Got a hair up the....

This is a vent. I have been stewing about this all week and I have reached boiling with it. I am getting ready to post on my Overnight Horse stabling that if for any reason they decide to cancel, they will be charged for the room and the stable.
The horse people have been so reliable over the years because they do not have another place to go within 100 miles. This year I have had at least 4 making frantic calls about stabling and making the reservation within the cancel period. Then they have canceled - on the day of arrival. Knowing that if I charge the card, they will just dispute it, up to now I have not. I am thinking about posting in big red letters, that canceling on the day of expected arrival will have a charge posted to the credit card for the room, tax, and stable fee. PERIOD! I am tired of getting ready, the farmer cleaning the stalls and putting down shavings that are not cheap, and hearing we are driving straight through because they ended the show early due to rain.
I know I could have charged but we all know who the cc company sides with. Most times all I have is a phone call because they do not have computer access. My only proof is the fact I have their numbers. I am very close to stopping he stabling because this year has been a big bust. I do not know if it because of the economy or what but if I have one more year like this one, I am done. Sigh. I think Elopements will be the focus for 2014. Depressing to think how much one tries.....
Rant over. As you were!

Same day cancellations are a lot easier to fight. Even hotels charge for same day cancellations. Collect up front with a 'no refunds' caveat.
You have to view this as the stables being severely impacted by saving space for no shows. It makes YOU look bad.

If they are within your cancellation period and it's happening often, tell them that you need them to fax you an authorization for a non-refundable charge for the whole reservation including the stabling by fax. Send then a form letter in email that they can print and fax, otherwise you tell them that you cannot accept their reservation.
Those that are real, will find a way to do it. Those that aren't, will move on.

Thanks guys. Am considering the suggestions. Will use one of them when the next horse booking comes in. At a minimum, I am going to do the stable fee as a non-refundable charge if they do not come in. The stable fee is supposed to be cash or check because I cannot touch it or I am liable and insurance will not cover. BUT if the horse ain't there, there is nothing to be liable for.

Maybe it is time to have strict rules for the horse people.
Be clear on your site that reservations that include stables will be charged at time of booking and is non refundable. Restate that in the confirmation.
It is easier to fight when all details are on your website and in the confirmation sent to the party.

was discussing this with a neighbour yesterday as this was the scenario "neighbour has selfcatering apartment was let for 10 days $2000 which was charged customer not present" - turns out customer wasn't using his card was stolen, then ordered a ton of expensive computer equipment on next day delivery got it all, then checked out as normal" I assumed they would take all this money right away - but they didn't, have just written now they are taking it back - said to her from now on get large bookings like this by electronic transfer, have confirmed this with my bank once the money is in, it is yours and there is no way to get it back - this may be the way forward.

You are far too lenient with these people and they don't see to give a fig! Get tough and stick with the rules or just don't do it at all. You don't need to mess with this kind of thing. Yes I know you want to fill your rooms..but enough is enough.

Joey Bloggs said:

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I ranted to the man who has the horse site that is most productive. He replied today saying there have been horse motels opting out because of this. He told me something I did not realize. i have been listing with him since 9-2000! 13 years!!!
I think I am going to post that a $50 non-refundable charge will be posted to the card at the time of the reservation. Then I will have the farmer's money for sure. If he quits it is over anyway. IF they arrive, I will run the rest of the room charge (or they pay cash) and then they can leave the farmer the cash or check as always.

Kathleen, I know you're concerned about the farmer, but you need to protect yourself also. Why don't you just charge the whole thing when they make the reservation? The small amount that the cc company charges for a non-swipe is nothing compared to them canceling last minute or not showing up at all. You really don't need to be abused by these folks! Just put the horse policy on your ResKey and website and be done with it.

Breakfast Nemo said:

Kathleen, I know you're concerned about the farmer, but you need to protect yourself also. Why don't you just charge the whole thing when they make the reservation? The small amount that the cc company charges for a non-swipe is nothing compared to them canceling last minute or not showing up at all. You really don't need to be abused by these folks! Just put the horse policy on your ResKey and website and be done with it..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Nemo said:

Kathleen, I know you're concerned about the farmer, but you need to protect yourself also. Why don't you just charge the whole thing when they make the reservation? The small amount that the cc company charges for a non-swipe is nothing compared to them canceling last minute or not showing up at all. You really don't need to be abused by these folks! Just put the horse policy on your ResKey and website and be done with it.

Click to expand...

The horse set pays cash. I know from 13 years the number of horse people who used the card are very few. I do not want to lose the many because of the few. I am going to see how things play out in 2014. The numbers are way down in 2013. The way things are going, they may just not HAVE the money to be traveling or even keeping the horses. I get a lot of the Mom & Pop busting butt to indulge a daughter's passion.

gillumhouse said:

Breakfast Nemo said:

Kathleen, I know you're concerned about the farmer, but you need to protect yourself also. Why don't you just charge the whole thing when they make the reservation? The small amount that the cc company charges for a non-swipe is nothing compared to them canceling last minute or not showing up at all. You really don't need to be abused by these folks! Just put the horse policy on your ResKey and website and be done with it..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Nemo said:

Kathleen, I know you're concerned about the farmer, but you need to protect yourself also. Why don't you just charge the whole thing when they make the reservation? The small amount that the cc company charges for a non-swipe is nothing compared to them canceling last minute or not showing up at all. You really don't need to be abused by these folks! Just put the horse policy on your ResKey and website and be done with it.

