cancellation of a virgin holiday for medical reasons.. but no deposit refund.

GIRLPOWER_2

We booked a holiday last september to florida for myself, husband and our 3 children. going 24th May 2006.

My husband has since developed a serious injury to his knee and requires an op in the next few months. and a good few months recovery after.

I contacted Virgin and they said to write in to the cancellations dept advising of this which I have done.

All they have done is send me a final invoice listing the deposit as a cancellation fee of 730.80 and to say my balance is now nil.

I have telephoned them, they have just refered me to my insurance company to try and re claim the deposit.

We did not take out insurance at the time as we did not think we needed it untill we went and i planned to shop around foer the best deal.

Can I do anything as regards to Virgin refunding at least part of my deposit, I did explain when I wrote to them that we did not have insurance.

Thanks in advance.

richardw

Read in detail the terms and conditions relating to the deposit. If it is not refundable by Virgin and you don't have insurance, did you pay the deposit by credit card? If you did look to see if there is any kind of insurance with the credit card.

It would be great if Virgin could refund some or all of the deposit, and we and others would love to hear of it, because they can re-sell the holiday to others at no loss, end of May is peak time because it is near school half term.

GIRLPOWER_2

Thank you for your reply.

Yes paid by sainsburys credit card. Have just spoken to them and they say ...No Chance!

But worth a try.

nelly_2

at worse try to sell the holliday maybe?

GIRLPOWER_2

Thanks but they have cancelled it now.

richardw

I'm thinking of flying to Shanghai on Virgin or BA soon, in Premium Economy, I'd love to hear if Virgin refunded your deposit, might book on them instead of BA.

GIRLPOWER_2

will let you know, I have wrote to them again asking them to give it consideration etc...

Ems!

Sorry but I don't think you'll get it back. At least you have learned a valuable lesson: always book your holiday insurance when you book your holiday.

jonesMUFCforever

This might be worth a try.
Whatever flight you were booked on keep the details - do not bin them.
Try booking the holiday ONLINE again (obviously not going the whole hog of giving credit card details). - If holiday comes up as unavailable it would be reasonable to assume that they have re-sold YOUR holiday to someone else. They have not lost any money and morally they should reimburse you for most if not all of your deposit.
From personal experience of Virgin Holidays/Atlantic airways customer service expect to have to send at least 6 letters of complaint before anyone in authority will look at your case.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Just remember when doing what I suggested all the holiday details have to be exaxctly as on your booking confirmation.ie same date, same flight, same accomadation,etc etc

photome

Sorry but, I always assumed a deposit was non refundable (full stop) which is why you are always advised to take out insurance at the time of booking (including cancellation insurance).

You may have learnt a valuable lesson regarding insurance, or maybe Virgin will refund some or all of your money although I doubt it.

If Virgin were to refund you, would that not leave the door open for all of us to not insure ourselves.

richardw

photome wrote:

If Virgin were to refund you, would that not leave the door open for all of us to not insure ourselves.

Not really, many people forget or don't realise that travel insurance includes cover for cancellation, I frequently hear people say that they've paid the balance for their holiday and now its about time we got some travel insurance, and this is about 9 weeks before departure!

It is highly likely that Virgin will sell this holiday, it is school half term, demand is high. I think a game of letter tennis with Virgin is well worth paying in this context and if it doesn't get anywhere, never mind, nothing ventured nothing gained.