28/10/2026
A reminder that scams can happen to anyone.
This week, I paid a deposit for a deep clean, only for the cleaner not to turn up. They’ve since disappeared from Checkatrade and WhatsApp, leaving me out of pocket and dealing with the stress and frustration of being scammed.
It’s a horrible feeling, especially when you thought you’d done your checks.
A few reminders for everyone:
- Don’t assume someone is legitimate just because they’re on a well-known website.
- Be cautious about paying deposits into personal bank accounts and always check who you’re paying.
- Keep messages, invoices and payment receipts.
- If something doesn’t feel right, ask questions before handing over your money.
This is one reason trust and transparency are so important in my travel business. All my clients’ holiday payments go through PTS (Protected Trust Services), not my personal bank account, with the applicable protections depending on the booking.
Booking a holiday should be exciting, not stressful.
Trust matters, but so does knowing your money is being handled properly.