B&B owner swindled couples over prices

A seaside bed and breakfast owner swindled three Black Country couples, charging them hundreds of pounds more than the agreed fee for rooms for a weekend break.

Christopher Meah, owner of the Roscrea Hotel in Paignton, Devon, quoted the couples £60 for a room for the night but instead charged £80 per person per room direct from their credit card.

He was yesterday forced to pay out thousands of pounds in costs and compensation after admitting four charges of engaging in a misleading commercial practice at Warley Magistrates Court.

The first the victims knew they had been overcharged was when they were sent invoices to their home address after their stays. Victim Brenda Mynett, of Darby Road in Wednesbury, saw the prices of rooms advertised in a brochure for B&Bs from £46-60 a night per room. She then booked with Meah's wife on November 25, 2008, who quoted her £240 for two rooms for two nights.

After her stay, grandmother-of-five Mrs Mynett, who lives with her husband Alan, then received an invoice for much more. She called Meah, who said he knew nothing of the advertisement in the brochure.

Karen Owen, of Eldalade Way in Wednesbury, was also quoted £120 over the phone for her two-night stay with her husband but received an invoice to her home for £320. Meah, however, refunded the difference to Mrs Owen.

A third couple, a Mr and Mrs Willis, of James Road, Hamstead, Great Barr were also quoted £60 per room per night but ended up being charged £80 each per night.

Meah pleaded guilty to four charges of engaging in a misleading commercial practice from November 25, 2008 to December 3, 2008. He was fined £1,000 for two couples he had not refunded, and ordered to pay £320 compensation to each. He was also ordered to pay £5,992.75 prosecution costs.