Travel Republic

harrychown

morrow56 said:

Just a small update from myself
I phoned AXA my insurer and they advised I must make my claim off Travel Republic because I booked a package holiday
Thanks to Harrychown for his post, I am now going to follow his advice and email Travel Republic

This is going to be a long road I think

Thanks again Harrychown

Not a problem. It will be a long process but you'll get it back. Keep at it. 

harrychown

Seaside_Lass said:

harrychown said:

RE PACKAGE HOLIDAY BOOKINGS WITH TRAVEL REPUBLIC
I had a holiday booked with Travel Republic (due to fly out to Spain on 4th April 2020). Due to FCO advice I too have received the email from TR saying that they will be cancelling my holiday (that's fine) and issuing me a "credit note" (that's definitely not fine...)
A few points on that:
1 - A credit note is pretty much worthless if the holiday you want to re-book ends up costing a lot more than the original one (which it will due to demand and due to the fact TR will raise prices due to wanting to recoup losses). You'll have to pay the difference between your credit note value and the price of the new holiday. I.e. if your original holiday had cost £500 for 2 people and they've offered you a £500 credit note, the likelihood is that the same holiday to the same destination from the same airports could cost £1500+ on dates later in the year. You'll be paying the difference.
2 - There's no guarantee Travel Republic will still be operating when you want to redeem your credit note. (In which case your holiday is ATOL protected and you claim through ATOL anyway).
3 - Travel Republic have closed their phone lines and made it impossible to contact them through your online portal. They have sent us all messages DICTATING (with no possibility to say otherwise) that we will be receiving a credit note. They don't even mention refunds or how to request one. What happens when this credit note lands in your account? They'll say you accepted it because you didn't state otherwise.
4 - They do have an email address relating to package holiday cancellations (pkgcancellation@travelrepublic.co.uk). Email them telling them you are refusing the credit note and that you require a full refund. Tell them that it's in their Terms of Business that they will offer you a refund if they cancel your trip. (It IS in their Terms of Business in section 8). You can find the link at the bottom of their homepage. 
5 - Don't let them bully you. Don't accept the credit note. Keep all documentation such as emails as proof of you stating in black and white that you don't want the credit note. They have to refund you. It may take some time, but you will get a refund. If they go bust, you're covered by ATOL. 
Note this applies to package holidays with flight and accommodation booked in single transaction. 
 

I have not yet paid for the accommodation part of my package, that is due next Tuesday. Can I just cancel the payment? At least then its only the flights that I need to get refunded. And it looks as though Air Malta are offering refunds now.

I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure. If you pay the accommodation element, then you've paid in full for your package holiday and can claim a refund under the circumstances I outlined. If you don't pay the accommodation then I think you would have to go directly to the airlines? I only know for certain the circumstance for people who have paid in full for a package holiday. But then again, yours is still a package holiday. You just haven't paid it all yet. I'd look into it further but I'd recommend not paying the accommodation element and then claiming a full refund (rejecting the credit note) for the costs incurred so far. 

Seaside_Lass

morrow56 said:

Just a small update from myself
I phoned AXA my insurer and they advised I must make my claim off Travel Republic because I booked a package holiday
Thanks to Harrychown for his post, I am now going to follow his advice and email Travel Republic

This is going to be a long road I think

Thanks again Harrychown

My insurer will not cover this event so I have to get it back from TR. Having only paid the flights element of the holiday I'm hoping to not have to pay the accommodation element (due 24th March) and get a refund for the flights. I'm just not sure where we stand legally if we don't pay. Does that then mean that we have broken the contract?
 I'll go direct to Air Malta to try for the flights refund if I get no joy from TR as they are now offering refunds for all flights up to 31st May.

harrychown

Seaside_Lass said:

morrow56 said:

Just a small update from myself
I phoned AXA my insurer and they advised I must make my claim off Travel Republic because I booked a package holiday
Thanks to Harrychown for his post, I am now going to follow his advice and email Travel Republic

This is going to be a long road I think

Thanks again Harrychown

My insurer will not cover this event so I have to get it back from TR. Having only paid the flights element of the holiday I'm hoping to not have to pay the accommodation element (due 24th March) and get a refund for the flights. I'm just not sure where we stand legally if we don't pay. Does that then mean that we have broken the contract?
 I'll go direct to Air Malta to try for the flights refund if I get no joy from TR as they are now offering refunds for all flights up to 31st May.

My insurer won't pay it either, but at the end of the day, this is TR's problem, not our insurer. (Or the airline's problem if someone bought flights only). 

