Coronavirus travel disruption - latest info and your rights

Life__Goes__On

lorrainet123 said:

Whizz Air have reopened flights from U.K. I have flights booked directly with them in May. They are refusing to refund as they haven’t cancelled the flights, even though FCO advise is not to travel. I can cancel at a cost of £120! Surely they can’t be allowed to do this. I do have travel insurance and have emailed them to see if I’m covered with no reply. What rights do I have. I also have friends who were travelling with me who didn’t take out insurance.

If they are allowed to fly and do fly they have fulfilled the contract
Only options I see would be insurance, cancel  or maybe rearrange flights

Yorkshire_Cat_Lady

Hi, I booked a holiday with Tui for the end of July.  If holiday doesn't go ahead i'm covered all directions with refund / Insurance / Credit Card so, although disappointed, it won't be too bad except for the fight to get the money back.  However, if it goes ahead and I find that things like Restaurants and swimming pools are closed or I have to get to the beach at 6am as they are limiting numbers I reallly wouldn't want to go, this was supposed to be a relaxing holiday after a few hectic years.  As my holiday for next year has already been booked, a credit voucher wouldn't be of much use to me, unless they are valid for 2+ years.  What I'm getting at is would I be able to claim for them not providing what they advertised when I booked the holiday, or is that just a case of hard luck on my part?

Caz3121

goldilocks1704 said:

Surely that would only apply if we cancelled. But we disnt the airline did. I've googled and searched but cant find anything online , apart from martin lewis saying we should get full refunds but he says nothing about a fee. 

Full refunds from the airline but most third parties do charge fees for the additional work they will need to do to work with the airline to get your money back so they can process the refund to you. Whilst you did not cancel, neither did the agent and they will still need to pay staff to do the work required.
Had you booked directly with the airline you would have done the work yourself with the airline (possibly many calls trying to get through / long times on hold etc) instead you engaged an agent to do that work for you.  You may consider that third parties should work for free and waive the fees but as this is likely the only income to pay their staff they would likely go bust pretty quickly. (something to consider when comparing booking direct with using a third party)

Ron_Weasley

I am in the position where Travelopia Holdings Limited (Sovereign Holidays) have cancelled my holiday and provided me with a credit note.  I have made it plain to them that I do not wish to book another holiday with them (or anyone else for that matter) before the expiry of the credit note (Jan 31st) and that therefore it is useless to me and I would like my money back.  I have put this in writing (several times) and they have refused in writing several times.

Should I now take them through the small claims court?  It would seem like an open and shut case; the relevant EU law is extremely clear that they are legally required to refund my money within 14 days and they are refusing to do so, in writing.

What is the general consensus on this?  Would a small claims court process likely produce the desired outcome. And would that happen any time soon?  What do people think?

Mari4080

Hi, I booked a ski holiday 21-28th March and it was cancelled by the company (Snowcoach) so I had to then cancel my travel arrangements as these were booked separately (flights have been transferred and train tickets refunded). Snowcoach are refusing to pay any money back (for food/accomodation/lift passes) so I have referred my claim to my insurance company (Barclays travel pack). Barclays have refused to pay out saying its the responsibility of the travel company to refund me and they can only accept claims for unrecoverable costs so they have closed my claim. I have disputed the decision from Barclays and again gone back to Snowcoach but they are refusing to pay out saying it is down to the insurance company. I am at a lose and out of pocket as both companies are refusing to take responsibility or pay out. Please could you advise me on my rights / course of action? Thank you.

cole96

If I book a package holiday to the Canary Islands for October and either the flight is cancelled or the hotel is closed will the holiday company be obliged to refund me either way? I am trying to understand the risk of booking it now because surely if they cant them provide the whole holiday then surely I am due a refund?

Thrugelmir

Ron_Weasley said:

Should I now take them through the small claims court?  It would seem like an open and shut case;

Courts are currently closed. EU regulations may yet be rewritten. As they are impacting all member states equally not just the UK. 

Life__Goes__On

Thrugelmir said:

Ron_Weasley said:

Should I now take them through the small claims court?  It would seem like an open and shut case;

Courts are currently closed. EU regulations may yet be rewritten. As they are impacting all member states equally not just the UK. 

https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/what-happens-at-the-hearing
Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), your hearing may take place by phone or video. If you already have a hearing date, the court will contact you and tell you how the hearing will take place.

maggie6000

Thank you Martin for your advice on charge back on Thursdays show. I've been trying to get a refund for a cruise from Iglu since March. I contacted my bank on Friday and they said they would do the chargeback for me. I've had the money put back on my card already. I know that Iglu have 45 days to claw the money back but as their excuse is that they are working with a smaller team in cancellations, I reckon it has lightened their load. Very stressful situation resolved hopefully. 

nickinoos

My friend, a bride to be, won at auction a villa rental week in Marbella for June 2020 which myself included, paid along with 6 others a fee to the bride to have this week as the Hen week. Now our flights have been cancelled due to Coronavirus, and the villa owner is uninterested in doing anything to remedy or help us with a refund or even rebooking for next year. Do we or the bride to be, have any way of recouping the money paid or is the money lost in a  vacuum due the villa rental week being won/paid for at a charity auction event? We are looking at a total cost of approximately  £1200.