Please Help...Loosing money over swine flu

ellybellybalooba

Hi

I have a problem, it's making me sick with worry.

I have booked and paid for a holiday to Mexico, flying the 26th May. My travel company, Marks Travel, has cancelled flights to Mexico until 13th and is offering all those travelling up until that date a full refund.

I don't want to go to Mexico anymore as the risk of infection is high and I suspect that the resort will be empty with few bars and restaurants open anyway. Meaning the quality of the holiday will be lessened.

If I do decide to cancel my holiday usual cancellation charges apply meaning i'll loose 70-100% !!!!!

The advice from my travel insurance is that they will not pay out saying 'you can't claim just because you don't want to get ill'

Is there any government loop hole or anything that will mean that i can cancel the holiday and still get a refund? It's making me sick with worry over loosing so much money.

I hope someone can help.

Baz_2

Who have you booked the holiday with?

Is it a package deal or have you done it yourself with separate flights and hotels?

You need to get your nose into the terms and conditions and see what the cancellation rights are.

dzug1

The only way you will get a refund is if the company you have booked with cancel more departures. They may well do so but are waiting to see if the situation improves.

If YOU change your mind about travelling before then then normal cancellation terms apply.

mattymoo

The main govt loophole would be the FO Advice to Travellers. If they state that it is unsafe to travel to Mexico then that should trigger the insurers cover.

I'm not a travel insurance expert but whenever I've dealt with customers who have employees working overseas, they are always told to check the FO site.

PS: here you go - http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/north-central-america/mexico

pedro123456

Sorry elly......"Is there any government loop hole or anything "

All loop holes are the perminantly in the hands of the Insurance companies, .......paid for I'm afraid by us "the public" through the excessive premiums we pay and never challenge.

and these excessive premiums pay for the legal professions employed by the IC's to shut all loop holes.

wish you luck...........you will need it.

Pete

ellybellybalooba

Baz wrote: »

Who have you booked the holiday with?

Is it a package deal or have you done it yourself with separate flights and hotels?

You need to get your nose into the terms and conditions and see what the cancellation rights are.

I've booked with Mark's Travel and is a package deal. They have a Mexico swine flu area which stipulates the cancellation charges.

I think i'll just have to hope that they cancel flights nearer my holiday in order to get a full refund....but in the same respect i don't want to wish the situation to get worse!

They have offered to change the location, but we don't want to go anywhere else , plus our holiday was a special deal and we can't afford to pay anymore to change over.

mattymoo

pedro123456 wrote: »

Sorry elly......"Is there any government loop hole or anything "

All loop holes are the perminantly in the hands of the Insurance companies, .......paid for I'm afraid by us "the public" through the excessive premiums we pay and never challenge.

and these excessive premiums pay for the legal professions employed by the IC's to shut all loop holes.

wish you luck...........you will need it.

Pete

You really are starting to sound like a stuck record now.

nomoneytoday

I'm sure you will be fine. More people get run over by space ships docking then have been killed in the UK...

pedro123456

Thanks Matty..........I haven't finished yet either......I am enjoying it...........If you dont want to read what i write.......overt your eyes........lol.........

New post coming up soon.............feel free to contribute and talk to me.....lol

Ta Pete

dacouch

Matty Moo the FO Travel Advices made me chuckle, I imaginge the O stands for off. I think you are onto something, it could be a good advice line especially for a very cheap and cheerful Travel Insurer or better still Ryan Airs' complaints line. Typical call "I have a complaint about my flight", the reply would be "F.O"