Can I claim for my stolen shoes from my hotel?

[JonnyBoy12]

I hope you fellow ABers do not think this matter is too trivial, but it is important to me. Whilst staying at my favourite hotel in London (which shall remain nameless) I noticed something strange on the last day. I noticed that my new shoes, or trainers, if you like to call them that were missing. I know for a fact that I had them with me, as I arrived in them, and also had them earlier in the week. I, of course, notified reception, who told me that the chambermaid would not steal shoes. I beg to differ, as she is the only person who had been in my room apart from myself, and I had even locked the door when going to the bathroom.

Have I got a case for claiming for my lost shoes, either from the hotel, or in the Small Claims Court. Presumably either way I will never be able to stay at this particular hotel again, which is why I am unwilling to pursue this latter option.

Can any ABers offer me advice, and have they had any similar experiences? I would imagine I am not the only person in the world who had had stuff go missing from a hotel room!

[sara3]

I think if the hotel pay up, it would be like an admission of guilt/responsibility.

your best bet would be your home insurance, or taking the matter to a small claims court. if you're going with the small claims court, I would suggest you first report the matter to the police (who will probably not be terribly interested), and then ask the hotel to cough up. if they're willing to pay, there's no point in going to the small claims court.

[craft1948]

good luck Jonny......I stayed in a London hotel and forgot to pack my make-up bag which I'd left in the bathroom. I realised as soon as I got home and rang the hotel.......they supposedly checked lost property and denied I'd left it there........the products cost me over £200.00 to replace.

[dzug]

I think the only circumstance the hotel would be liable for them is if you had deposited them in the hotel safe.

And it ain't necessarily the chambermaid - anyone could have access to your room. The door locks are not THAT secure.

[dothawkes31]

I would use your home insurance, as long as you have the reciept, oh and if you paid by credit card see if u have purchase insurance on that. there is no prooof that you were wearing the trainers when you got to the hotel is there? plus, you may have dropped them or left them somewhere yourself and have just forgotten.

[flip_flop]

Its stretching the old memory banks a bit, but I recall hoteliers have a stict liability for their guest's goods under the Hotel Proprietors' Act 1956.

As the liability is strict, the only defences the hotel has are act of god, Queen's enemies and negligence of the guest.

As the loss is through none of the defences, the hotel are strictly liable for the loss of your shoes.

[fredpuli47]

The Hotel Proprietors Act 1956 sets a limit for claims. It's £50 per article and £100 in aggregate, a low figure which appears in the most recent version of the Act which I can find in the Statute Law Database.That's probably right and updated because £50 in 1956 would have been a substantial sum for a 'no fault' liability. (There's no limit if a) the terms of the Act are displayed at the reception desk b) the proprietor received the property for safe storage at the guest's request or avoided such a request) . The hotelier remains liable, without limit, if the loss of ,or damage to, the property was occasioned by the act, default or negligence of himself or his servant.

[Mortartube]

Here is a copy of the Hotel Proprietors Act 1956. Great bedtime reading..........perhaps not.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1956/cukpga_19560062_en_1