Friends have cancelled on me coming on holiday...

robram2

Hi two questions here really... firstly, about the holiday booked, the other about the legal side and the people who owe me the money.

Basically, months ago, I booked a cheap holiday deal through expedia to Vegas flying united airlines in october. it worked out 480 quid each and boooked it for myself, my wife, and two of our friends.

Unfortunately, our friends have fallen out with us, and although we are happy for them to come on holiday with us, they are refusing to, and also they are refusing to pay up for the holiday that I booked on my credit card.

Firstly, Expedia say that the flights are both non -refundable, and non transferrable. Is this true? are there any loop holes to get the money bcak, or transfer the flights to different people?

Secondly, if they still don't pay up after the holiday date, can I use the small claims court to claim the money owed to me by my (ex)friends? Their names are on the booking, and I am out of pocket because they are refusing to pay.

Any help/advice much appreciated.

Bufger

its times like these where i wish i owned a Brutes for hire business.

Sit tight robram, i'm not completely certain on the legal position you hold here but i expect you're protected somehow.

ankspon

if you can prove you paid for them and they have no proof they paid you back then small claims is the way forward

jenster

terrible for u for this to happen

i hope u can get some reconpence because there on the booking form

but its like lending "so called friends" money u have to prove they havent paid you back

saying is never be a lender or borrower be

gl with it

SimbaSimon

robram2 wrote: »

Hi two questions here really... firstly, about the holiday booked, the other about the legal side and the people who owe me the money.

Basically, months ago, I booked a cheap holiday deal through expedia to Vegas flying united airlines in october. it worked out 480 quid each and boooked it for myself, my wife, and two of our friends.

Unfortunately, our friends have fallen out with us, and although we are happy for them to come on holiday with us, they are refusing to, and also they are refusing to pay up for the holiday that I booked on my credit card.

Firstly, Expedia say that the flights are both non -refundable, and non transferrable. Is this true? are there any loop holes to get the money bcak, or transfer the flights to different people?

Secondly, if they still don't pay up after the holiday date, can I use the small claims court to claim the money owed to me by my (ex)friends? Their names are on the booking, and I am out of pocket because they are refusing to pay.

Any help/advice much appreciated.

The way I see it you have 3 options. You can either

1) Take them to small claims court, take your proof they've not paid you and it was booked for them for you to go together and hope it goes in your favour, do you have anything in writing and signed? This would help.

2) The alternative (and probably the less stressful option) Speak to Expedia about getting the taxes back from the flight. Although you can't get a refund on the actual cost of your seat, the taxes they charge are refundable. Take a hit on the remainder part thats non refundable and learn to agree to have money upfront for future bookings to avoid this mess.

3) Finally you could take someone else like a friend or family member and pay a fee to have the name changed to someone else. Expedia should allow this but will charge a small fee per flight to do so. The friend/family member could then pay to go on holiday with you to make up your loss.

pinkcandyflossprincess

i should think in the small claims that unless they have a reciept from you saying they have paid you that they would have to pay up as it is unlikely you would have bought tickets for them without expecting payment

Doshwaster

pinkcandyflossprincess wrote: »

i should think in the small claims that unless they have a reciept from you saying they have paid you that they would have to pay up as it is unlikely you would have bought tickets for them without expecting payment

In my experience the threat of going to the Small Claims Court is usually enough to get people to pay up as they don't want the hassle of it all., especially if they know there in the wrong.

The only problem is that there is no contract between you and your friends that they are going to pay your back. It was just a verbal agreement - these can be hard to enforce as the other party only has to say "oh, I thought you were buying them for us as a present!"

foxy-roxy

I woud see if others who want to go will pay the extra for the fee charged for changing the name on the tickets and go with that

Spring909

I very much doubt you'll be able to change names on these tickets. Normally it's only budget airlines that allow you to do a name change for a fee.

Check what the tax refund is. A lot of airlines are not refunding the security tax now which is the most expensive part, but if United do, you should get a bit back.

Doshwaster

Spring909 wrote: »

I very much doubt you'll be able to change names on these tickets. Normally it's only budget airlines that allow you to do a name change for a fee.

Yeah - airlines may allow (for a fee!) minor name changes due to spelling mistakes but you can't totally change the name on non-refundable tickets. This is to stop people buying tickets and creating a secondary market by selling them on places like EBay.

Voyager2002

I suggest a polite but formal letter to your "friends" confirming that the holiday is booked and that you are expecting payment from them. The letter should say that you need the payment within (say) fourteen days because you need to pay your credit card, and should state that if you do not receive payment by then you will be forced to commence legal proceedings. This should be presented as a statement of fact (calm) rather than a threat.