First Choice refusing full refund of cancelled package holiday

leavold

Hi, I paid First Choice (FC) over £4k for a package holiday to Thailand which they sourced from Hayes & Jarvis (H&J). The holiday was cancelled when the flight was cancelled on Sunday 19 December. FC is saying H&J are responsible for my refund, H&J say I have to sort it out with FC. Anyone got any advice as I'm banging my head against a wall. I have insurance but will be about £300 out of pocket if I go down that route and I do believe that as it was a package holiday I'm entitled to a full refund of the total cost of the holiday.

Thanks for your assistance.

Saint_Chris

Hi
I'm sorry to hear about your problem, and i can't help you, but if you go to
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=49&sid=3ffaea8b9f5e816e2524622b5a69eb48

you may get some answers good luck

delwynshd

Hi you should most definately be entitled to a full refund

Go back to first choice they are your travel agent who will have to contact Hayes & Jarvis and they will advise when the monies will be refunded

The holiday is full ATOL and ABTA bonded and is a package which means you are entitled to every penny back

DEl

leavold

Thanks Del, I know that and you know that but unfortunately H&J are not complying with the travel package regulations. Any more ideas?

Marauder999

How did you pay for the holiday?
If you paid via CC/DC such as Visa then it might be best contacting your bank and let them pursue it for you.

HXDave

leavold,

if you booked at a FC holiday shop, you need to speak with them and ask them to source the refund from H&J (who are, by the way, part of the same company).

Effectively, H&J should refund the money to FC, who should then refund the money to you.

DO NOT go down the route of the insurance, because as mentioned before (provided it was a full package, which it would appear to be), you should get a 100% refund.

HXDave

tox

If you paid FC then your contract is with them (well your cc firm really). Chase FC and don't let them fob you off. Make sure you get names of people you talk to - seems to make them behave better.... Raise a chargeback with your cc company as well so you won't pay interest on the transaction. Just because FC may not get their money back form H&J that's not your problem, that's their business risk.

HXDave

after re-reading carefully again, you state:

FC is saying H&J are responsible for my refund, H&J say I have to sort it out with FC.

Effectively, this is true. When First Choice say that it is H&J that are responsible for your refung, they are quite right - however what they should have added is that the refund from H&J will go to FC, and once they have the refund from H&J in their bank, they are then in a position to refund you. And when H&J say you have to sort it out with FC, again, effectively this is right, as FC act as the agent between you both.

I would just pop into the store where you booked, and ask to speak with the manager and ask him / her to explain it clearly. Whatever happens, from what you have described, a full refund is definately due, and i feel you have little to panic about, and think you may have just mis-understood the messages.

HXDave.

Reggie_Rebel

Ironically both First Choice and Hayes & Jarvis are owned by TUI