Sykes Cottages Reviews

Name: Sykes Cottages
Address: Sykes Holiday Cottages Lime Tree House Hoole Lane, Chester
Rating: 1.20

1.2 Rating 1,493 Reviews

4 %

of reviewers recommend Sykes Cottages

Company Reviews

Questions

Metrics

1.2

Based on 1,493 reviews

Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods	Own Driver
Customer Service
Communication Channels	Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In	Over A Week
Customer Service	1.1 out of 5
Returns & Refunds
Refunds Process	Difficult
Returns Process	Could Be Better

Phone:

0124 435 2059

Location:

Sykes Holiday Cottages Lime Tree House Hoole Lane
Chester
CH2 3EG

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Sykes Cottages 4 star review on 6th January 2025

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Sykes Cottages 1 star review on 17th November 2024

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Sykes Cottages 1 star review on 8th November 2024

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Sykes Cottages 1 star review on 2nd November 2024

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221

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

Sort by: Most Recent Most Recent Highest Rated Filter: None None 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Stars Helpful

“We had a lovely week stay In Beas cottage in little Hayfield in the peak district, a lovely well equipped kitchen and new ish shower room a lovely view from the lounge, ,it is very convenient for visiting many of the reservoirs and main villages a great stay .”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“We were promised 2 weeks ago that your wicked insurers Towergate were going to pay the £244 + money they owed us locked down pensioners. No acknowledgement since. Lying cheating unscrupulous thieves.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“I had to cancel our holiday as my partner died a few days before we were due to go. I was angry that an email was sent to my dead partner asking for feedback.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“Booked a holiday for the end of august 2020. My wife is on the vulnerable list due to a medical condition. We requested to move our holiday due to COVID and wanting to stay safe. No reply’s or response. Eventually we decided to cancel our holiday with in minutes they took a £200 cancellation fee out of our account. Shameful company and I advise you to not use them at all.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“We were cottage owners and our treatment is not much better. Out of £317 we got left with £248 after they had taken their bit. Daylight robbery. We have now finally got rid of them and would only have to pay about £6 commission with other holiday rental companies.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“We were booked for 2 separate weeks through Sykes for end May/ beginning June. The time was approaching for us to pay the full balances and we didn't want to do that, so we cancelled online end March, when we couldn't get hold of them at all. They immediately took both full deposits which came to £280 each week, said thank you very much, you won't get any refund. We more or less wrote the money off, but it still annoyed me, so we wrote a letter to their COO in May, and we got an ex-gracia credit on our accounts to use within 2 years. At same time we submitted complaints to CMA. After CMA rulings that they must provide refunds, and many emails later from me, we finally got full refunds for all money paid this week. So please folks just keep at them. We have used them and their related firms more than once a year since 2005, but never ever again. Going to book through owners direct in future.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“We booked with Skye’s at the end of September 2019 and we took out this insurance through Sykes. The holiday was booked for a group of 20 and includes four generations from 2 yrs to 86yrs. Covid-19 guidance does not permit multiple households visiting one location where it exceeds 6 people, let alone allow a group of 20 to holiday together. Within our party are several people shielding (as one example, my 86yr old father has dementia, diabetes and is undergoing cancer treatment) and others are considered vulnerable (diagnosed asthma, diabetes). Plus, 1 couple are still stranded abroad. As you are aware, at present it is a criminal offence to: · meet indoors with anyone who is not a member of your household or, from 13 June, your support bubble, except for specific exceptions set out in law · meet outdoors in a group of more than six with people who are not in your household or support bubble, except for specific exceptions set out in law We are not prepared to take the individual risk. Despite that Sykes have not been able to reassure me that the property we had booked can accommodate social distancing. They have tried to take money out my account and I had to block them with bank. A awful company.