Lastminute.com took the money for a flight and then didn't process the booking

Doodikyn

I have booked a flight lastminute on lastminute.com. They took the money out of my account but never processed the booking. Now the flight is twice as expensive and the money will take up to 3 days to return :eek: and I had to take it up with my bank. I was told I have been sent an email informing me of this but I haven't even have a screenshot of the email and the phone number I have provided which are correct.

I do not have the money to book another flight let alone a fight at double the price whilst waiting for my bank to refund the money.

Is there anything I can do?

Thank you.

leylandsunaddict

Doodikyn wrote: »

Is there anything I can do?

Thank you.

In future, remember to book direct with the airline. Using shonky OTAs is just asking for trouble and it certainly won't be the first time this has happened. I know they're calling themselves lastminute know but they were taken over by Bravofly :eek: and Bravofly rebranded their whole group as LastMinute in an effort to rid themselves of their dire reputation. There's been so many complaints about LM since then.

Did the email perhaps get stuck in your spam filter? I access my emails via Outlook Express and Sky. I often get ones in Outlook that go into Spam, but they don't even make it to my Sky account. If it wasn't for OE I'd never know about them.

You've disputed it with the card issuer and that is going to be the quickest way of getting your money back.

Doodikyn

Thank you for your reply.

I did check my junkmail as well but to no avail.

The bank will take up to 3 days to refund by that time the price for the flight will probably go through the roof as it as already doubled form yesterday. Not even if they return the amount I have paid yesterday I wouldn't be able to afford the flight today.

Surely they can't just take the money out of my account then pretend that the consequences have nothing to do with them?

jpsartre

Doodikyn wrote: »

Now the flight is twice as expensive and the money will take up to 3 days to return :eek:

Probably it was always twice as expensive, that's why they didn't process your booking at the lower price.

Caz3121

yes, many third party agents do not have live pricing. They will show a price that gets them to the top of the "cheap" list in comparison sites, get people to request a booking, take the money then come back and ask for more (to get to the real price) or wait for a refund.
Lastminute are part of Bravofly who don't have the best reputation either
The price has not doubled since yesterday - the price they are displaying on their website has doubled, you have not lost a saving as they could not sell you the flight at the price they showed as it was not real
If you want to know the real price of the flights and get a confirmed booking straight away, book with the airline

Doodikyn

Thank you all.

I just don't understand why they would refer me to a page of theirs saying "all booked" and "pack your bags" but most of all why on take the money out of my bank account?

jonesMUFCforever

Can you not sue them for breach of contract?
Have you got Legal expenses cover with your home insurance - give them a call to see what they say.
If you paid using a credit card you could have cover under S75 of the CCA.