PACKAGE TRAVEL REFUNDS-What is theTruth?

[Flying Hi]

Originally Posted by ivor toolbox

Under the Package Travel Regulations (ie the law)
it's supposed to be 14 days, however, ABTA have been telling their members not to pay out and give a credit voucher instead, and additionally, that any credit voucher is ATOL protected and guaranteed, however, ATOL have so far not agreed to any such guarantee.

Ttfn

ABTA is only a trade organisation and cannot change the Law. And why are ABTA telling Porkies about ATOL protection?
BTW - is it an Offence to entice someone to break the Law?

[stormin norman]

First Choice /TUi
Just tried to amend my on line booking to another date ( as the web site tells me I can ). It then tells me the Holiday is a 'popular destination' and is sold out.
Yet go on line and try to book the same holiday as a new customer and the holiday is for sale .
Who's ripping who off here ?

[Ancient Observer]

In the UK we have a helpful bit of legislation which is normally called Section 75. As long as you spend at least £100 through your credit card for your flights/holidays, the Credit card Co is just as liable as the vendor. If the vendor does not deliver its contract, just ring the credit card Co., and they will fix it.

[flash8]

As an analogy.

A friend who in the UK has paid his water/rates promptly every month for the last decade or so suddenly found the company had debited a years amount (thousands of pounds) from his account in one transaction soon after the lock-down, with no explanation.

Another friend who had business continuity insurance that clearly states he is eligible and covered has simply been refused compensation by a large insurance company (AIG) who have forwarded him amended terms and conditions that are undated and likely whipped up in the last few weeks. A f--- you to all their policy holders and they well know it, and blatantly illegal, but they'll fight it for years with expensive lawyers to delay paying anything out.

My point is the travel industry isn't any different, they'll screw you as far as they can, pushing the limits and breaking T&C's until the publicity gets too horrendous, and even then many will not back down as the hit would be too great.

It's safe to expect behaviour to be of the worse kind in most cases.

[ShotOne]

This entire thread is sparked by a pack of falsehoods. Refusing refunds for a year? Point blank lie, as attested by several ppruners here. Serve the OP right if they set their lawyers on him. That said, it’s entirely understandable holiday companies will want to strongly encourage customers to seek a voucher over a refund. This crisis wasn’t in any way their fault and we’ll all want a holiday when this is done.

[Bidule]

Originally Posted by ShotOne

This crisis wasn’t in any way their fault and we’ll all want a holiday when this is done.

Not the individuals' fault either. We may "all want holiday" if we are able to still have the money for it, and the persons may have a more important use of the refund when for instance, they lost their job....

.

[ShotOne]

That’s not a valid argument, bidule. Agreed on refund entitlement if a holiday can’t be delivered, even because of circumstances way outside the holiday company’s control. But not because someone finds “a more important use of the refund”.

[Royjet]

Before condemning Jet2 might I suggest you see what happens...... I can tell you from personal experience that they DO WHAT THEY SAY ON THE EMAILS they send you individually..... if you do not want the options offered on line.
I had a courteous discussion with the team member that called me and they have agreed to give me a refund and PROMPTLY sent an email confirmation.
Before making unwanted remarks one should read info sent to you individually and follow instructions. I have dealt with Jet2 on many occasions and have only ever had respect, courtesy and AGREED action between myself and them.

[highstreet54]

We had a holiday booked with BA Holidays. Out of the blue, we had an email saying our flights/ hotel had been cancelled and that they were refunding the whole cost back to my credit card. Took just over a week to hit my credit card. One phone to bank and cash is back in my account.

i had been prepared for a long wait on the phone to get through to BA, but (in my case anyway) all credit to them.

[Ancient Observer]

Anyone sensible would want their money back. If all the travel agents end up bust, ABTA would be bust too. And they cannot tell the CAA/ATOL, what to do.
The UK law is the law in the UK. Travel agents have 14 days to refund folk for cancelled packages. Failing to do that is unlawful.

