Originally Posted by
gengar
Typically with USA payment processors, authorization reversals are impossible after 24 hours in these cases so it's something that must be addressed with the bank directly. I'm not sure if there are additional rules / considerations for debit cards, but either way there's no excuse for the bank to be withholding access to the funds for several weeks (noting that this has happened to me in the past).
AMEX is the only payment processor I'm aware of in the USA that allows unilateral authorization reversals after 24 hours for CP transactions.
This is a debit card. It is not a "hold". I am guessing that the property really did take a "deposit". A deposit would be no different than showing up with $250 in cash and handing it to the front desk at check-in. Until the cash is returned, you are out the money.
Entirely different than a CC where the "hold" simply means that your CL is reduced by $250 until released.
OP's situation involves someone with a UK bank account and UK trading and consumer laws place additional burdens on banks which are not present in the US.
In this case, if OP's friend cannot obtain the statement form the property (which it is unlikely to provide), then it is back to the bank with a note that the property has refused or failed to provide the information.