Posted on 08/10/2005 9:36:39 AM PDT by MaureenPT
I was just wondering if anyone has had such an experience and what did you do about it. My friends had been saving and planning a trip to Anchorage,Alaska for 3 years. They were to leave 20th of this month.
Lo and behold the husband was not feeling good last week, legs were hurting, shortness of breath, wife took him to hospital emergency room. Cath was ordered and and they discovered major blockage, had open heart surgery right then and there.
Needless to say trip had to be cancelled, They realize the airlines would voucher the tickets for another time, they were okay with that, but they had put a deposit down on a motor home so they could travel through Alaska. The proprietor would not give them any compensation for the deposit, even after a medical report was faxed to him, showing the emergency surgery,and that this was not just a whimsical decision to cancel the trip. The proprietor said they are not responsible for medical conditions, and refused any type of compensation to them, very heartless and no compassion whatsoever. My friends would have accepted a partial refund, or a reschedule for the following year, but the man did not offer any comprimise to their misfortune.
Would appreciate any comments and opinions regarding this situation.
What was the RV company name.
Should we assume the husband is recovering nicely? If so, they should count their lucky stars, consider the down payment on the motorhome a small price to pay compared to what a funeral would have cost and get on with planning next year's vacation.
Bump
Had you paid the deposit and found the RV was already rented, then you would have a claim against the RV owner.
As it is, you made a promise to rent the RV and you failed to live up to your promise. The deposit you forfeit is a small price to pay. You could have been made to pay the entire cost upfront and then forfeit the whole amount.
Thank the owner that he trusted you enough to only require a deposit down, and not full payment.
SD
Deposit was paid with a credit card.
Yes, he is recovering nicely and yes they are very greatful that he is here.
Rv rental was in Anchorage
Good point from the business man's point of view and very understandable.
My friend is talking to Chamber of Commerence and they are advising her.
Thank you all for your compassion and opinions and understanding. Maureen
What is the rental company's name?
However, if you own 8 or 10 RV's in a seasonal business and you lose the ability to rent one for 14 days... it's going to smack the business owner in the bottom line.
Your good reason for cancellation won't be a good reason not to pay his creditors.
Tourism has become a major business and thr tourist season is short in Alaska. While I don't appreciate the tourism business, I do understand the commitment a person makes to run a business. Alaska is not what it used to be, a lot of people have moved up here to try to make a buck and have brought their big city attitudes with them.
Understandable.
The fact remains that we are responsible for our agreements.
Sadly the situation developed that these folks were unable to go on this trip. That has no bearing on the contract they signed, unless it was so provided for in that contract.
Unfortunate, but true.
The tiltle ... "RIPPED OFF--MOTOR HOME RENTAL/ALASKA" ... is flat out bogus.
Unless there was a clause in the contract, no one has been "RIPPED OFF".
What did the contract say that they signed? The guy may be heartless, but he's probably on solid legal ground.
Yes, it is. People who back out of agreements and lose their deposits are not being "ripped off." It's sad when people get ill, but that doesn't change the legal status.
If you hired a caterer for a wedding and paid a deposit, but then ran away to New Mexico, the caterer would not be "ripping you off" if they didn't give you your deposit back.
SD
The guy may be losing money and the deposit is partial compensation. Ever think of that? If I need a $1000 rental fee to cover my bills, and you deposit $200 and then leave me hanging, I'm out $800. And my creditors don't care if one of my customers got surgery.
SD
When I posted that comment I was sure that the DUmocrat Freepers (the feel gooders) would be all over me.
In fact there is still time for the weepy willies to slam me us yet. ;)
Sorry for your luck. But thems the breaks. Maybe insurance would have been a good idea.
They could have insured against the loss by purchasing trip cancellation insurance. Instead, they want to make a businessman eat the loss instead of them. I suspect that your friends are good democrats. They enter into a contract and then don't want to honor the terms. Why do they think a deposit was required. The businessman has been burned before. They are lucky that he didn't bill them for the entire rental.
Hey, relax. Of course there may be the circumstances you describe, or he may be an ass. We don't know, do we?
Allow me to rephrase: He may SEEM heartless, but he's probably on solid legal ground.
Better?
Sorry to hear about your friend's ill health. Fortunately they detected his medical problem before he went to Alaska and possibly had a heart attack there!
I don't think the RV man is heartless. It is peak season and he is already compromised. He is losing out on the rental. Both sides lose, not just your friend.
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