Cancelled Package Holiday and Refund Credit Note (RCN)

Stu_Philby

My Package holiday has been cancelled (due out mid May) and I have received a RCN by e-mail. I am in two minds if to accept it or not (the redemption date is 31 March 2021).
I believe that the CAA are still to confirm the validity of these RCN's and that the Competition and Marketing Authority are not happy with the stance being taken by Abta.
Can anybody point me in the right direction (I have £7000+ at stake)? What are other people doing who are in a similar position?
Thanks in advance

Browntoa

Which holiday company , existing threads with the information for most of the big companies

Life__Goes__On

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Stu_Philby said:

My Package holiday has been cancelled (due out mid May) and I have received a RCN by e-mail. I am in two minds if to accept it or not (the redemption date is 31 March 2021).
I believe that the CAA are still to confirm the validity of these RCN's and that the Competition and Marketing Authority are not happy with the stance being taken by Abta.
Can anybody point me in the right direction (I have £7000+ at stake)? What are other people doing who are in a similar position?
Thanks in advance

Doesn't matter what anyone else is doing you are legally entitled to a full cash refund.
They should pay that within 2 weeks,  but understandably it's delayed.

Stu_Philby

My travel agents isn't mentioned in the Forum as yet but my offer is the same as everybody else's (move dates or RCN).
Do I reject the RCN in writing or do I just ignore it and press on with asking for a immediate cash refund.

Browntoa

The advice is the same regardless of the company.

You legally should get a refund in cash within 14 days.

ABTA advice is here , including the information on RCNs

https://www.abta.com/news/coronavirus-outbreak

Credit card companies are refusing section 75 claims if you have been offered a voucher

Travel insurance normally refuse due to the same reason.

Small claims court snowed under with work and it's likely to be a long time before it would be reaching court.

Now it's up to you what you do

Life__Goes__On

You don't have reject the voucher as it is not needed as it's "unsolicited" so can't be used as an acceptance.
But if you are writing for an cash refund I would put it in the letter that you are rejecting the voucher.
This might save the "but we send you a voucher "  reply.

Stu_Philby

Browntoa said:

The advice is the same regardless of the company.

You legally should get a refund in cash within 14 days.
Which is what i want

ABTA advice is here , including the information on RCNs
As ABTA are as Trade Assoc I take their 'advice' with a pinch of salt.

Credit card companies are refusing section 75 claims if you have been offered a voucher
An RCN isn't a voucher and I believe I have no Section 75 claim as I paid a Travel Agent not the airline/hotel.

Travel insurance normally refuse due to the same reason.
My travel insurance is of no use.

Small claims court snowed under with work and it's likely to be a long time before it would be reaching court.
Looks like I'll be heading that way.

Does anybody know about the CAA and the acceptance of RCN's? Does anybody think that the CMA/Govt will get involved and that by accepting a RCN I could prejudice my position?

Life__Goes__On

Stu_Philby said:

Does anybody know about the CAA and the acceptance of RCN's? Does anybody think that the CMA/Govt will get involved and that by accepting a RCN I could prejudice my position?

The last I heard is the CAA  hadn't underwritten the vouchers, but this might have changed,  or may change in the future.

If you accept a RCN voucher then I believe you are bound by the vouchers terms
The travel  industry asked the Government to get involved, they expected the Government to say RCN voucher were acceptable as a cash replacement, so they were telling everyone that you had to accept the voucher.
The Government refused  this request so if asked for the refund must be in cash.

Stu_Philby

I received an ATOL certificate as soon as I paid my deposit in July 2019. Upon my holiday being cancelled I received an unsolicited Refund Credit Note (which I have rejected) and a different ATOL certificate still with the same date but now stating that my trip is now not being protected by my Travel Agent (Blue Bay Travel Ltd) but by who they have told me is the Tour Operator (Midcounties Co-operative Ltd). They both have the same ATOL number.
Is this anything to worry about?

Browntoa

Merged your 2 threads together 

Westin

Stu_Philby said:

I received an ATOL certificate as soon as I paid my deposit in July 2019. Upon my holiday being cancelled I received an unsolicited Refund Credit Note (which I have rejected) and a different ATOL certificate still with the same date but now stating that my trip is now not being protected by my Travel Agent (Blue Bay Travel Ltd) but by who they have told me is the Tour Operator (Midcounties Co-operative Ltd). They both have the same ATOL number.
Is this anything to worry about?

No. I believe Blue Bay use Midcounties Co-operative for their bonding requirement.