Scammed? Need to cancel travel package paid for off site

pinkshoes

If it said:

three night New York Christmas getaway with Broadway tickets.

Then the word ‘getaway’ implies flights and transfers. Otherwise it is not a getaway, just accommodation.

Even the guide price indicated that flights would be included.

£1850 would get you a 3 night stay in NY in a 4* hotel including flights with Virgin, so add say £250 for broadway tickets and you meet your guide price.

I would start by writing to the company supplying the prize, and state that a getaway should include flights and transfers as reflected in the name and price guide, so could they either provide flights and transfers or issue a full refund.

You could then also try contacting your card provider.

MobileSaver

paula.paula13 wrote: »

He paid in full on his Visa debit card.

I wish I could add something more constructive to help with your predicament but I just have to raise this to hopefully make others think in the future...

What on earth was he thinking paying £3,000 on a debit card instead of a credit card?!?! As I'm sure you know, if it does all go pear-shaped with the travel company you would have had a lot more protection if a credit card had been used. Please, please, please, everyone when paying any significant amount always use a credit card and just pay it off in full at the end of the month.

born_again

pinkshoes wrote: »

I
You could then also try contacting your card provider.

On what basis?

There is only the OP's thought that it was a full package holiday and not just accommodation. Even if it was on a credit card, as someone suggested. S75 would not cover this as there is no proof that flights were included.
The fact that the table flyers now say Accommodation only, tend to say that OP did not fully read it and got caught up in the moment of the previous discussion of "Would be nice to go to New York" over christmas. And seeing a chance to earn some brownie points

Why not name the charity and the company who were running this so called scam?
It could be someone that other users have heard of in the past.

paula.paula13

Hi all, just wanted to update you. The charity responded to me and were concerned about what had happened. This was the first time they had used the trader involved for a fund raising auction.
They have discussed it with the trader who has agreed to issue a full refund. We are just waiting for that to be processed.

I'll leave this thread in case it's of use to other members. The advice I gained from various sources in the end was that the best way forward was to proceed under the Package travel regs 2018. The trader failed in their statutory duty to provide key pieces of information prior to taking the package holiday booking. (Whether it included flights or not didn't matter, it was a package holiday either way.)

Aylesbury_Duck

paula.paula13 wrote: »

Hi all, just wanted to update you. The charity responded to me and were concerned about what had happened. This was the first time they had used the trader involved for a fund raising auction.
They have discussed it with the trader who has agreed to issue a full refund. We are just waiting for that to be processed.

I'll leave this thread in case it's of use to other members. The advice I gained from various sources in the end was that the best way forward was to proceed under the Package travel regs 2018. The trader failed in their statutory duty to provide key pieces of information prior to taking the package holiday booking. (Whether it included flights or not didn't matter, it was a package holiday either way.)

Thanks for updating us, useful information. Bet your husband is relieved! How long have you got him doing all the household chores?

Jumblebumble

paula.paula13 wrote: »

Hi all, just wanted to update you. The charity responded to me and were concerned about what had happened. This was the first time they had used the trader involved for a fund raising auction.
They have discussed it with the trader who has agreed to issue a full refund. We are just waiting for that to be processed.

I'll leave this thread in case it's of use to other members. The advice I gained from various sources in the end was that the best way forward was to proceed under the Package travel regs 2018. The trader failed in their statutory duty to provide key pieces of information prior to taking the package holiday booking. (Whether it included flights or not didn't matter, it was a package holiday either way.)

The charity is obviously run by people who are blessed with common sense.
They have realised the repututional risk that comes with allowing such scams to take place in their name.