Holiday company ceased trading - help?

samfan121

I had booked an 11 night break for myself to Turkey with Richmond Holidays at the end of June. I've just received an email to say they have ceased trading and the TTA will contact me and I will be refunded any monies I have paid to Richmond Holidays.

I had paid £150 deposit and was due to pay the balance of £600 next week so I am glad it has happened now rather than later! I am happy that TTA will refund me the £150, although I have no idea when that will be, the email was not very specific. Any guesses how long these things usually take?

My main problem is that it was a trip that did not include flights. I had to book those separately with Monarch Airlines at a cost of £240. As far as I can tell from the wording of the email from Richmond, I will only be refunded anything I paid to them directly. Does anyone know if I can claim other costs incurred as well?

From looking at the Monarch site, I don't think I can cancel my booking for the flights as it wasn't a problem from their side. But I think I may be able to pay a fee and transfer the flight to a different destination? Anyone know?

In theory, I know I could keep the flights and just find somewhere else to stay in Turkey for the 11 nights. However I'm travelling alone and specifically chose this trip because it is a group type holiday, with shared activities and opportunities to meet lots of people. If I just booked a hotel, I would be bored out of my mind.

So, my sister has suggested if I can transfer my flight to somewhere else, she has a week off at the start of July, still out of season so flights are available, and we could go somewhere together.

Anyone got any advice on my options?

Thanks!

Alan_Bowen

The danger of booking flights and ground arrangements separately is that you have two separate contracts which stand on their own. The TTA are normally quite good at refunding, the money you paid should be in a trust account and therefore readily accessible, strange that a business selling Turkey has failed as sales seem good this year but who knows what was going on in the background.


So you are stuck with a separate contract with Monarch and it really is a question of what they will allow as regards changes. If your flights are numbered MON.... then they are charter flights and your contract will actually be with the company that chartered the plane and you will need to read their terms and conditions to see the cost of changing. If your flights are numbered ZB, it means it is a scheduled service and your contract is directly with Monarch, flight changes are £35 each way, so £70 return plus any difference in price in the fare at the time you make the change

katejo

Alan_Bowen wrote: »

The danger of booking flights and ground arrangements separately is that you have two separate contracts which stand on their own. The TTA are normally quite good at refunding, the money you paid should be in a trust account and therefore readily accessible, strange that a business selling Turkey has failed as sales seem good this year but who knows what was going on in the background.


So you are stuck with a separate contract with Monarch and it really is a question of what they will allow as regards changes. If your flights are numbered MON.... then they are charter flights and your contract will actually be with the company that chartered the plane and you will need to read their terms and conditions to see the cost of changing. If your flights are numbered ZB, it means it is a scheduled service and your contract is directly with Monarch, flight changes are £35 each way, so £70 return plus any difference in price in the fare at the time you make the change

have you got insurance? That may cover your flight refund.

littlereddevil

Cant you book the same accomodation?

samfan121

Thanks. TTA have contacted me to offer either:

1)Going ahead with the holiday in the same accommodation at a 10% discount, but there will be no resort staff from the company, no transfers and none of the activities that would have been included or seen in the brochure

2) Refund of my deposit

I've gone for the refund deposit option. I had booked the trip because it was a social holiday with activities, excursions etc and I would have been sharing a room with a fellow traveller in the group. I do not want to just stay in the hotel alone. It was also very pricey but I was willing to pay that for all the activities etc. A 10% discount isn't enough for me to still want to go without any of that available to me now.

Monarch won't allow me to refund, as suspected, but I am going to change the flights and take the hit on their admin fee to another destination and take a holiday with a friend instead. Which actually works out cheaper!