Go Ballooning...flying off with our money

BlackRabbit_2

My partner and I bought 2 balloon tickets in 2012 with GoBallooning however after 5 attempts to book a flight they cancelled each time blaming poor weather conditions. Our voucher was extended for a further 6 months however the company has now announced that they have gone bust so there is no chance of getting the product purchased. : (
Since services/goods were not received, can we try and claim the money back from Visa debit? I have little faith that the liquidators will hand out cash to the estimated 18,000 disappointed customers...like myself.
Any other ideas much appreciated.

Agricolae

Try a chargeback under the reason "goods or services not received". It shouldn't matter that the company has gone bust - I believe GoBallooning's bank may have to take the hit.

You have 120 days to perform a chargeback from the time you were aware there was a problem.

dalesrider

There is supposed to be a update on the go balloning website today.

You have 120 days to perform a chargeback from the time you were aware there was a problem.

But the above advice is sound. Although the 120 days from when you are aware of the problem is wrong.
Talk to your bank/card providers dispute team.

Many of these debits date back further than yours.

weatherilt

HSBC told us that as we booked over a year ago, it was too old to claim. We think that's just their first reply, so will try again. The web site is now off the air, so I'm not sure how we find out who the liquidator is.

lousbees

I got my tickets at a charity auction a over year ago. I don't need to say that we paid well over the odds for them and have had our flights cancelled 4 times and I didn't pay by card but by cheque. I don't suppose the company will have recieved any money as I think they donated the flight as a prize so at least the money went to charity rather than them. However, it still hurts to lose out. I think we are all in the same boat

Evilm

The administrators are these guys: http://ewsllp.co.uk/

No official notice of appointment or administration/liquidation has shown up on companies house or the London Gazette yet so I can't direct you to a person/branch.

Details found through this article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-22037115

molerat

weatherilt wrote: »

HSBC told us that as we booked over a year ago, it was too old to claim. We think that's just their first reply, so will try again. The web site is now off the air, so I'm not sure how we find out who the liquidator is.

This seems to be something the banks would like you to believe.

From Mastercard regs :

When delayed delivery of goods or performance of services by a card acceptor results in a subsequent dispute about the condition of the goods or the quality of the services, MasterCard will calculate the period of 120 days using the delivery or performance date.
In cases that involve the delayed delivery of goods or performance of services that the cardholder asserts the card acceptor never provided, MasterCard will calculate the period of 120 days from the latest anticipated date that the card acceptor was to provide the goods or services.

From Visa regs :

Chargeback Time Limit - Reason Code 30 (Updated)
1. 120 calendar days from Transaction Processing Date.
2. If the merchandise or services were to be provided after the Transaction Processing Date, the120 calendar day time frame is calculated from the last date that the Card holder expected to receive the merchandise or services or that date that the Card holder was first made aware that the merchandise or services would not be provided, not to exceed 540 calendar days from the Transaction Processing Date.

This is the line taken by Which, Paul Lewis and CAB.

dalesrider

weatherilt wrote: »

HSBC told us that as we booked over a year ago, it was too old to claim. We think that's just their first reply, so will try again. The web site is now off the air, so I'm not sure how we find out who the liquidator is.

Have you got any emails of booking dates that were cancelled and rebookings....

If all you have is the origonal puchase and nothing to say when you were due to take the flight. Then HSBC are right.
As you are over 120 days from the purchase date.

What you need is something to bring it back within that window, such as a email with a flight date on.

Yo umay even find that goodwill payments will be made if outside even the 540 days.

dalesrider

weatherilt wrote: »

The web site is now off the air, so I'm not sure how we find out who the liquidator is.

Is it...... Look here

CAMERON FLIGHTS SOUTHERN LIMITED formerly trading as ‘Go Ballooning’
The above named company ceased trading on 4 April 2013 for reasons of insolvency. The directors have approached Mr Joe Sadler (licensed Insolvency Practitioner) of Elwell Watchorn & Saxton LLP to convene meetings of members and creditors for 24 April 2013 with a view to placing the company into creditors voluntary liquidation.
The directors are currently assisting in preparing a statement of company affairs to be presented to the meetings and no further detailed information is available at the present time. However, all creditors are encouraged to monitor the ‘Go Ballooning’ website at http://www.goballooning.co.uk/ where current information will continue to be posted.
Any creditor who has made payment by credit card or similar is advised to contact their issuing cardholder in the first instance to establish whether payment may be refunded under the ‘chargeback’ scheme. Further details of the scheme may be obtained by typing ‘how do I use chargeback’ into your search engine and following the link to the ‘Which?’ Consumer Rights website.

Agricolae

dalesrider wrote: »

There is supposed to be a update on the go balloning website today.




But the above advice is sound. Although the 120 days from when you are aware of the problem is wrong.
Talk to your bank/card providers dispute team.

Many of these debits date back further than yours.

I think that is a case of bank internal policy rather than the actual card scheme rules. I know a bank doesn't have to perform a chargeback but I think it should at least pay heed to the rules the schemes set out, even if they are rather long...

notanewuser

Gosh, I had trouble with these rogues years ago. I did successfully claim the money back from my credit card under Section 75, but it took a bit of to-ing and fro-ing.

Good luck.