Parking cancellation - distance selling

adamr7747

Hi All,

I booked some airport parking but changed my mind shortly afterwards. The parking company are refusing a full refund and I can't see any reason why they'd be justified in that. None of the exemptions here are relevant:
https://www.gov.uk/online-and-distance-selling-for-businesses#

Before I contact my credit card provider, have I missed something which means I don't have the distance selling cancellation rights?

Thanks,
Adam

Diamandis

I assume it was booked for a specific date? You wouldn't be entitled to a refund if so.

"But there are some contracts you can’t cancel simply because you change your mind, including:

contracts for transport and some leisure services to be provided on a specific date, eg hotel bookings, flights, car hire, concert and other event tickets"

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/distance-selling-regulations#cancelling-a-service-contract

Caz3121

generally when booking airport parking you can choose between non-refundable and refundable rates (latter being more expensive) was this not the case or did the company only offer non-refundable rates?

born_again

adamr7747 wrote: »

Hi All,

I booked some airport parking but changed my mind shortly afterwards.

Before I contact my credit card provider,
Thanks,
Adam

Forget your card provider. Change of mind is not covered.

Carrot007

Use a better company. Mine gives afull refund if notified in 48 hours (maybe 24 I cannot remember). And there are no options for a cheaper unrefundable one (it is cheaper the earlier you book it though).

adamr7747

Thanks for all the quick replies.

Diamandis wrote: »

contracts for transport and some leisure services to be provided on a specific date, eg hotel bookings, flights, car hire, concert and other event tickets"

Where have you found the reference to the "specific date" as an exemption?

Caz3121 wrote: »

did the company only offer non-refundable rates?

To be honest I can't remember exactly what options this company offered though I suspect there were a range of options - it was a parking comparison / intermediary site.

born_again wrote: »

Forget your card provider. Change of mind is not covered.

It wouldn't be because I changed my mind - it would be because the company accepting payments aren't acting lawfully. (In my defence, I didn't just change my mind. It was only after completing the booking that I was told who would be the actual parking provider. I googled them and found they have absolutely atrocious reviews )

Carrot007 wrote: »

Use a better company.

Yes, well, I have done that - re-booked immediately with a provider with more reassuring reviews!

Thanks,
Adam

shaun_from_Africa

adamr7747 wrote: »

Where have you found the reference to the "specific date" as an exemption?

It's here:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/3134/regulation/28/made

Limits of application: circumstances excluding cancellation:

(h)the supply of accommodation, transport of goods, vehicle rental services, catering or services related to leisure activities, if the contract provides for a specific date or period of performance.

born_again

adamr7747 wrote: »

T
It wouldn't be because I changed my mind - it would be because the company accepting payments aren't acting lawfully. (In my defence, I didn't just change my mind. It was only after completing the booking that I was told who would be the actual parking provider. I googled them and found they have absolutely atrocious reviews )
Adam

Again still no cover.
Card regulations are over and above your consumer rights. Not a equal or the same.
You pay a company, does not mean that they are providing the service, as such is not illegal. Poor reviews again are not covered.

eg. I use a parking app to pay for parking. They do not own/run the car parks. Which is exactly the same scenario.

So your defence is that after checking them out "You changed your mind"

The_Rainmaker

Buy cheap buy twice.

Caz3121

adamr7747 wrote: »

It was only after completing the booking that I was told who would be the actual parking provider. I googled them and found they have absolutely atrocious reviews )

was this some type of "mystery parking" unusual not to be given the provider before booking.
What site did you book with?

adamr7747

born_again wrote: »

Again still no cover.
Card regulations are over and above your consumer rights. Not a equal or the same.

Yeah, I don't mean that the credit card company is in the wrong - more that they might not want to be associated with an illegal operation.

The_Rainmaker wrote: »

Buy cheap buy twice.

urr, OK. I think this whole website is about getting good value for things so that seems slightly surprising advice.

Caz3121 wrote: »

was this some type of "mystery parking" unusual not to be given the provider before booking.
What site did you book with?

Merry Parking. I think the option was advertised as "Merry Value", or something like that. I only got the full information (the actual provider) after I'd paid. It seems to me that this should be exactly the justification for the distance selling regulations & the cooling off period - when you don't know exactly what you're getting until after you've paid. Anyway, clearly in this case I'm not protected so I'll have to suck it up.

Adam