Holiday Cancellation

Peter_Sidebotham

My wife and I are over 70 and I have underlying health conditions. Last year we booked a holiday on Anglesey through a booking agent and paid a deposit, the balance being due in April. In view of the Government advice to self isolate for 12 weeks, I emailed the agent to cancel the booking, accepting that I may have lost the deposit. The agent tells me that in their terms and conditions, we are liable for the full amount if the property is not re-let. Can they do this considering the current advice, and the possibility that we all may go into lock down

Undervalued

Peter_Sidebotham said:

My wife and I are over 70 and I have underlying health conditions. Last year we booked a holiday on Anglesey through a booking agent and paid a deposit, the balance being due in April. In view of the Government advice to self isolate for 12 weeks, I emailed the agent to cancel the booking, accepting that I may have lost the deposit. The agent tells me that in their terms and conditions, we are liable for the full amount if the property is not re-let. Can they do this considering the current advice, and the possibility that we all may go into lock down

Yes they can.

Unless the "advice" becomes a legal requirement they can insist on sticking to the terms and conditions. They have a duty to make reasonable efforts to minimise their losses but realistically they will probably struggle to re-let. 

dawn932

Hi. My booking with Hoseasons for 6th April has been cancelled by them due to the site shutting amid coronavirus situation. Basically we either change dates and get charged more, or lose all the cost of the holiday. No refund being offered even though we haven't made the cancellation. Moving dates and paying more isn't an option as my husband recently had a heart attack and not working. Is there anything we can do?

powerful_Rogue

dawn932 said:

Hi. My booking with Hoseasons for 6th April has been cancelled by them due to the site shutting amid coronavirus situation. Basically we either change dates and get charged more, or lose all the cost of the holiday. No refund being offered even though we haven't made the cancellation. Moving dates and paying more isn't an option as my husband recently had a heart attack and not working. Is there anything we can do?

How did you pay? If it was with a credit card, invoke s75.

dawn932

Debit card

Peter_Sidebotham

Referring to my post 17th March regarding the holiday I cancelled and the agent demanding the balance if the property is not re-let, I checked there website and saw the following notice:

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

Due to ongoing concerns with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), at this time we are placing restrictions on our calendars. We are monitoring the situation daily, these restrictions may be lifted or extended at our discretion based upon the best available information we have.

It goes without saying that the safety of our guests and our local communities is paramount. Our great country of Wales - and all its popular holiday destinations - will be here waiting for you after the virus has gone away.

We want to ensure that we are able to give you the very best Welsh welcome we can, which is why we encourage you to book dates later in the year or 2021 to avoid any travel problems.

We wish you the very best of health, and thank you for your patience and understanding at this time.

They are actively encouraging no bookings until later in the year. As my holiday is June, they are effectively closing off any possibility of the week we have cancelled being re-let. I've emailed them and asked for my deposit back, wish me luck!!