Click to expand...

The horse set pays cash. I know from 13 years the number of horse people who used the card are very few. I do not want to lose the many because of the few. I am going to see how things play out in 2014. The numbers are way down in 2013. The way things are going, they may just not HAVE the money to be traveling or even keeping the horses. I get a lot of the Mom & Pop busting butt to indulge a daughter's passion.
.

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

The horse set pays cash.

Click to expand...

So, how about this - you say you need to take a deposit (full) for the stay and the stable. When they arrive, you refund the card and they pay cash. You know they are not reserving ANYTHING ANYWHERE without a card. And they are blowing you off and paying with a card somewhere else.
OR, they pay by check at least 2 weeks in advance.
Just ideas to work with. We've been thru the ringer with cancellations who said they would pay cash on arrival so we didn't take the deposit. Bad card when we try to charge it.
If you can't take deposits because of Square then get the check.
We all give and give but if people are making reservations, traveling, buying and feeding horses they have a damn sight more money than you or I.
(Callers the other day wanted to book 2 rooms for 10 nights. They came by to look around. I'm thinking I can do a discount for that type of stay. Then they tell me they usually fly to Switzerland to ski for the holidays but this year they want everyone to 'gather' in the US. I'm thinking they just saved a few thou on airfare and no one in Switzerland was going to give them a discount during ski season. Why am I supposed to be nicer than a hotel in Switzerland?)

Madeleine said:

gillumhouse said:

Breakfast Nemo said:

Kathleen, I know you're concerned about the farmer, but you need to protect yourself also. Why don't you just charge the whole thing when they make the reservation? The small amount that the cc company charges for a non-swipe is nothing compared to them canceling last minute or not showing up at all. You really don't need to be abused by these folks! Just put the horse policy on your ResKey and website and be done with it..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Nemo said:

Kathleen, I know you're concerned about the farmer, but you need to protect yourself also. Why don't you just charge the whole thing when they make the reservation? The small amount that the cc company charges for a non-swipe is nothing compared to them canceling last minute or not showing up at all. You really don't need to be abused by these folks! Just put the horse policy on your ResKey and website and be done with it.

Click to expand...

The horse set pays cash. I know from 13 years the number of horse people who used the card are very few. I do not want to lose the many because of the few. I am going to see how things play out in 2014. The numbers are way down in 2013. The way things are going, they may just not HAVE the money to be traveling or even keeping the horses. I get a lot of the Mom & Pop busting butt to indulge a daughter's passion.
.

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

The horse set pays cash.

Click to expand...

So, how about this - you say you need to take a deposit (full) for the stay and the stable. When they arrive, you refund the card and they pay cash. You know they are not reserving ANYTHING ANYWHERE without a card. And they are blowing you off and paying with a card somewhere else.
OR, they pay by check at least 2 weeks in advance.
Just ideas to work with. We've been thru the ringer with cancellations who said they would pay cash on arrival so we didn't take the deposit. Bad card when we try to charge it.
If you can't take deposits because of Square then get the check.
We all give and give but if people are making reservations, traveling, buying and feeding horses they have a damn sight more money than you or I.
(Callers the other day wanted to book 2 rooms for 10 nights. They came by to look around. I'm thinking I can do a discount for that type of stay. Then they tell me they usually fly to Switzerland to ski for the holidays but this year they want everyone to 'gather' in the US. I'm thinking they just saved a few thou on airfare and no one in Switzerland was going to give them a discount during ski season. Why am I supposed to be nicer than a hotel in Switzerland?)
.

Click to expand...

Hmmmm. When they call the day before - as most of the no-shows are doing - I think I will just tell them I am charging their card for the stay NOW since they are in the cancel period already - 48 hours. If they do not like that, go elsewhere. It is the last-minute-Larrys that are the problem.

gillumhouse said:

Madeleine said:

gillumhouse said:

Breakfast Nemo said:

Kathleen, I know you're concerned about the farmer, but you need to protect yourself also. Why don't you just charge the whole thing when they make the reservation? The small amount that the cc company charges for a non-swipe is nothing compared to them canceling last minute or not showing up at all. You really don't need to be abused by these folks! Just put the horse policy on your ResKey and website and be done with it..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Nemo said:

Kathleen, I know you're concerned about the farmer, but you need to protect yourself also. Why don't you just charge the whole thing when they make the reservation? The small amount that the cc company charges for a non-swipe is nothing compared to them canceling last minute or not showing up at all. You really don't need to be abused by these folks! Just put the horse policy on your ResKey and website and be done with it.

