Distance Selling Regs?

[greenbarncottages]

We have three self-catering cottages, which we promote on our website.
We don't offer anything that could be construed as a package holiday.

In what manner, if at all, do Distance Selling Regs apply?

If we take a booking, does the guest have the right to cancel it within 7 days of the booking being taken?
What if it's a last-minute booking, and the letting period starts in less than seven days?
Anything else???

Does anyone have a definitive answer to this one, which I guess ought to be a very common consideration? Trying to interpret the regs is making my head hurt#-o

Thanks!

[Anne_Gallagher]

This answer to this is available in the Direct Marketing section (http://www.accommodationknowhow.co.uk/legis.aspx?title=Direct%20Marketing) of AKH, under Distance Selling.

[Libra]

Hi Greenbarn

With all due respect to Anne if the prospective guest has contacted you first which is usually the case the link in Anne's reply is irrelevant.

We list all such details as you mentioned in our Terms and Conditions which is available on our website, online resrevation system and sent with an email enquiry.

Any cancellations within eight weeks of arrival receive no refund.

Hope this helps

[greenbarncottages]

Libra - thanks for your reply, and apologies for the delay in acknowledging.
Your approach makes sense, and is pretty much in line with what we are doing.

I did eventually find a key piece of information on this site, and rather more here (http://www.out-law.com/page-430) to the effect that the Distance Selling Regs do not apply to:

contracts for the provision of accommodation, transport, catering or leisure services, where the supplier undertakes, when the contract is concluded, to provide these services on a specific date or within a specific period.
The exemption is in respect of the provisions relating to:

information given to the consumer prior to the conclusion of the contract;
written confirmation;
cancellation rights;
recovery of money paid by the consumer;
return of goods by the consumer after cancellation;
goods given in part exchange; and
mandatory performance of the contract within 30 days.

Which covers what I was trying to find out.
Hope it might be of use to others.