American needs help... AGAIN

[Wassail]

Hello my Horse and Hound friends...

Some of you may remember my previous posts on all-things-Burghley, and our unplanned stay in the UK afterwards.... all who chimed in were wonderfully supportive and helpful.

I'm turning to you again for help. Our security deposit from out bed and breakfast in Ryhall was never returned and we left the place in stellar condition. A family also from the US was staying on the property at the same time in a different dwelling and their deposit also wasn't returned. In the US we have something called the Better Business Bureau where you can report fraudulent/dishonest dealings with businesses - is there something similar in the UK?

Finding this person is proving to be a bit of a challenge too as she was selling the business, or so she told us, just after our stay. I don't mind contacting a local attorney to help us track her down.

 

[martlin]

I would imagine the UK equivalent would be Trading Standards, or Office of Fair Trading?

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Hiya - PM me with the details and let me do a bit of asking around for you it might take a couple of days but I am sure I will find someone who can help you Let me know things like where you got the details of the cottage etc from - I can then find out some info locally for you especially if they are listed with Tourist Information or something. Its a small part of the world so it won't be difficult to get some info for you

I hope you OH is totally mended now after his accident?

 

[Orangehorse]

The Trading Standards Office contact details would be on the local County Council website.

 

[Wassail]

Great, thanks everyone.

Tinselunicorn- let me assemble everything I have (I promise not to inundate you) and I'll shoot you a pm. Having a pair of eyes and ears on the ground would be MOST helpful -thank you!

And yes, husband is fully recovered. And our jobs were still waiting for us when we got home!

 

[jaquelin]

If you found B & B through an agency, contact them. If they were classified by one of the Tourist Authorities (e.g. English Tourist Board) , also contact them. I think it will be more effective if you threaten to list an official complaint with one of the above. I suspect the owner just needs to be hassled a bit to get her to write the cheque. The transaction would be covered by Trading Standards, etc, but would be very time-consuming to get them to act. Threat of complaint that could effect listing would be more effective, I think! Good luck1