Barcelona Trip - Local football academy charging £800 but got a refund for us!

madsea1

My son was due to attend a football tournament in Barcelona in May which has obviously been cancelled. 100 people were going and my son's local football academy were organising bookings - every booking was different as some teenagers were attending on their own, some with one parent and some with families. Some booked flights and accommodation while others booked accommodation only.

We decided to attach it to a family holiday so booked our flights separately and further accommodation separately for £1000 which I am trying to get refunds for separately. The football academy booked a family room for 5 nights at a cost of £ 1,700 which also included tournament fees and a kit for my son. 

Our local football academy has said that they are charging us £200 per person at a cost of £800 and we will only receive £900 back. However, I contacted the tournament organisers who said that they have issued full refunds for tournament fees and accommodation so know that they have got a full refund for us.

The flights (which aren't relevant to us as we booked separately) are apparently with Vueling who won't issue a full refund until the flights are cancelled and the local football academy say they are allowing for this and want to cut their losses now rather than wait a few more weeks as the tournament isn't going ahead. They have therefore divided the flight costs by the 100 people  but we didn't book flights! Vueling also state on their website that all flights can be changed for a new date but this doesn't seem to be an option for the academy.

There is a good chance that the flights will be cancelled and the football academy will then have received a full refund for everything but have profited £20,000! This seems like fraud to us?

We can't claim for this £800 through our travel insurance as they are a football academy and we didn't book the flights anyway so the payment seems to be to share the load of those that did! I have lost my job and my husband is one of the self-employed that doesn't qualify so this is money we need right now.

Does anyone have any advice?

Life__Goes__On

How did you paid the football academy? as that can influence the  advice you receive.  

madsea1

My husband has just confirmed that he paid monthly instalments via his Visa bank debit card. 

Life__Goes__On

I'm no expert just trying to maybe help.
I'm guessing there is no contract with the local football academy to fall back on.
I would peruse the local football academy for a full refund with proof that what they booked for you they have a full refund for.
What other people have booked is not your concern, so unless there is a contract saying otherwise I believe lumping everyone together would be unfair.
If they don't issue you will the full refund, I see 3 options, 1) forget about it. 2) try for a chargeback on your debit card 3) take them the the "small claims court"
This is just my opinion and someone with legal knowledge might offer better advice.

madsea1

Thank you. 
There was no contract and I have spoken to the local football academy and followed up in writing today so am waiting for a response. They lied in their original email and said they could only get credits for us to go next year so I suspect they have spent the money. I don't think they expected anyone to contact the tournament organisers directly as they are in Spain. I haven't told the other parents yet but will do so if I have to. Fingers crossed they do the decent thing.

Life__Goes__On

I could understand them keeping back a small charge for their services for booking hotel and football related stuff etc, and sure you be fine with that, but not £800

madsea1

Yes, we’ve said we’re happy to pay an admin fee and for my son’s kit (which has Barcelona 2020 on it and he will never wear!) Just don’t agree with £800.