Problem - Holiday Refund/Details Change

richard001

Hi everyone

On the 3rd of this month I booked a holiday for my mum and I (a surprise for her birthday) at £360 each for a week in Spain, flying out 1 Jan with Thomas Cook.

Due to my mum recently discovering some money problems I had (which have now been sorted) and me struggling to get the time off work, I've realised that booking this holiday was a big mistake (and would probably go down like a lead balloon with my mum) and I think the best thing I can do is cancel it. This isn't as simple as it seems though...

I've just been reading the small print and apparently my holiday is classed as a 'late holiday booking'. This means that if I cancel I lose all my money. My other option would be to travel at a later date (things should be OK in a month or so) but the small print says that Thomas Cook 'will only amend the details if you are prevented from proceeding with your late holiday for reasons beyond your control, and not simply due to a change of mind.' How do Thomas Cook judge 'reasons beyond your control'??

When I booked the holiday over the phone I wasn't told about any of this being unable to cancel etc. Surely they should have told me about these things at the time of booking and the fact that they didn't - if they could trace the call could that help me get my money back?

I'd appreciate any advice before I speak to them! Seems like I've got myself into a bit of a mess :sad:

Thank you, Richard

Bob_the_Saver

Sorry but nothing was beyond your control (except perhaps your spending) if you couldn't afford it you shouldn't have booked it. That is exactly why much of the world is in the mess it is.
Very sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear.

claire16c

Sounds like you might as well go on the holiday if you are going to loose the money otherwise.

Voyager2002

OK, you say your money problems have now been sorted, so you can afford it. That means that your Mum should be grateful for this very generous present rather than saying it was unwise.

The remaining issue is time off work. Presumably at the time you booked you had a reasonable belief that you could get the time off, and now something has changed. To me, that sounds like reasons beyond your control. So ask Thomas Cook if they will allow you to go at a later date: they are likely to agree, since the new year holiday is usually a busy time for them.

Anyway, I don't think that Thomas Cook did anything wrong, unless you actually asked them about cancellation and were given wrong information.

smithson5

^ Thank you for your replies (bar Bob the Saver - I CAN afford the holiday thank you very much, if you read my post properly you'd see that isn't the issue here.)

Just come off the phone to Thomas Cook and explained I can no longer get the time off work and they said: if I cancel I lose all my money (knew this anyway), but whats done my head in is they won't let me travel at a later date. The only thing they'll do is change ONE name, which is no use to me whatsoever.


So basically I may as well have sat here and tore up £722. Surely they can change the date to a later time!!! Just a fraction of flexibility would be nice... My advice is never book with Thomas Cook

starkraving

Thomas Cook haven't done anything wrong. Take responsibility for your own actions!

smithson5

Never said they did. They could be a tiny bit more flexible and human though

tomjonesrules

richard001 wrote: »

Hi everyone

On the 3rd of this month I booked a holiday for my mum and I (a surprise for her birthday) at £360 each for a week in Spain, flying out 1 Jan with Thomas Cook.

Due to my mum recently discovering some money problems I had (which have now been sorted) and me struggling to get the time off work, I've realised that booking this holiday was a big mistake (and would probably go down like a lead balloon with my mum) and I think the best thing I can do is cancel it. This isn't as simple as it seems though...

I've just been reading the small print and apparently my holiday is classed as a 'late holiday booking'. This means that if I cancel I lose all my money. My other option would be to travel at a later date (things should be OK in a month or so) but the small print says that Thomas Cook 'will only amend the details if you are prevented from proceeding with your late holiday for reasons beyond your control, and not simply due to a change of mind.' How do Thomas Cook judge 'reasons beyond your control'??

When I booked the holiday over the phone I wasn't told about any of this being unable to cancel etc. Surely they should have told me about these things at the time of booking and the fact that they didn't - if they could trace the call could that help me get my money back?

I'd appreciate any advice before I speak to them! Seems like I've got myself into a bit of a mess :sad:

Thank you, Richard

smithson5 wrote: »

^ Thank you for your replies (bar Bob the Saver - I CAN afford the holiday thank you very much, if you read my post properly you'd see that isn't the issue here.)

Just come off the phone to Thomas Cook and explained I can no longer get the time off work and they said: if I cancel I lose all my money (knew this anyway), but whats done my head in is they won't let me travel at a later date. The only thing they'll do is change ONE name, which is no use to me whatsoever.


So basically I may as well have sat here and tore up £722. Surely they can change the date to a later time!!! Just a fraction of flexibility would be nice... My advice is never book with Thomas Cook

The OP appears to have changed persona!

soolin

smithson5 wrote: »

Never said they did. They could be a tiny bit more flexible and human though

I am not sure why you think they should be flexible- there is less than 3 weeks to go before the holiday and it is you that has changed your mind- not them..

I have had issues with Thomas Cook in the past- however this is not something that would cause me not to use them again.

dzug1

Why pick on Thomas Cook?

Just about any holiday company has the same or very similar T&C and would take the same line.

epsilondraconis

tomjonesrules wrote: »

The OP appears to have changed persona!

Perhaps the OP can use this to their advantage?

OP, call Thomas Cook again and tell them that you are richard001, but that smithson5 phoned and made the booking without you (richard001) knowing.

If that doesn't work, tell you Mum that this is her Christmas present and birthday present in one. Perhaps just get her a token (v. cheap) gift for her birthday.

Hope you get it sorted anyway rich/smithson/whoever you are.