WARNING: Knotty Pine Cottages in Ingonish Area
Jul 15th, 2010, 03:36 PM
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WARNING: Knotty Pine Cottages in Ingonish Area
This can happen to you, too!
I was shocked to learn that Knotty Pine Cottages canceled the first of four days of my reservation simply because they were able to rent my unit for a longer term with a construction crew. I was told by their employee that they canceled reservations with a number of people. When I called several times to complain and to follow-up on promised information that had not been provided, the owner cancelled the other three days of my reservation on the basis that I had been "abusive" with his employees.
The owner is Howard MacKinnon. He told me that he had every legal right to cancel my reservation for any reason that he wanted. He even suggested that I call Tourism Nova Scotia to speak with Doug Matthews to verify that. (Tourism Nova Scotia is the regulatory and licensing agency that oversees the rental operators.) Indeed, Doug confirmed that this practice is allowed.
I don't participate in other travel forums, only in Fodor's. If you want to provide a link to this website to warn others of what can happen to them, please do.
I was shocked to learn that Knotty Pine Cottages canceled the first of four days of my reservation simply because they were able to rent my unit for a longer term with a construction crew. I was told by their employee that they canceled reservations with a number of people. When I called several times to complain and to follow-up on promised information that had not been provided, the owner cancelled the other three days of my reservation on the basis that I had been "abusive" with his employees.
The owner is Howard MacKinnon. He told me that he had every legal right to cancel my reservation for any reason that he wanted. He even suggested that I call Tourism Nova Scotia to speak with Doug Matthews to verify that. (Tourism Nova Scotia is the regulatory and licensing agency that oversees the rental operators.) Indeed, Doug confirmed that this practice is allowed.
I don't participate in other travel forums, only in Fodor's. If you want to provide a link to this website to warn others of what can happen to them, please do.
Jul 15th, 2010, 07:03 PM
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Shabby treatment...and why would MacKinnon tell you to call that person at Tourism Nova Scotia - did he know this clown would agree with him?
http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/MEM...net/paris.html
Hon. Percy Paris is the Minister of Tourism - and several other departments in the Nova Scotia government - I'm sure he'd be interested to hear your complaint...it's so easy with e-mail to go right to the top of that particular food chain and be sure and mention Mr. Matthews. You could really annoy them and say you now are considering not visiting their province at all.
Department of Tourism, Culture, and Heritage
6th Floor, World Trade and Convention Centre
1800 Argyle Street
P.O. Box 456
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2R5
Phone: (902) 424-4889
Fax: (902) 424-4872
[email protected]
http://www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/MEM...net/paris.html
Hon. Percy Paris is the Minister of Tourism - and several other departments in the Nova Scotia government - I'm sure he'd be interested to hear your complaint...it's so easy with e-mail to go right to the top of that particular food chain and be sure and mention Mr. Matthews. You could really annoy them and say you now are considering not visiting their province at all.
Department of Tourism, Culture, and Heritage
6th Floor, World Trade and Convention Centre
1800 Argyle Street
P.O. Box 456
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2R5
Phone: (902) 424-4889
Fax: (902) 424-4872
[email protected]
Jul 15th, 2010, 08:34 PM
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Thanks for the information. I will write to the Minister of Tourism.
I disagree that Doug Matthews is a clown. He explained that he does not condone MacKinnon's practice but also explained that he can only enforce the regulations that are in place. Considering that there is no regulation that prevents this practice, I can't hold Doug Matthews at fault.
By the way, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this practice is legal throughout the world. The difference between MacKinnon and reputable owners is that he actually implements the practice and at the same time waits to inform his customers that their reservation has been cancelled.
I disagree that Doug Matthews is a clown. He explained that he does not condone MacKinnon's practice but also explained that he can only enforce the regulations that are in place. Considering that there is no regulation that prevents this practice, I can't hold Doug Matthews at fault.
By the way, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that this practice is legal throughout the world. The difference between MacKinnon and reputable owners is that he actually implements the practice and at the same time waits to inform his customers that their reservation has been cancelled.
Jul 23rd, 2010, 03:53 AM
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I made the reservation in early to mid March. MacKinnon's employee told me in mid July that my reservation for early September had been cancelled. She also told me that she had joined the company in late June and that it had already been cancelled at that time. In other words, the company waited weeks if not months to inform me that my reservation had been cancelled.
As a result of the late notice, I was unable to find comparable lodging. I had to pay about 60% more for substitute lodging that is better than I need. I also had to change my four-day stay from Ingonish to Chiticamp.
As a result of the late notice, I was unable to find comparable lodging. I had to pay about 60% more for substitute lodging that is better than I need. I also had to change my four-day stay from Ingonish to Chiticamp.
Jul 23rd, 2010, 11:57 AM
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That's a real shame. I'm curious to know what their policy is if YOU were to cancel. Would you have been charged any type of penalty?
Well, regardless, it's a terrible way to do business and a very shabby way to treat people. I hope you enjoy your visit to Nova Scotia despite the unpleasantness. And be sure to tell the Minister of Tourism that you were financially and otherwise inconvenienced b/c of this.
Well, regardless, it's a terrible way to do business and a very shabby way to treat people. I hope you enjoy your visit to Nova Scotia despite the unpleasantness. And be sure to tell the Minister of Tourism that you were financially and otherwise inconvenienced b/c of this.
Jul 25th, 2010, 06:40 AM
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Their website states a 48-hour cancellation policy for cancellation by the renter. For stays of 3 days or longer (mine was a four-day stay), one week's notice is required.
The website gives no hint about the company's right to cancel. Prior to this situation, I would never have thought to ask.
The website gives no hint about the company's right to cancel. Prior to this situation, I would never have thought to ask.
