Full Holiday balance payment required in few days

treefella100

Hello, I have my full balance due in a few days for a holiday in June. I have been unable to directly contact Hoseasons the holiday provider. They have posted a covid19 notice for travellers going before May 22nd saying that they can defer their holiday for 12months, which is great, they have already paid balance before covid19 became so serious. However, for people going after this date standard terms and conditions apply. What I want clarification is why should I pay my balance now if I will then be able to defer for up to 12 months if under normal circumstances the balance is only due 10 weeks before travel. Putting a lot of money into someone else’s bank account is not ideal when I need it myself at a time like this. We still want to go but don’t want to pay for something now which we may not use for a long time. 

I have also emailed Hoseasons but had no reply. I understand they are doing their best but they are not helping the customers who have a full balance to pay each week. 

Any advice would be appreciated.
Regards
James

Semple

I think the tricky situation here from what I've read from a handful of posts from others in the same boat, is that you've usually stumped up a deposit already, which as far as I can see leaves you with two options, a) you refuse to settle the balance which more than likely results in you forfeiting your deposit - you should also check the T&Cs to ensure that you're not liable for further costs. Or b) you settle the balance, and then retain your right to request for refund/postponement of the trip, per whatever the T&Cs say.

The issue with not paying the remainder is that you'll be breaking contract and you'll probably find it quite difficult to get your deposit back. 

I guess it's just a question of whether you can afford to write off the deposit. 

treefella100

Thanks for the reply. Yes, that’s as much as I thought. I just feel that as the balance would only be due 10 weeks prior to going paying in full now is a little unfair when we may not end up going for say between 6-12months. We do definitely want to go but being as it’s for middle of June even if we are not on lockdown by then everywhere is going to be a bit weird and lots of places may still be shut. 

The T&C’s on their website clarify the deposit situation but it would be nice to talk to them about it rather than just paying a lot of money into what seems like a black hole at this moment in time. I have paid £1 with my credit card so that I have some protection off them as well.
Regards
James

Galloglass

The answer to most of these questions are "what would happen if there wasn't a crisis"?

The issue here is a chain of contracts between you and the holiday provider with Hoseasons collecting on behalf of their client (minus their standard 28%). Unless Hoseasons have been relieved of their responsibility to collect then you would be in breach of contract were you not to pay. You could lose a deposit (which is very lucrative for holiday companies - sometimes 10% of their profits).

As you have used the CC, you have protection against not getting a refund but you have to follow the terms of the contract if you want to minimise risk.

treefella100

Thanks for reply. Yes, this is what I am probably going to do.
Regards
James

mobilejo

Galloglass said:

The answer to most of these questions are "what would happen if there wasn't a crisis"?

The issue here is a chain of contracts between you and the holiday provider with Hoseasons collecting on behalf of their client (minus their standard 28%). Unless Hoseasons have been relieved of their responsibility to collect then you would be in breach of contract were you not to pay. You could lose a deposit (which is very lucrative for holiday companies - sometimes 10% of their profits).

As you have used the CC, you have protection against not getting a refund but you have to follow the terms of the contract if you want to minimise risk.

If there wasn't a crisis and Hoseasons notified customers that they could not take the holiday on the agreed date, Hoseasons would have breached the contract...
The question then would be are the T&C's fair in line with The Consumer Rights Act 2015, if Hoseasons attempt to keep the customer's deposit.

treefella100

Thanks again for reply.
I fully appreciate the situation we are in at the moment and do want to continue with the barge holiday at some point when we can I just didn’t think it is unfair to have to pay the full balance not knowing when we will be going. This seems to be the one thing that Hoseasons have not included an answer to in their covid19 announcement on their website. When there is so much financial assistance going on at the moment this money should really stay in the customers account until clarity is in place for when the holiday will actually be taken. They don’t require the money as no costs are being accrued for them for my holiday at present.
Regards
James

Galloglass

Hoseasons notified customers that they could not take the holiday on the agreed date, Hoseasons would have breached the contract.

Don't disagree about the CRA 2015 but the OP's holiday date has not been reached yet so the contract is still valid.

Some holiday companies have been proactive and cancelled direct bookings but here Hoseasons have a contract to collect the money or they would be in breach of contract with the holiday provider. The OP may want to get the holiday provider to release Hoseasons from the obligation to collect.

Side issue: I've just done it this week and the provider has cancelled. I'll get my money back in a few days and didn't need to use s75 protection.

treefella100

Thanks for the information everyone. I have now spoken directly with the holiday provider and we are resolving my concerns together and they will notify Hoseasons.
Many thanks 
James

movilogo

Any holiday booking until end of 2020 is a big risk. So you need to weigh against losing deposit now vs losing a far bigger part later. You should be protected by laws BUT in an emergency situation government can change laws very easily and those protections could be removed temporarily. 

Ronshaw

I have a holiday booked 1st September, four nights in Singapore then 6th September flight to Brisbane to spend time with my brother then fligh from 29th Sep Brisbane to Sydney to link a flight to Bangkok for four nights then 6th Oct return back to Manchester. I have world cover insurance till june,  Should I insure the trip from now 2nd April or renew the policy in june.