, then he's going to go anyway, and they all go away with a horrible atmosphere? Once it's over, I would definitely write, demand the money, point out that you'll be adding interest, and mention Small Claims Court. If he could find £10k for a car not long ago, he can probably find £500 from somewhere ... unless, of course, he already has some CCJs against his name and has nothing to lose! What a rotten b... I'll stop there, as this is a family forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 I'm guessing this is a lads holiday of sorts. Tell them you're coming to get your moneys worth no point letting it go to waste. that'll soon get them sorting something out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 I'm guessing this is a lads holiday of sorts.Tell them you're coming to get your moneys worth no point letting it go to waste. that'll soon get them sorting something out. Brilliant idea. I'd get in touch before the holiday. He might see reason and do the decent thing. If he is going to have to stump up he should have the option of getting something for his money. And it would be no skin off your nose if there is an atmosphere...you won't be there! As things stand you are £500 quid out of pocket because you did someone a favour. That must have created an atmosphere in itself! Threaten to flog the hol on Ebay...that might make the other chaps realise the seriousness of the situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 26, 2008 Author Share Posted January 26, 2008 Wish I could Bronze,but who would look after the children? He is 100% not going, & its too late to add anyone else on in his place,which would cost another £75 anyway. He is getting the letter,but I will wait until they are back,a week tomorrow, until I send it. The money isn't really the issue - Hubby will pay it off the card - its more the fact that Hubby isn't that worried about being paid back himself He is just too nice,& people sometimes take advantage of that. In this case I am simply not having it. We have all his details from the holiday booking, & his name is on all the documentation as proof he was going to be a part of the holiday. If he had just spent £20 on insurance,this would all be a moot point as he could have claimed his money back anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 26, 2008 Share Posted January 26, 2008 The money isn't really the issue - Hubby will pay it off the card - its more the fact that Hubby isn't that worried about being paid back himself He is just too nice,& people sometimes take advantage of that. In this case I am simply not having it. I hadn't realised that (not that it's any of my business! ) At least you aren't out of pocket. We have all his details from the holiday booking, & his name is on all the documentation as proof he was going to be a part of the holiday. Then you will have no trouble getting a CCJ against him. For that amount I think it will cost you about £38 to initiate proceedings. If he had just spent £20 on insurance,this would all be a moot point as he could have claimed his money back anyway Then he is an idiot who deserves what is coming. Make sure the judge knows this. All this upset for the cost of a round of drinks. You could have had another cube for the £500.! Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...