Click to expand...

The horse set pays cash. I know from 13 years the number of horse people who used the card are very few. I do not want to lose the many because of the few. I am going to see how things play out in 2014. The numbers are way down in 2013. The way things are going, they may just not HAVE the money to be traveling or even keeping the horses. I get a lot of the Mom & Pop busting butt to indulge a daughter's passion.
.

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

The horse set pays cash.

Click to expand...

So, how about this - you say you need to take a deposit (full) for the stay and the stable. When they arrive, you refund the card and they pay cash. You know they are not reserving ANYTHING ANYWHERE without a card. And they are blowing you off and paying with a card somewhere else.
OR, they pay by check at least 2 weeks in advance.
Just ideas to work with. We've been thru the ringer with cancellations who said they would pay cash on arrival so we didn't take the deposit. Bad card when we try to charge it.
If you can't take deposits because of Square then get the check.
We all give and give but if people are making reservations, traveling, buying and feeding horses they have a damn sight more money than you or I.
(Callers the other day wanted to book 2 rooms for 10 nights. They came by to look around. I'm thinking I can do a discount for that type of stay. Then they tell me they usually fly to Switzerland to ski for the holidays but this year they want everyone to 'gather' in the US. I'm thinking they just saved a few thou on airfare and no one in Switzerland was going to give them a discount during ski season. Why am I supposed to be nicer than a hotel in Switzerland?)
.

Click to expand...

Hmmmm. When they call the day before - as most of the no-shows are doing - I think I will just tell them I am charging their card for the stay NOW since they are in the cancel period already - 48 hours. If they do not like that, go elsewhere. It is the last-minute-Larrys that are the problem.
.

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

Hmmmm. When they call the day before - as most of the no-shows are doing - I think I will just tell them I am charging their card for the stay NOW since they are in the cancel period already - 48 hours. If they do not like that, go elsewhere. It is the last-minute-Larrys that are the problem.

Click to expand...

YES!!!!!

gillumhouse said:

Madeleine said:

gillumhouse said:

Breakfast Nemo said:

Kathleen, I know you're concerned about the farmer, but you need to protect yourself also. Why don't you just charge the whole thing when they make the reservation? The small amount that the cc company charges for a non-swipe is nothing compared to them canceling last minute or not showing up at all. You really don't need to be abused by these folks! Just put the horse policy on your ResKey and website and be done with it..

Click to expand...

Breakfast Nemo said:

Kathleen, I know you're concerned about the farmer, but you need to protect yourself also. Why don't you just charge the whole thing when they make the reservation? The small amount that the cc company charges for a non-swipe is nothing compared to them canceling last minute or not showing up at all. You really don't need to be abused by these folks! Just put the horse policy on your ResKey and website and be done with it.

Click to expand...

The horse set pays cash. I know from 13 years the number of horse people who used the card are very few. I do not want to lose the many because of the few. I am going to see how things play out in 2014. The numbers are way down in 2013. The way things are going, they may just not HAVE the money to be traveling or even keeping the horses. I get a lot of the Mom & Pop busting butt to indulge a daughter's passion.
.

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

The horse set pays cash.

Click to expand...

So, how about this - you say you need to take a deposit (full) for the stay and the stable. When they arrive, you refund the card and they pay cash. You know they are not reserving ANYTHING ANYWHERE without a card. And they are blowing you off and paying with a card somewhere else.
OR, they pay by check at least 2 weeks in advance.
Just ideas to work with. We've been thru the ringer with cancellations who said they would pay cash on arrival so we didn't take the deposit. Bad card when we try to charge it.
If you can't take deposits because of Square then get the check.
We all give and give but if people are making reservations, traveling, buying and feeding horses they have a damn sight more money than you or I.
(Callers the other day wanted to book 2 rooms for 10 nights. They came by to look around. I'm thinking I can do a discount for that type of stay. Then they tell me they usually fly to Switzerland to ski for the holidays but this year they want everyone to 'gather' in the US. I'm thinking they just saved a few thou on airfare and no one in Switzerland was going to give them a discount during ski season. Why am I supposed to be nicer than a hotel in Switzerland?)
.

Click to expand...

Hmmmm. When they call the day before - as most of the no-shows are doing - I think I will just tell them I am charging their card for the stay NOW since they are in the cancel period already - 48 hours. If they do not like that, go elsewhere. It is the last-minute-Larrys that are the problem.
.

Click to expand...

gillumhouse said:

Hmmmm. When they call the day before - as most of the no-shows are doing - I think I will just tell them I am charging their card for the stay NOW since they are in the cancel period already - 48 hours. If they do not like that, go elsewhere. It is the last-minute-Larrys that are the problem.

Click to expand...

YES!!!!!

You know when one door closes another one opens up. If you got a good feeling about doing a wonderful pkg. GO For IT!!!
Maybe it is a time for change.???
{Sigh. I think Elopements will be the focus for 2014.}
K what will happen to your pkg then.?? Maybe that will be better then horses.