Lapland New Forest Scam. How to get money back...

caz1974_2

Lapland New Forest "I got my money back"

I used martins advise, I paid with a VISA debit card from abbey.

So I called my bank using say no to 0870 web site (so call was free) so got straight through to complaints. Explained to them I wanted to use the CHARGE BACK dispute that visa have.

They transferred me to visa who took the details, sent me out a claim form, which I then posted back, within 7 days I had £100 back in my bank.

Very painless took about 2 weeks from start to finish.

Thank you Martin

whitewing

Thanks for the update Caz - it would be worth emailing the Bournemouth Echo too, as that may prompt others to sort their refunds outs. It would be interesting to see which banks are being efficient and which are not over the matter.

______________________________________________________________

ATTENTION PLEASE! Added mid-Jan 2009: Just as a reminder, the latest Lapland New Forest Refund Guide is here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=17633351#post17633351

Fiamma

Hi,

I hope you don't mind me posting this here. It relates to yet more victims of the Lapland New Forest scam but does not talk about how to reclaim the money.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/7797079.stm

Fiamma

whitewing

Good link, Fiamma. (We had a Chernobyl Child over for Christmas a few years ago, and we all tried really hard to make it very special so I can understand the appeal of Lapland New Forest for this group).

______________________________________________________________

ATTENTION PLEASE! Added mid-Jan 2009: Just as a reminder, the latest Lapland New Forest Refund Guide is here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=17633351#post17633351

charpa

Hi

Have been reading this forum for advice after spending £100 on tickets using my visa debit card. My bank, Abbey, were very helpful, spoke to Visa disputes, had to sign a simple slip they sent me and had the money credited back to my account all within 10 days.
Good luck to everyone else claiming refunds and thank you all for your advice.

GomerPyle

Thanks for posting about your success caz1974 as it will give others hope to continue to pursue their rightful desire to have their money refunded.

I got this story from here

http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/localnews/3991625.___Lapland____anger_goes_on/

QUOTE
And nurse Lynda Dyer is seeking a refund for the £200 she ‘wasted’ on a visit.

The trio followed Trading Standards’ advice and complained in writing to the company’s address in Brighton, but Ms Hanger said her recorded delivery post was rejected.
She said: “We’ve written to the attraction’s director. I called Trading Standards who said they’ve had a lot of similar complaints but all we can do is send another letter. It costs £4.90 for recorded delivery and I don’t see the point of throwing good money after bad.”
UNQUOTE

It is annoying to read this as there is no need to waste money on recorded delivery. I posted earlier on a method to use to obtain evidence of posting for which the letter cannot be rejected or returned. That is sufficient (so the article I read said, and to which I linked), so you do it once at a cheaper cost and then pursue your request for a chrgeback.

I hope Trading Standards aren't putting hurdles in the path of claimants.

Certainly contact the Bournemouth Echo as they are clearly still interested, and I may get in touch with them myself.

I don't mind personally being ignored by the FSA and SFO (and I haven't lost any money), but we pay them a lot of money to do a job, and I insist they do it, especially when tens of thousands of people have been harmed by the activities of people who should know better.

GomerPyle

I'm turning a little Victor Meldrew I think. :rotfl:

Update Wednesday 24th December 2008

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4000932.Families_fight_for_Lapland_refunds/

QUOTE
Nicola Anderson, from Telscombe Cliffs, has succeeded in getting a full refund of the £125 she paid for five tickets using the Visa debit chargeback scheme.
She was due to go to the park with her family on Saturday but decided not to after seeing media reports.
She said: “I bought tickets on my Alliance and Leicester Visa debit card. I phoned them and told them what had happened and that I didn’t want to go. They sent me a form which I filled out and returned to them along with copies of the tickets and a letter explaining what had happened.
I’ve now got my money back and just want to forget all about it and enjoy Christmas.”
The Office of Fair Trading advises people who have been to the park and are unhappy to write to the company at its listed address: Unit 1, Wild Park House, Home Farm Road, Brighton.
Anyone who bought for tickets on their credit cards and did not go should contact their card companies.
Those who paid by debit card should contact their bank and use the chargeback scheme.
The park is still being investigated by Dorset trading standards and East Dorset District Council.
A spokesman for trading standards said: “We hope to be able to update the public with what is happening with the company within the next week or so. We have gathered most of the evidence.”

UNQUOTE

whitewing

Gomer, codger, edna, and everyone associated with this thread: have a very merry christmas (and keep the updates coming).

______________________________________________________________

ATTENTION PLEASE! Added mid-Jan 2009: Just as a reminder, the latest Lapland New Forest Refund Guide is here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=17633351#post17633351

GomerPyle

Merry Christmas to you too whitewing, and all contributors.

Once all the people who paid, including those who paid by cheque, have got their money back, then the matter is resolved, and people like the Mears will be much less likely to think they can abuse the system in this way again to make their fortune.

dancing_lynne

I've had what seems like the standard reply from Lloyds TSB Credit card - no refund because the individual preice of the tickets was under £100 - the total of the transaction was £205!!!

What is the best form of attack?!