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“A truly dreadful company; we canceled a booking in March in plenty of time and made them aware of the financial hardship caused by the loss of my job. Irrespective of this they went ahead and debited almost £600 from my account soon after. This has caused enormous financial hardship and when we called them about this were told to book another cottage OVER. A YEAR FROM THAT DATE. or face a financial penalty. Since then we have sent multiple letters of complaint, all by recorded delivery to both their CEO and Customer Relations office, ALL HAVE BEEN IGNORED. This company are a disgrace and my complaint mirrors that of many thousands of other suffering customers, in which Sykes refused to refund them but were forced to do so. Avoid at all costs.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“Terrible COVID policy. We canceled in plenty of time so they could rebook and I believe they have. No refund allowed. Do not book if you expect to be treated fairly. Travelers will remember poor treatment. I will.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“Appalling customer service through lockdown. Wanted to reschedule holiday due to restrictions, we were coming a long way. Tried ringing countless times, no answer. Waiting for 30 mins at one point. With first email, got a very cold, standard response, as if they hadn't even taken time to read my email. Emailed another 2 or 3 times, each time they took ages to respond, until our holiday dates came and went (we didn't go). They eventually got back to us saying the owners wouldn't change our dates! We don't even have proof they actually asked the owners. Will never ever use them again and I recommend you don't either. Shoddy, unhelpful. God knows what their staff were doing during lockdown because they can't have been at home answering emails.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“Well what can I say only thank you so much for sorting my problem out with lodge booking .. The support you gave me was second to none . It was such a stressful day for me but your team sorted it and I am extremely greatul to you all 😎Top class customer service even though was on hold for over 3 hours but extremely well worth the wait . Thank you all again 👍”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“Fabulous cottage silver birch view in Derbyshire... Spotlessly clean, spacious and homely... We loved our stay.. Already booked again”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“Not even one. Pay a small deposit but that’s not really a deposit, everything you pay is, as they take all your money regardless of cancellation. Charge on top of charge. Tried cancelling after realising I was being charged more for a 3night stat than I would for a whole week. Rude and totally unhelpful.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“Awful customer service,I complained on three occasions about three different properties we had booked. None of which were as excellent as had been made out. None of my complaints were dealt with satisfactory from Sykes. We will never book through them again, . The last property we booked in Norfolk was appalling, must smelling and not worth the extortionate price that was charged.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“I am appaled at your lack of customer care. We booked a holiday for September and purchased your insurance. Due to recently being diagnosed with breast cancer we have to cancel. 12 emails and hours spent on the phone we have not heard a word from Sykes. If you press the option to book a holiday your call is answered immediatley but to speak to someone about cancellation the waiting time is in excess of an hour. Disgraceful”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“SINGLED OUT & LET DOWN We booked Padley Barn in Swaledale for a small group including an NHS worker, and a frontline worker before the lockdown was imposed, knowing it was coming, and anticipating when it would be lifted... expecting a break was going to be needed by then... All correct assumptions as it turns out. We had anticipated the reopening of by September, and there were NO OTHER bookings on the calendar of that property when we booked, and we got a cheap deal... note... no other bookings! 01/04/20 Booked. Booking Reference: 39J9O-20-EN Property Name: Padley Barn Property Reference: 20841 15/06/20 Sykes emailed: "the property you are staying in; the shared washing facilities room will be out of use and DVD's, Books, Games and Toys and soft furnishings will be reduced so there will be less cushions and throws. This is due to current Covid-19 cleaning guidance". 15/06/20 I replied asking for clarification on what they meant by 'shared washing facilities'... not all rooms are ensuite, and were all furnishings being removed? 17/06/20 "In the absence of a response (I realise your staffing is depleted, due to current circumstances) on reflection I think we require some clarification on what ‘the shared washing facilities room will be out of use’ means? Does this mean no washing machine, or a bathroom closed? Could you please clarify… we are paying a set price for a set service/facilities… if there is a significant reduction of said facilities, that would in my view constitute a breach of the contract?" 