Coronavirus cancellations

sue4571 · 13 March 2020 at 12:47PM

i booked 2 nights with premier Inn for myself in a disabled room and my Carer in a standard room. I booked a non flex rate. The gov is now saying that if you are elderly with pre existing health conditions you should stay at home.
i rang premier Inn who say there are no cancellations, I can’t change the booking or get a credit note.
I’ve lost £350. I know it was non flex but under the circumstances surely they can do something?
any ideas?

Undervalued · 13 March 2020 at 1:38PM

The problem is that the government have only issued advice which you are are free to follow or ignore as you please. Legally it is no different to being advised not to travel when severe weather is forecast.

It is no more Premier Inn's fault than it is yours. If they or other companies choose to take a hard line they can. You can try "shaming" them on social media or in the press if you feel comfortable doing that but otherwise, unless there is a legal prohibition on travel, there is nothing you can do.

p00hsticks · 13 March 2020 at 2:04PM

Unfortunately, companies like this are going to be taking a big hit with cancelled (flex) bookings and general downturn in business.

So whereas in better times they might have shown some goodwill and bent the rules on non-flex bookings by allowing a change of dates, in the current climate they're going to be more rigid in applying the T&Cs which, after all, you chose when booking in order to get a better price.

Gobannos · 13 March 2020 at 2:17PM

Has the government not provided financial support for this particular industry to cope with some of the virus consequences? It feels like the hotel industry is benefiting twice! I have just had to cancel a hotel booking and possible two more to come within the next 4 weeks.

Undervalued · 13 March 2020 at 2:51PM

Gobannos said:

Has the government not provided financial support for this particular industry to cope with some of the virus consequences? It feels like the hotel industry is benefiting twice! I have just had to cancel a hotel booking and possible two more to come within the next 4 weeks.

Not as far as I am aware and in any case, how would you police it?

Are you really expecting the government (i.e you and me) to pay for every hotel room that people decide not to use (as a sensible precaution or wild over reaction depending on your point of view)?

How far would you take it? Are you going to compensate the petrol companies because people haven't bought petrol to drive to the hotel?

Why is it that so many people refuse to take any personal responsibility for anything and expect any company they deal with, large or small, to carry the can or the tax payer to foot the bill?

ladyholly · 14 March 2020 at 9:24PM

No there has been no offer of help for the laisure industry. My daughter works in a beefeater (same parent company as premier) and she has already had her hours cut as the restaurant is so quiet. As she is on minimum wage she can ill afford to take home less and is seriously worried as are her colleagues.

p00hsticks · 14 March 2020 at 10:08PM

Gobannos said:

Has the government not provided financial support for this particular industry to cope with some of the virus consequences? It feels like the hotel industry is benefiting twice! I have just had to cancel a hotel booking and possible two more to come within the next 4 weeks.

No finanial support at present, and the industry is certainly not benefitting at all, let alone twice

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/mar/07/hospitality-sector-calls-for-emergency-coronavirus-support

If you had your rooms booked on a flex basis, then you've lost nothing - it's the consumers choice whether they want to take the risk of making a non-flexible booking in return for a cheaper price.

dmliverpool · 15 March 2020 at 3:57PM

Ok so here's another story. I'm due to travel to Majorca and Valencia on the 28th April and 10th June respectively. I'm paying via installments with On the Beach and Love Holidays. From the sounds the UK government is looking to drag this out with references to "weeks and months". At a time like this I'd rather the remaining installment money stays in my account until they can declare each holiday is cancelled offering a refund, credit or pushing me to claim via ATOL/insurance. Instead they are both sticking to a line that says wait or cancel now and lose part of what you've paid. There must be lots of people in this situation so I just wanted to open this out to the community to see what views are out there...
As these are credit card payments via that card authorisation process can I simply call my bank and ensure any payments are refused. Ive not been down this road before...

Undervalued · 15 March 2020 at 4:15PM

dmliverpool said:

Ok so here's another story. I'm due to travel to Majorca and Valencia on the 28th April and 10th June respectively. I'm paying via installments with On the Beach and Love Holidays. From the sounds the UK government is looking to drag this out with references to "weeks and months". At a time like this I'd rather the remaining installment money stays in my account until they can declare each holiday is cancelled offering a refund, credit or pushing me to claim via ATOL/insurance. Instead they are both sticking to a line that says wait or cancel now and lose part of what you've paid. There must be lots of people in this situation so I just wanted to open this out to the community to see what views are out there...
As these are credit card payments via that card authorisation process can I simply call my bank and ensure any payments are refused. Ive not been down this road before...

Maybe but I am not sure that would be wise?

If, as seems likely, the holidays are unable to go ahead you will get a full refund. You are also protected having used a credit card. However if you breach any of the terms, which you would be doing if the instalments "bounce", you may be losing some of your rights?

I would take proper advice before doing that.

marcusgribble · 15 March 2020 at 7:02PM

I've booked a package holiday to Mexico with Tui for the end of September and already paid a deposit. The other 2 installments will need to be paid May and July. If I don't pay the installments will the holiday be cancelled? If I pay the installments and the holiday is cancelled in a few months time because of the coronavirus, what will happen to the money I've paid? I've got European cover with my bank but it's probably too late to get Worldwide cover now with coronavirus protection.