May be the £30.00 was the accomodation providers cost to cancel as opposed to being holiday nights own charge or perhaps a mixture of both?

True but as it was a genuine mistake on an internet booking I still find it harsh. Also, it's a general condition regardless of the hotel so to me that suggest it's Holiday Nights pocketing the money as most hotels allow you to cancel up to 24 hours before booking.

Sorry forgot to ask would they let you amend the dates for a lesser charge? If you book direct with a hotel yes you can usually cancel up to 24 hrs prior to arrival but if you book through a third party this doesn't usually apply as they have an allocation of rooms from the hotels. Most holiday companies would normally have a cost to cancel/amend a confirmed booking irrespecitve of when they have to pay their supplier.

My friend booked and paid with this company to Turkey, on arrival in the early hours of the morning his hotel told him that there had been no reservation for him, fortunately for him his credit card was available to take up accomodation at a lesser hotel costing some £750. It took a great deal of anxiety and patience to sort it all, in the end he did not receive all he had paid Holiday Nights, I would certainly not consider this company. Be very careful!!!.

I'm glad to say that in the end they refunded my money in full.