Segway Events - won't refund even tho they cancelled

markthompson32

Hi unclear of my rights hoping some knowledgable person can help. BOoked a Segway experience for 4 people for a specific date and a specific location. The company shortly before then contacts us to cancel blaming the venue, I suspect the capacity needs were not met, anyway they state they will not refund and will only let us rebook, this seems unfair as I only could go this date as a team building event with colleagues where we had booked cover for the staff, they cancelled not us. They are ignoring requests for refund, do I quote sale of goods/services or threaten credit cArd recharge? Not sure of next steps.. Any advice appreciated.

wealdroam

markthompson32 wrote: »

Hi unclear of my rights hoping some knowledgable person can help. BOoked a Segway experience for 4 people for a specific date and a specific location. The company shortly before then contacts us to cancel blaming the venue, I suspect the capacity needs were not met, anyway they state they will not refund and will only let us rebook, this seems unfair as I only could go this date as a team building event with colleagues where we had booked cover for the staff, they cancelled not us. They are ignoring requests for refund, do I quote sale of goods/services or threaten credit cArd recharge? Not sure of next steps.. Any advice appreciated.

It sounds to me that this might be a business to business transaction.
If so, then you definitely need to read the terms of your agreement.

Probably worth reading those T&Cs in any case.

TBagpuss

You need to read the term and conditions.
I think it is fairly common for this type of thing to include a provision allowing the supplier to offer an alternative date if the one originally booked is not available.
Is the company seeking to put restrictions on when you can re-book for?

wealdroam

OP, what company did you buy from?

markthompson32

The company was Segway events itself http://www.segwayevents.co.uk

unholyangel

And was it booked & paid for by the company or individuals on a personal level?

Being able to rely on consumer rights would make things so much easier. Without consumer rights, you're basically relying on a judge thinking theres a great imbalance between your company and theirs bargaining power.

Their terms are definitely illegal from a consumer perspective though. Such as even when you buy a voucher from them, they say within 7 days you can get a refund minus £10 and after 7 days no refund where the law gives consumers 14 days to cancel and receive a full refund of all monies paid.

Their terms also allow them to cancel with zero liability other than to reschedule - only you must reschedule within 3 months or you lose that too. Again, illegal in consumer contracts especially as it allows them to be negligent with impunity and also cites circumstances that are within their control (ie equipment malfunction/technical difficulties).

wealdroam

So the question remains - was this a business purchase or a consumer purchase?

If it was a business purchase then their T&Cs are probably enforcible.

If it was a consumer purchase then some terms in their T&Cs would be considered breaching Part 2 of The Consumer Rights Act (previously The Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations).