Thomas Cook effectively cancelling my summer holiday - advice needed

SarahMcA

I booked a package holiday with Thomas Cook in August 2013 to travel in August 2014 and have paid in full. Yesterday they rang me to advise me that my accommodation was no longer available and I could have a refund or find an alternative holiday at the same cost + an extra £50 per person. However as I booked early I paid a relatively low amount (£1700 for 4 people for 2 weeks) and within that price range there is absolutely zero holidays that appeal. I am obviously fairly annoyed as I will struggle to find anything now at this late stage that a) I can afford and b) I want to go to. I have told Thomas Cook that I expect a like for like holiday but so far they are refusing to budge; I effectively feel I am being backed into a corner to take the refund but I don't feel that is fair. Please does anyone have any advice for me? Many thanks.

Obviously_the_best

All they are obliged to do is give a full refund. Nothing more you can do.

Kaybenson

Its unfair.

Imagine a company keeping someone's money since august.

That is NOT good in my opinion.

PeacefulWaters

Kaybenson wrote: »

Its unfair.

Imagine a company keeping someone's money since august.

That is NOT good in my opinion.

But doesn't change the contractual reality.

photome

Kaybenson wrote: »

Its unfair.

Imagine a company keeping someone's money since august.

That is NOT good in my opinion.

What is unfair? the accomodation is unavailable and the OP has been offered a full refund or a change with an extra £50 per person thrown in.

Although it does look like an alternative is hard to find, but what else do you think thomas cook should do

[Deleted User]

Thomas Cook could actually show some CUSTOMER SERVICE and try and sort something. The customer showed good faith in booking a year in front they should stop hiding behind the t&c .

photome

shrimper1 wrote: »

Thomas Cook could actually show some CUSTOMER SERVICE and try and sort something. The customer showed good faith in booking a year in front they should stop hiding behind the t&c .

What should they do?

stephb34

SarahMcA wrote: »

I booked a package holiday with Thomas Cook in August 2013 to travel in August 2014 and have paid in full. Yesterday they rang me to advise me that my accommodation was no longer available and I could have a refund or find an alternative holiday at the same cost + an extra £50 per person. However as I booked early I paid a relatively low amount (£1700 for 4 people for 2 weeks) and within that price range there is absolutely zero holidays that appeal. I am obviously fairly annoyed as I will struggle to find anything now at this late stage that a) I can afford and b) I want to go to. I have told Thomas Cook that I expect a like for like holiday but so far they are refusing to budge; I effectively feel I am being backed into a corner to take the refund but I don't feel that is fair. Please does anyone have any advice for me? Many thanks.

Are you sure you're understanding what they're offering you, as normally if the accommodation you have booked is no longer available they offer you an alternative free of charge and normally of a better standard, if you refuse you can then pick an alternative but you have to pay the price difference or you can have a full refund and pick a completely different holiday.

DavidF

photome wrote: »

What should they do?

Offer a holiday at the price they would have paid back in august last year, that way op get the "discount" they would have got had they booked last year....Plus an extra £50 per person voucher. Seems common sense and courtesy to me to be fair.

mgdavid

shrimper1 wrote: »

Thomas Cook could actually show some CUSTOMER SERVICE and try and sort something. The customer showed good faith in booking a year in front they should stop hiding behind the t&c .

It's swings and roundabouts; the upside of booking and paying a year in advance is getting a 'bargain' or a cheap price. The downside is you run the risk of any circumstances which make the holiday unavailable. If you check the Charities register you will find that Thomas Cook are not on it. They aren't hiding behind anything. The Ts & Cs are the company's published terms for doing business and are there for all to read. If you don't want to do business under the Ts and Cs, take your business elsewhere. Any other response is illogical and stupid.

If it were me I'd drop my aspirations and choose a different holiday.

jimd-f

first thing to do is read the T&Cs again -you did read them when you booked?- and see what they say there about your rights.
normally a TO would offer alternative accomodation first, or offer to amend your holiday for a fee and if you refused give you a refund.
you also need to reread the letter from thos cook to ensure you really do understand what exactly they are offering you