Berrymeg

I also have followed Harrychowns advice, even a cursory glance through TR's terms and conditions indicates refunds will be issued [in my cae sub para ii of Section *] I note that TR are constantly updating their "Intentions" page ad, having booked and paid for 6 flights to Orlando, Suite accommodation for 6 people and Universal Tickets for 6, They are into me for big cash. I want it back and will keep you all psoted with progress

Berrymeg

Jeez I speak better than I type sub para ii of section 8

Berrymeg

Just checked the ABTA Page and this cut and paste may be of use. The bold print is done by me because I think section 3 is particularly relevant

Advice to customers seeking refunds and with forward bookings:

On 17 March the Government advised against all non-essential travel overseas, initially for a period of 30 days. This situation is unprecedented, and ABTA is in urgent talks with the Government to introduce temporary changes to regulations to ensure that customer’s money is protected under the current extraordinary circumstances.

We are asking for support from the travelling public in the following ways:

1. If your trip has been cancelled because of the change in FCO advice, talk in the first instance to your travel provider to discuss options. 
    
2. If possible, postpone your holiday or travel arrangements, don’t cancel – this will mean you have a holiday to look forward to in the future, and it will help your travel provider maintain its cash flow through the short-term challenges. 
    
3. If you are not able to postpone, they may offer you a refund credit voucher instead of a cash refund. ABTA is in urgent talks with the Government to ensure that these credit arrangements have the full cover of financial protection. You should await further guidance on this.
    
4. If your travel provider has said they will offer a cash refund, please be patient with them as they process this: they are likely to be dealing with an exceptionally high volume of enquiries.
    
5. If you have a travel booking for later in the year, please be patient. The situation is changing rapidly, and travel restrictions are currently only in place until mid-April.  You may incur cancellation charges or lose your deposit if you make a hasty decision.

Nobody knows for sure how long the current coronavirus pandemic will last, but we know that we will come out of the other side and we need to ensure that when we do, holidaymakers are still able to book and take their holidays and that there is healthy and competitive travel industry to support them

harrychown

Berrymeg said:

Just checked the ABTA Page and this cut and paste may be of use. The bold print is done by me because I think section 3 is particularly relevant

Advice to customers seeking refunds and with forward bookings:

On 17 March the Government advised against all non-essential travel overseas, initially for a period of 30 days. This situation is unprecedented, and ABTA is in urgent talks with the Government to introduce temporary changes to regulations to ensure that customer’s money is protected under the current extraordinary circumstances.

We are asking for support from the travelling public in the following ways:

1. If your trip has been cancelled because of the change in FCO advice, talk in the first instance to your travel provider to discuss options. 
    
2. If possible, postpone your holiday or travel arrangements, don’t cancel – this will mean you have a holiday to look forward to in the future, and it will help your travel provider maintain its cash flow through the short-term challenges. 
    
3. If you are not able to postpone, they may offer you a refund credit voucher instead of a cash refund. ABTA is in urgent talks with the Government to ensure that these credit arrangements have the full cover of financial protection. You should await further guidance on this.
    
4. If your travel provider has said they will offer a cash refund, please be patient with them as they process this: they are likely to be dealing with an exceptionally high volume of enquiries.
    
5. If you have a travel booking for later in the year, please be patient. The situation is changing rapidly, and travel restrictions are currently only in place until mid-April.  You may incur cancellation charges or lose your deposit if you make a hasty decision.

Nobody knows for sure how long the current coronavirus pandemic will last, but we know that we will come out of the other side and we need to ensure that when we do, holidaymakers are still able to book and take their holidays and that there is healthy and competitive travel industry to support them

Note section 3. 
I don't care what ABTA say. I paid £550 for 2 people to go to Spain for a week and I want that back. Travel Republic are extremely limited with the time-span they're offering thus meaning my £550 credit note won't be enough for a comparable holiday later in the year due to everyone wanting to book for the same time. TR's Terms of Business state that they will refund us. I'm going for a refund. 
It's also interesting in section 1. They tell us to contact our travel provider. I CAN'T! They have turned their phones off and removed messaging services. 

harrychown

Further to all this I have put a complaint in to ABTA. Don't expect much, but it's another avenue. This is on the basis that ABTA tell us to contact our travel provider in the first instance, but we are UNABLE to do that, due to the fact that they have turned off their phone lines and removed email facilities. 

Berrymeg

The Travel Republic Support Page has finally been updated and is,I think, encouraging, if somewhat scary about the warning of a refund taking protracted time. I don't disagree with harrychown in any way, I am heavily committed to TR having fully paid for a 14

night package for 6 people complete with Universal Tickets, they hold a big chunk of my cash and, for one reason or another [all personal], I want cash back. I didn't pay for this with coupons or bean tin labels and I want refunded in a like manner but these are strange times and perhaps a bit of faith and patience is required, ABTA and the relevant CreditCard section won't go away and should be there for recourse is I don't hear anything in the not too distant future, I'm not that patient