Change to holiday by Thomas Cook two weeks before travel can I claim compensation

Paulinepgibbons01

hi I had my documentation sent to me yesterday for a holiday that was for 10 nights all inclusive from 4th May to 14th may. This was booked in October 2015. Thomas Cook have been trying to get hold of me. The flight back on the 14th has been cancelled and the documentation shows it is now a 7 night holiday with flight returning on the 11th May with a discount of about £10. This was an earlier birthday treat for me and I had specifically wanted a 10 day holiday. I have told them I will be seeking compensation, having put this in a letter to them. I have been. In given them the letter and had my money back. I have been told I won't get compensation is this true, this holiday was important to me and I didn't want to accept a shorter holiday or inferior holiday. Any advice please.

meer53

What do you want compensation for exactly ? Have you lost out financially ?

Paulinepgibbons01

meer53 wrote: »

What do you want compensation for exactly ? Have you lost out financially ?

I have purchased a visa which I won't be using and have had my holiday plans spoilt. I wanted a 10 day holiday not a 7 day holiday and I don't want to be offered an inferior holiday. I am extremely disappointed. The reason I booked in October last year was so I could get a decent holiday and hopefully not pay a single supplement. To cancel a flight two weeks before I go is ludicrous. Perhaps someone can tell me whether I would be entitled to compensation for a major change before the actual holiday.

peachyprice

Paulinepgibbons01 wrote: »

Perhaps someone can tell me whether I would be entitled to compensation for a major change before the actual holiday.

You were entitled to a full refund, which is what you have had.

Caz3121

Paulinepgibbons01 wrote: »

The flight back on the 14th has been cancelled

Compensation for flight cancellation applies when you have been given less than 14 days notice before the date of the flight
As the flight is the 14th May, you have been given more than 14 days notice of the cancellation so compensation does not apply

[Deleted User]

I can the OPs point though. I would not be happy either. £10 for 3 days less.

Imagine phoning the company and saying I dont fancy 10 nights now can I go for 7 please? Would they say ah ok then we'll do that for free. No way.

Unfortuantely, people like thomas cook know they can get away with it and dont give a toss/

blindman

Paulinepgibbons01 wrote: »

I have purchased a visa which I won't be using and have had my holiday plans spoilt. I wanted a 10 day holiday not a 7 day holiday and I don't want to be offered an inferior holiday. I am extremely disappointed. The reason I booked in October last year was so I could get a decent holiday and hopefully not pay a single supplement. To cancel a flight two weeks before I go is ludicrous. Perhaps someone can tell me whether I would be entitled to compensation for a major change before the actual holiday.

Have you actually looked in their Terms and conditions?

If it's only the return flight can they not put you on another airline?

Next time DIY :cool:

leylandsunaddict

Presuming this is a TC package if you don't want the alternative offered you are entitled to a full refund and £15 compensation. If you want to accept the change you are entitled to £30 compensation. Alternatively you can choose another holiday and pay or receive any difference in cost and receive £30 compensation. It's all laid out in the agreed terms and conditions.

You've not said which destination but if it's Turkey or Egypt airlines have been consolidating and cancelling flights.

[Deleted User]

leylandsunaddict wrote: »

Presuming this is a TC package if you don't want the alternative offered you are entitled to a full refund and £15 compensation. If you want to accept the change you are entitled to £30 compensation. Alternatively you can choose another holiday and pay or receive any difference in cost and receive £30 compensation. It's all laid out in the agreed terms and conditions.

You've not said which destination but if it's Turkey or Egypt airlines have been consolidating and cancelling flights.

Yes its all well and good to say its in the T+Cs but I've got a real thing about this "charge and then we'll cancel if we want later" thing.

Most of us book things like holidays and dont have the rights to cancel if we can't be bothered afterwards. Yet holiday companies seem to be able to charge you, keep your money for a few months then say, sorry, can't do it now, have your money back. Its wrong.

I remember years and years ago, arranging for roses to be delivered on valentines day. Didnt arrive. Phoned the Florist. They said "sorry we didnt have time - we'll give you a refund". I was livid. All they did was point to the T+Cs to say they could cancel the order and refund at any time.

Basically, what they were doing was taking as many orders as they could and trolling through them. If they didnt manage it they just refunded. Nothing lost. They didnt care either. This is wrong because there is, at times, a HUGE loss or inconvenience to the purchaser. In my case, it was now too late for valentines flowers in the OPs case they booked a 10 day holiday now they might not be able to get one.

(I did get my letter printed in the local paper about the Florist and it all came out that they'd done this to a lot of people so I'd like to think that next year they're orders were well down).

[Deleted User]

Also had a similar with next years panto tickets. Paid £150 last december. Had letter last week - sorry we're not running those dates now. Of course, its all sold out now for other dates.

They'd basically been taking money not even knowing what dates the panto would be running. Because they know that A) it'd be nice to have the money in the bank and it wouldnt matter because they could just refund.

I could offer trips to the moon in 2021 for £1000 a person.But you've got to pay now. Keep hold of the money, wait until 2021, see if I could get something sorted, if not just give everyone a refund. Nothing lost but a lot gained on interest maybe.

There should be a law about a supplier not being able to back out like this and cause such inconvenience and just expect to be able to get away with just a refund.

leylandsunaddict

[quote=[Deleted User];70550509]Yes its all well and good to say its in the T+Cs but I've got a real thing about this "charge and then we'll cancel if we want later" thing.

Most of us book things like holidays and dont have the rights to cancel if we can't be bothered afterwards. Yet holiday companies seem to be able to charge you, keep your money for a few months then say, sorry, can't do it now, have your money back. Its wrong.

I remember years and years ago, arranging for roses to be delivered on valentines day. Didnt arrive. Phoned the Florist. They said "sorry we didnt have time - we'll give you a refund". I was livid. All they did was point to the T+Cs to say they could cancel the order and refund at any time.

Basically, what they were doing was taking as many orders as they could and trolling through them. If they didnt manage it they just refunded. Nothing lost. They didnt care either. This is wrong because there is, at times, a HUGE loss or inconvenience to the purchaser. In my case, it was now too late for valentines flowers in the OPs case they booked a 10 day holiday now they might not be able to get one.

(I did get my letter printed in the local paper about the Florist and it all came out that they'd done this to a lot of people so I'd like to think that next year they're orders were well down).[/QUOTE]

I didn't say whether the T&Cs were right or wrong, or whether I agreed with them, I was just pointing out the terms the OP contracted to, which don't allow for further compensation (since that was the question asked).