[WHBM]

Originally Posted by ShotOne

That said, it’s entirely understandable holiday companies will want to strongly encourage customers to seek a voucher over a refund. This crisis wasn’t in any way their fault and we’ll all want a holiday when this is done.

The downside of a lot of vouchers floating about is that they applicable only against whatever price the holiday companies may choose to market at when things restart. If there are all these voucher holders, and a limited number of holidays available at first, the normal supply and demand comes into it, the holidays will be priced accordingly, and those with a voucher from the previous year will then find it only covers half of what the company is now charging.

You find the same thing with corporate discounts (a variant on vouchers) on airfares. Expressed as a percentage reduction they may look attractive, but on routes where such traffic predominates the base price tends to be increased, because so many are going at a discount.

[stormin norman]

First choice /Tui are now offering the same holiday I booked but rolled over 12 months at a new inflated price ( you must pay the difference to get the same holiday you have already paid for)
if this is not highway Robbery I dont know what is.

[Bidule]

Originally Posted by Ancient Observer

The UK law is the law in the UK. Travel agents have 14 days to refund folk for cancelled packages. Failing to do that is unlawful.

https://www.btnews.co.uk/article/15990

.

[stormin norman]

Tui/ first choice have increased the cost of the holiday I booked for June this summer by 24% for the same holiday next year.

Maybe someone who works for TUI on this site can explain this extortionate price hike for paid up customers ?

How can it hope to retain customers doing this

I know I dont have to pay and i won't. It's their jobs not mine.

rant over ..

[WHBM]

Just to show the upside, we were booked on a Jet2 holiday departing March 29th. Some days before departure we got an email saying that it was cancelled and our funds would be fully returned, give them 28 days to do it. Bank statement came today, they were as good as their word, fully refunded, and they beat their target by quite a bit. No need for any chasing from our side at all.

I've always found them an honourable and well-managed company. Funds being kept for when they open up again.

So in response to the original question "What is the truth", that's it.

[Hadley Rille]

I had a package booked with TUI departing 2nd April. Received "don't call us..." emails prior to that date. Called them on the day travel was due and received a full refund via bank transfer - minus the ATOL fee of about £8.50
Excellent service. The contract wasn't broken until that day so couldn't expect a refund beforehand.

[The Many Tentacles]

Originally Posted by highstreet54

We had a holiday booked with BA Holidays. Out of the blue, we had an email saying our flights/ hotel had been cancelled and that they were refunding the whole cost back to my credit card. Took just over a week to hit my credit card. One phone to bank and cash is back in my account.

i had been prepared for a long wait on the phone to get through to BA, but (in my case anyway) all credit to them.

We had the same thing, an email saying our outbound flight was cancelled and then another email saying the whole holiday was cancelled with the promise of a refund. That was a few days ago and it's not hit the accounts yet, but I was impressed enough to rebook the same holiday for February next year albeit with a extra night away for a few hundred quid less

I think after this people are going to remember the companies that behaved with decency and they'll do well

[ivor toolbox]

Originally Posted by Ancient Observer

Anyone sensible would want their money back. If all the travel agents end up bust, ABTA would be bust too. And they cannot tell the CAA/ATOL, what to do.
The UK law is the law in the UK. Travel agents have 14 days to refund folk for cancelled packages. Failing to do that is unlawful.

Correct...but ABTA are telling their members not to refund , as they are trying to get the regulations (law) changed. IE Inciting their members to be unlawful.

While ATOL ,at present, is not providing 'cover' for said refund vouchers


Ttfn

[Ancient Observer]

As and when the various travel organisers become bankrupt, ABTA will also become bankrupt. ABTA is funded by the travel industry. They cannot tell ATOL/DfT/HMT what to do.
As you say, they are currently inciting members to break the law.
Thankfully, in the UK we have Section 75.

[Dave Gittins]

It is pretty unlikely that lobbying government for a change in the rules / law will be effective. The law in place at the time the booking was made and the money changed hands is the one that has effect … at least that should be the case in any just and honest society.