Last Friday I expected two couples with one baby to come and stay in my house for one night before moving into my rental cottage for a week on Saturday. They needed the extra night because they were going to a wedding on Saturday and I offered them my spare rooms. Because that meant they had no cooking facilities that night I arranged to prepare dinner. The father of the baby told me he was wheat and dairy sensitive so I made special bread and planned an appropriate menu. I also bought a new cot for his baby. He specifically told htere werte no other problems I needed to worry about.
for them
Well, they arrived around 6 PM, Brought their bags in and went to look upstairs. The little boy (12 months old) waved at Tasha but was scared of the cats and his mother told me he had never seen a cat, which I thought odd. Then they realised that there were 8 cats in hte house. Now, hte house does not smell, there are covered litter boxes but locks on all bedrooms and everything was sparkling. But they were down the stairs and outside five minutes later, saying they could not stay here because the baby's mother was allergic to cats. I expressed horror and said that it says on the website that I have cats (plural) and why did they book? I also said that if they could manage one night, then there were no cats in the cottage and all bedding is hypo-allergenic. But they left, and I got an email later to say they were not coming back. They made me feel it was my fault. And of course, though they paid a deposit, they still owe me 550 euros, a lot of money. I invited the neighbours to dinner and we had a pleasant evening eating the carefully prepared food. So all was not wasted. But what should I do? Should I pursue them for the money? Do I write it off? I am sure htat they will accuse me of having a house that is unsuitable for anyone to stay, but \\I had a guest the previous night who was very happy and said he would recommend me to his friends in Switzerland. So I don't feel guilty.
for them
Well, they arrived around 6 PM, Brought their bags in and went to look upstairs. The little boy (12 months old) waved at Tasha but was scared of the cats and his mother told me he had never seen a cat, which I thought odd. Then they realised that there were 8 cats in hte house. Now, hte house does not smell, there are covered litter boxes but locks on all bedrooms and everything was sparkling. But they were down the stairs and outside five minutes later, saying they could not stay here because the baby's mother was allergic to cats. I expressed horror and said that it says on the website that I have cats (plural) and why did they book? I also said that if they could manage one night, then there were no cats in the cottage and all bedding is hypo-allergenic. But they left, and I got an email later to say they were not coming back. They made me feel it was my fault. And of course, though they paid a deposit, they still owe me 550 euros, a lot of money. I invited the neighbours to dinner and we had a pleasant evening eating the carefully prepared food. So all was not wasted. But what should I do? Should I pursue them for the money? Do I write it off? I am sure htat they will accuse me of having a house that is unsuitable for anyone to stay, but \\I had a guest the previous night who was very happy and said he would recommend me to his friends in Switzerland. So I don't feel guilty.
