Message from ABTA A disgrace.

savermseman

Just watched a short message from Mark Tanzer chief exec ABTA on twitter, basically stating that these " unprecedented times " are going to likely mean that we won't be seeing a cash refund to a cancelled package as was in the written T and Cs of our package holiday.  Yes they are trying to persuade the government to turn it's back on the cash refunds, and give out alternative in holidays, or vouchers . Now yes that's fine if that's what you want to do, and many thousands will, however what about the many thousands that just simply want their own money back. Yes we get it now about unprecedented times we are all having to deal with it, and the uncertainty of people's jobs in the travel industry, and do feel for them, however what about the uncertainty for people in my position, who are now not working, and need our money back now for our families. It's ok Mr Tanzer saying the protection was never meant to give cover on this scale.. that's fine, but who sets up these things without planning worst scenario.  I think if he wants to persuade the government to change this rule,, then change it going forward for future bookings,and not think about moving the goal posts for this situation. 

Alan_Bowen

I understand your frustration but in practical terms, giving everyone their money back is impossible. There are 2 million people booked to travel at Easter, in every case the airline or ferry ticket has been paid for in full and 90% of them are not offering refunds at all and yet the travel agent or operator is being expected to refund to the consumer. If the law isn't changed, then frankly there will be no travel industry left in 4 months time. The proposals would ensure that the money you paid is still protected as the holiday was originally and the vouchers can be converted after 31st July into cash, although if the 6 month period being talked about this weekend is correct, I genuinely do not see how and it is the best offer on the table
Every business has a crisis plan, but no one has a plan of what to do when no holidays at all can operate and no one wants to book a holiday for the future which is the reality at the moment. Even the largest operator in the world, TUI, has asked the German government owned bankfor a bail out of 1.8 Billion Euros, so if they cannot survive without help, I very much doubt many others can either

Amateurd

The problem isn’t vouchers per se. Most holidaymakers will book a holiday in the future.

The problem is travel providers hiking future prices. They know that with vouchers, they have a captive audience. Some are then doubling the cost of a future booking, rendering the voucher effectively worthless.

harz99

Amateurd said:

The problem isn’t vouchers per se. Most holidaymakers will book a holiday in the future.

The problem is travel providers hiking future prices. They know that with vouchers, they have a captive audience. Some are then doubling the cost of a future booking, rendering the voucher effectively worthless.

And also putting a short "shelf life" of 12 months on the vouchers when the sensible amongst us know we're not going on holiday anytime in the next 6 months or so.

soolin

Amateurd said:

The problem isn’t vouchers per se. Most holidaymakers will book a holiday in the future.

The problem is travel providers hiking future prices. They know that with vouchers, they have a captive audience. Some are then doubling the cost of a future booking, rendering the voucher effectively worthless.

This is something I was only discussing yesterday with my OH, we have the opportunity to postpone , via vouchers, our holiday in 3 weeks time - the trouble is we shop around a lot for flights and having no work restrictions pick up those weird and wonderful cheapie flights that go on odd days. If we take vouchers then a quick look already for later in the year show our flights will be considerably more expensive. The hotel we use is tiny as well, 12 boutique rooms, so if we take a voucher from them who is to say they will still be there in 6 months or a years time? 

We've decided to hold out for a full refund , we know Ryanair will only start cancelling the flights with a few days to go (they cancelled the flights we were due to use this week about 10 days ago) , what the hotel though will do I don't know, but hopefully insurance will cover us if they don't refund.

We are taking one holiday at a time at the moment, we tend to be super organised so had 5 booked, mainly all paid for already, one has been totally cancelled , one is due in 3 weeks, one in June (that one is via a specialist agent), one August and one September. 

savermseman

Alan_Bowen said:

I understand your frustration but in practical terms, giving everyone their money back is impossible. There are 2 million people booked to travel at Easter, in every case the airline or ferry ticket has been paid for in full and 90% of them are not offering refunds at all and yet the travel agent or operator is being expected to refund to the consumer. If the law isn't changed, then frankly there will be no travel industry left in 4 months time. The proposals would ensure that the money you paid is still protected as the holiday was originally and the vouchers can be converted after 31st July into cash, although if the 6 month period being talked about this weekend is correct, I genuinely do not see how and it is the best offer on the table
Every business has a crisis plan, but no one has a plan of what to do when no holidays at all can operate and no one wants to book a holiday for the future which is the reality at the moment. Even the largest operator in the world, TUI, has asked the German government owned bankfor a bail out of 1.8 Billion Euros, so if they cannot survive without help, I very much doubt many others can either

Yes I understand everyone can't have a refund, but that's why I said vouchers will be excepted by thousands of people, but equally thousands will, and are entitled to a refund, like myself.. if they can't . Also, if giving everyone a refund is impossible, then why offer one in T and Cs when booking, then say you can't have one if anything bad happens. Closing gates, and bolted horses spring to mind.

Butts

So if they are proposing to retrospectively changing the terms and conditions is it only fair that people who have just paid a deposit are able to cancel free of any penalties ?

savermseman

Butts said:

So if they are proposing to retrospectively changing the terms and conditions is it only fair that people who have just paid a deposit are able to cancel free of any penalties ?

I totally agree

bearshare

The ABTA website says the following:
"We recommend the following......
.....If you are not able to postpone, your travel provider may offer you a Refund Credit Note instead of an immediate cash refund. This Refund Credit Note can be used to book another holiday at a later date and, in the meantime, it is protected by ABTA/ ATOL if your original booking had that protection, so you would be reimbursed if the travel company failed financially.
Further details on this option are below:
•  This protection will last until 31 July 2020 at the latest at which point, if you have not used the Refund Credit Note to book another holiday, you will be entitled to a cash refund......"
Which seems reasonable to me. Trouble is I don't know what status this has. My travel company rep confirmed this is the case in an email, but I would like something more 'official' but I don't know what.

Ziggyplus

This is a potential change in the Package Holiday Regulations which ABTA are pressing on the Government. So far as I am aware nothing has been agreed or published. Until then, the Regulations require a full cash refund within 14 days.

Follow Martin Lewis and Simon Calder on this issue.  The latter appears to have an inside track with the Government and should be the first to know if anything is agreed.

westv

Within 14 days of what?