Jul 25th, 2010, 06:43 AM
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By the way, the company doesn't just take the credit card number as a guarantee. It also charges the card in the amount of one day's rent. The company likely waits to inform people of cancellation because doing so would require returning the renter's funds sooner.
Aug 12th, 2010, 08:12 AM
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You were very lucky that they cancelled your reservation. I am a regular to Nova Scotia and have heard nothing but VERY bad things about the Knotty Pine Cottages. The cottages are rundown and very noisy (literally on the Cabot Trail highway).
Aug 16th, 2010, 05:44 PM
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That's interesting, Karen. Before renting the unit, I asked the owner about the noise out of concern for proximity to the highway. He explained that it was removed enough from the highway that noise is not an issue. I now know, of course, that the owner is short on scruples.
You're probably right that I became lucky that he cancelled my reservation. I have always found that relatively important things tend to work out for the better when they are changed beyond my control.
You're probably right that I became lucky that he cancelled my reservation. I have always found that relatively important things tend to work out for the better when they are changed beyond my control.
Oct 5th, 2010, 05:14 AM
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I understand your anger, However I believe they gave u enuf time to reserve some place else or if u had of waited like i had....U may have gotten a coutesy call stating that they had enough room..I dont know how old u are, but it seems in life( Money Talks) Needless to say, the constuction may have been priority like it was in meatcove 2 weeks ago...people were trapped and stranded because the main bridges collapsed after a hurricane..perhaps they need the constuction workers to fix the roads for YOUR FAMILY'S SAFETY(my family and my lil brother with autism got stranded there...The community sent boats in to give them food and water, and the owner of this management was one of them who helped)I have never stayed at Knotty Pines, nor do I know the owner,however when I called to book they had told me that they have: like u said"construction workers there and shes not sure how long they will be staying". She called me 2 days later to let me know that she had a cabin available for me. This was a courtesy call on their behalf!!! I am going to go stay there with my husband and infant who is 8 months old...lets see if the noise bothers his sleep. We are going to be staying there October 9th 2010.Perhaps if u had stayed there, due to all your complaining, the fourth night could have been free. I hope to write a good review after October 9th and will post pictures if i can...if not ill make it my profile picture. In Cape Breton we are not used to hostile people nor do we have a high crime rate, perhaps he cancelled his visit because he was scared for his Family's safety!!!
Oct 6th, 2010, 05:30 PM
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Fitzgerald,
I am going to respond to the most cogent points of your post.
<<However I believe they gave u enuf time to reserve some place else>>
Perhaps you missed the points of my previous posts. They waited at least three weeks, possibly months, to notify me that my reservation had been cancelled. By the time they notified me, there were no comparable facilities available at comparable prices. I ended up spending about 60% more to book a facility that was better than I wanted in lieu of spending less to book a facility that I didn't want. I also had to change my itinerary because I ended up making a reservation on the other side of the island.
<<Needless to say, the constuction may have been priority like it was in meatcove 2 weeks ago...people were trapped and stranded because the main bridges collapsed after a hurricane>>
I understand that in an area such as Cape Breton that infrastructure construction can be a priority. Even so, there is absolutely no excuse that it took weeks or months to inform me that my reservation had been cancelled.
<<She called me 2 days later to let me know that she had a cabin available for me.>>
Exactly! When managament was about to lose rent due to vacating construction workers, they called you with the hopes of increasing their revenue. They didn't extend the same courtesy to me because the call that they owed me would not increase their revenue.
<<I am going to go stay there with my husband and infant who is 8 months old>>
I hope the stay proves to be everything that you and your family hope for.
<<perhaps he cancelled his visit because he was scared for his Family's safety!!!>>
That is nothing short of preposterous.
<<The community sent boats in to give them food and water, and the owner of this management was one of them who helped.>>
That's commendable. It's good to know that he treats people who are genuinely stranded better than people who place a deposit months in advance on his rental property. The fact that he reached out to people in desparate need doesn't provide an excuse or a reason for him to treat his customers who have given him a deposit so shabbily.
I am going to respond to the most cogent points of your post.
<<However I believe they gave u enuf time to reserve some place else>>
Perhaps you missed the points of my previous posts. They waited at least three weeks, possibly months, to notify me that my reservation had been cancelled. By the time they notified me, there were no comparable facilities available at comparable prices. I ended up spending about 60% more to book a facility that was better than I wanted in lieu of spending less to book a facility that I didn't want. I also had to change my itinerary because I ended up making a reservation on the other side of the island.
<<Needless to say, the constuction may have been priority like it was in meatcove 2 weeks ago...people were trapped and stranded because the main bridges collapsed after a hurricane>>
I understand that in an area such as Cape Breton that infrastructure construction can be a priority. Even so, there is absolutely no excuse that it took weeks or months to inform me that my reservation had been cancelled.
<<She called me 2 days later to let me know that she had a cabin available for me.>>
Exactly! When managament was about to lose rent due to vacating construction workers, they called you with the hopes of increasing their revenue. They didn't extend the same courtesy to me because the call that they owed me would not increase their revenue.
<<I am going to go stay there with my husband and infant who is 8 months old>>
I hope the stay proves to be everything that you and your family hope for.
<<perhaps he cancelled his visit because he was scared for his Family's safety!!!>>
That is nothing short of preposterous.
<<The community sent boats in to give them food and water, and the owner of this management was one of them who helped.>>
That's commendable. It's good to know that he treats people who are genuinely stranded better than people who place a deposit months in advance on his rental property. The fact that he reached out to people in desparate need doesn't provide an excuse or a reason for him to treat his customers who have given him a deposit so shabbily.
