Coronavirus travel disruption - latest info and your rights

susietalb

My daughter had her skiing holiday cancelled in March. I have tried to claim on the Virgin Insurance.  I sent all the correct documentation including confirmation from the travel firm that the French Prime Minister had closed the resorts. I have chased the claim after six working weeks. Now ten working weeks later they refuse to pay the claim saying she had the opportunity to reschedule trip to Dec 2020. This was a university skiing trip and my daughter graduated in July 2020 so is no longer eligible to go. Virgins Insurance are using this as an excuse not to pay out. I have asked for the appeal process and received no response please could you advise on my next course of action. Thanks 

mclaffers

Hi. First time poster.....  Looking for guidance if at all possible... I booked accommodation (a cottage) with Sykes Cottages for April of this year. When the pandemic broke I effectively had a few days to change the date - so I kicked the date out by a year.  On checking the booking, I have discovered that on top of the original £770 I paid for the 3 nights accommodation, I am now required to pay an additional  £850.  On querying this with Sykes, I was told my only option is to pay the additional charge as that £1500+ is what the owner of the property is charging now for a 3 night stay in 2021 or lose the booking as there is no refund option available.  ?  I don't believe a 100% increase is reasonable - the person at Sykes alluded to that too! Do I have any other options other than looking to embarrass Sykes in to providing either a refund or alternate booking?  Any advice on how best to "out" a company who show no regard for fairness towards their customers?

Clair123

Hi i book a holiday package with on the beach back in febuary 2020. I have standard travel insurance with health conditions added on. We are meant to be going to futervetra later this month for our anniversary. The fco has said only essencial travel where were going. What are my rights please

jbbennie

Hi we original booked a caravan in North Wales for April, when the lockdown happened we asked the owner if we could get a refund, she said no as the Welsh government was not helping small businesses and she was left in financial difficulties, and the only option we were given was to move the date. Reluctantly we did to 28th September,  however from Tuesday we are going into local lockdown. Now although you are allowed to travel we rely on public transport which you are advised only to use for essential travel. I have contacted the owner with our problem and was basically told it's not her problem she is still providing the service. I am quite unhappy about this as I feel we were understanding about her situation but she now couldn't care less about ours. Can anyone give advice?

eskbanker

jbbennie said:

Hi we original booked a caravan in North Wales for April, when the lockdown happened we asked the owner if we could get a refund, she said no as the Welsh government was not helping small businesses and she was left in financial difficulties, and the only option we were given was to move the date. Reluctantly we did to 28th September,  however from Tuesday we are going into local lockdown. Now although you are allowed to travel we rely on public transport which you are advised only to use for essential travel. I have contacted the owner with our problem and was basically told it's not her problem she is still providing the service. I am quite unhappy about this as I feel we were understanding about her situation but she now couldn't care less about ours. Can anyone give advice?

Unfortunately, even though you may feel that the owner has some sort of moral obligation to help you, there is no legal requirement to do so.  If you have travel insurance then that might cover the costs of you cancelling?

jeanbracken

Westin said:

Daniel1111 said:

mattyprice4004 said:

Daniel1111 said:

I'm in a similar boat. Every insurance company I've checked says no they don't cover that scenario.

IMO it's shocking that the FCO doesn't advise against travel to a country if all Brits going are going to end up in a mandatory quarantine. I would email your MP and the FCO directly (as I have), and maybe if enough do it, they'll change their approach.

But it's not hit 200 cases yet, so it's not a situation that's happened. 
Maybe they will when the time comes, but for now it's business as usual. 

It now has.

Israel is to ban entry for UK residents as of tomorrow, too.

Can you post a link to your official source Daniel111?

I’m still waiting for Ryanair refund, my trip was cancelled in April and I am getting no joy with their customer services I’m losing the will to live 😡

grahamjulia

Booked through a TUI travel agent  in January 2020 a 10 day break to Florida (not a package) to go out in late October 2020.   Flights with JetSet/Virgin who have not cancelled their flights although altered the flight  timings (understandable).   Also a car hire.   Booked a villa close to Disney and a 4 night cruise separately.   Cruises are all cancelled (got an immediate refund).   TUI shop (now closed) says no refund unless company (Jetset) cancels the flights.   Jetset/Virgin have offered re-bookings to Florida within 12 months or a voucher for full amount to any other destination that Jetset/Virgin fly to.
Based on the fact that DisneyWorld is the last place on earth we would wish to visit with the USA's track record and the fact that the FCO say avoid travel to the USA, it seems a no-brainer not to go.   To be fair, the TUI rep on the telephone said to wait until 2 weeks before departure and hope JetSet cancel their flights (very unlikely).   They have been very helpful in difficult times.   We had WorldWIde insurance with LeisureGuard from July 2019 to July 2020 so were covered regarding Coronavirus start date i.e. March 2020.   Any views?

Caz3121

grahamjulia said:

We had WorldWIde insurance with LeisureGuard from July 2019 to July 2020 so were covered regarding Coronavirus start date i.e. March 2020.   Any views?

I am not sure if your previous policy is relevant as it has ended. Who is your current insurance with and are you covered for cancellation due FCO advice / US non admission?

grahamjulia

Thanks for your reply which made me re-check my policy.   Oh dear, my policy was excluding the USA!   I can now only hope that the airlines either cancel (unlikely) or they change their policy in respect of the FCO statement against travel to the USA.  

gonzogirl

I had a business trip booked and paid 300 for a rail ticket. The company I was working for is on the edge of a Local lockdown area and has cancelled my engagement. The train company is strictly sticking to their NO REFUND policy even though it’s not my fault I can’t travel to the NorthEast. Is anyone else having a fight To get a refund on a trip they can’t take because of government advice or local laws? My engagement now falls under Both local lockdown and rule of 6, so I’m looking like the rail ticket is huge blow to my pocket. Any advice?