I have everything double so that there can't be any mistakes, I have it online on the website in the calendar and notes plus I print out a copy of everything and keep on file. Just to be sure no mistakes.
I was going through my folder and saw that a name on a check didn't match the name on the booking - to pay the balance of the lease. Sometimes they split with who ever else they are going with so that is not super strange. What was strange was that the amount on the check was waaay off from their balance. $1800 more...
I called Lee and told her something is not right here.. I emailed the guy who sent the check and asked him if he was in the party with Doris L. He (James) emailed me back and said, no he wasn't and that he was now worried it was double booked. This is for a week in June. This was late last night. He then emails me and tells me that it better not be a double booking because they are getting married on the 10th on the beach. (its a massive beach house right on the beach)
I email Lee - We are in shit street with this I think....
So this morning I called him and he said they had sent out invitations to over 100 people and the caterers were set up for the house and so on. He did book it in June last year so it was quite a long time ago.
I tell him, don't worry - I will offer the other family something else.
I call Doris and tell her we have a problem and I can offer her a different week, refund or maybe a different house. She gasps for air and says "my daughter is getting married there on the beach on the 10th"
My heart missed a few beats, I can tell you that much. I told her the whole story how it had happened and that I would put my heart and soul into finding another house for them. I mean unreal, out of all the double bookings.. 2 weddings!!!
Also since the house is so big, it sleeps 20 so its not super easy to find a big house like that on the beach 1 month out. These places book a year in advance.
So my day has been with the cell phone by my ear the whole day and on the computer. Calling agents, lease offices, listings and God knows what. Then back and forth with Doris telling her I am working on it. I managed to find a couple of houses but one only slept 16 and it wasn't on the beach and then the other were too far away another one was a condo. It is slim pickings in end of April for this. I just felt sick to my stomach for this poor lady and her family.
So the whole day has been, found a house big enough, five minutes later they tell us its booked. booked.booked. URGH!!
About 5 pm tonight I finally found a house on the beach that sleeps 22 and its amazing - just thanks to a cancellation. Talk about luck - but it also had its price - $10 000 for a week. Lee has to pick that up and this 'little' mishap cost her $5000 dollars out of pocket.
So from 7.30 am to 5 pm it has been - house hunting in Destin FL. But it worked out and they are all happy.
I told Doris tonight when she could finally breathe again that she had been amazing, not once did she loose her temper - NOT ONCE did she even raise her voice. If that had been me - I would have been like a Vulcano! But she was so sweet and when she was mad she still kept it together. What a quality to have!! I am in awe! I told her I would gladly track down Andre (who did the double booking) and give her his number and address and she could just have a 'free for all'.... :)
Aj is feeling good - he is just like 'normal' (pre cancer) just the same :)
No comments:
Post a Comment