21/06/20 (the above got an 'URGENT' response) "PBN : 39J9O-20-EN The owner of Padley Barn has advised she is unable to accommodate your booking for 14th August as she has back to back bookings so is unable to guarantee the property is Covid secure. She is happy to offer you any alternative dates at the same price at no extra cost. Kind regards, Luke The Customer Relations Team 22/06/20 "Thank you for your correspondence regarding a booking of Padley Barn on the Friday 14th August, but I am unsure of the relevance of this to us. As you can see from my Booking confirmation, my booking made earlier in the year is for Friday 28th August till Friday 4th September 2020. The deposit of £256.90 has been paid and acknowledged, the booking has been confirmed, and I am due to pay the balance of £401.10 on or before Friday 17th July 2020; we have nothing booked on the 14th August!" (we booked before anyone else anyway) 23/06/20 "PBN : 39J9O-20-EN Thank you for your email. Apologies for the error in your booking dates as that should have said the 28th August 2020. Your booking was booked on 1/4/2020 when the lockdown was in its infancy stage and nobody was able to put a plan together to prevent this from happening at the time. Owners have different cleaning arrangements so we are unable to operate a 'one size fits all' policy on how a property must be ran from week to week. This is the responsibility of the owner to inform how it will work best for them which they have advised this can only be possible by not taking back to back bookings. As a result, this has left them with no choice but to cancel any bookings that arrive on the same day as a previous guest and have to leave a week in between bookings. The notification you received regarding the shared washing facility room being out of use, throws and soft furnishings, Books, DVDs, Games and Toys is simply that. They are unavailable due to current Covid cleaning guidance rules. Your booking is not confirmed and has been cancelled for 28th August 2020. If you can confirm any alternative dates that you can change to? Alternatively, you can transfer this towards another property for same dates or request a full refund." So NOT cancelling alternate bookings... simply TARGETING US ... leaving us with very little time to find an alternative, and much more expensive! It then took till the 9th July to get a refund! BEWARE SYKES COTTAGES - if they don't like a question, they'll dump you”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“AWFUL SERVICE - WOULD NOT RECOMMEND I am absolutely APPALLED by the service provided by Sykes and I would not recommend anyone to use them. The double booked a property, took our payment and sent a confirmation Email, if it wasn't for us reconfirming just days before the stay, we would have turned up and wouldn't have had anywhere to stay. We had family travelling from all over the UK, with travel booked. They refunded us 2 days before our booking, which has left us unable to find alternate accommodation. They had us on hold for over 3 hours in total and were unempathetic at the situation that they had caused. They have offered no resolution and believe that we should be happy that they informed us (Even though we chased this and caused them to see the double booking) and that we have received a full refund 2 days before we were due to travel. This has been an absolutely awful experience for my pregnant fiancee and I, in what is already a very stressful time.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“I had cancelled my holiday booking online 12 weeks before the start of my UK holiday (due to COVID). I received a message on their website that the booking was cancelled and I would receive an e-mail confirming that, also that no further funds were going to be taken out. They then took the funds out anyway (over $1,700). I e-mailed but only got an automated message in return stating they were very busy at the moment. Seriously? I'd give them a 0 star rating, but that wasn't an option. In the middle of a global pandemic they are money grabbing. Disgraceful.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“What a shame we can't trust Trustpilot, has anybody noticed all reviews regarding Sykes has changed into positives. it makes you think who can we trust.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

“Beware when accepting a refund from Sykes Cottages - received an email from them last week offering two options. Option 2 offers ◦A full cash refund (including any commission and fees associated with your booking). ◦Should you select this option we will aim to credit your original payment method (ie. debit / credit card) with the full value of your holiday within 30 days of you submitting your request through your online account. However when you go to your online account Option 2 is quite different i.e. If you have not received a partial/full refund directly from the owner or another source (eg. insurance): We will provide a cash refund to your original payment method (ie. debit / credit card) for the full cost of your holiday excluding the commission we were paid by the property owner for facilitating your booking and excluding the value of the fees you paid to us. We will aim to process this within 30 days of receiving your request. You will receive an ex-gratia credit for the remaining balance. Please select one of the two options below to tell us what you would like to do with this.”

Helpful Report

Posted 4 years ago

Sykes Cottages is rated 1.2 based on 1,493 reviews