Section 75 Claim Nationwide

stevel1987

Hi, bit of a long shot but hoping someone can help me. I booked my wedding in Cyprus and paid a deposit £1700 with my nationwide credit card. I paid the wedding travel company who acted as an agent for the freedom travel group. The freedom travel group was part of thomas cook so therefore liquidated.
Nationwide got back saying i have  no claim as i didn’t pay direct. I know of people who they have paid back in the same situation as me. Can they do this? This has really upset me as i had to pay another £1700 deposit to secure the same date. Any help or tips would so much appreciated.
Thank you 

born_again

 From Freedom Travel Group website.

>>Bookings through The Freedom Travel Group Limited with another tour operator

If you booked a package holiday through The Freedom Travel Group Limited and the booking is with another tour operator (not Thomas Cook), will need to contact the tour operator named on your paperwork or ATOL Certificate (look on your ATOL certificate under “Who is protecting your trip”). Your tour operator should be able to confirm that your booking will proceed as normal. <<

Was it a ATOL protected booking?

stevel1987

Hi Thanks so much for the reply.
No. It was just the actual ceremony i booked. It wasn’t a package holiday( i bought flights and hotel seperate) I went to abta as i thought it was abta protected and they told me it was section 75 claim. The wedding travel company also said it section 75. nationwide got back and said they wont pay as it wasn’t a direct booking and i can appeal to FO? Dunno if the FO will see in my favour. Im just a bit sad that my £1700 has just dissapeared.

[Deleted User]

Did you dispute the transaction or specifically raise a claim via S75?

Can't see why they haven't attempted a chargeback as the service clearly won't be delivered.

stevel1987

Hi.
i disputed the claim. Do you reckon its true what nationwide are saying?. That if i pay through a travel agent then basically my payment isn’t covered?

stevel1987

The Wedding Travel Company prior to the 23rdSeptember 2019 was an agent working under the Freedom Travel group and any payments made to the Wedding travel Company prior to the 23rd September 2019 went into the Freedom Travel Group’s bank account.  

That is the statement made. So i wonder if my credit card payment is covered as i paid wedding travel company as opposed to freedom travel.

any help is much appreciated.

eskbanker

stevel1987 said:

Hi.
i disputed the claim. Do you reckon its true what nationwide are saying?. That if i pay through a travel agent then basically my payment isn’t covered?

Yes - a successful section 75 claim requires that there is an unbroken debtor-creditor-supplier chain, which effectively means that any payments made via agents (as opposed to the actual goods/service supplier) are disqualified.  This is explained at https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/section75-protect-your-purchases/#accordion-content-0919186211-1

As above, chargeback might be a more fruitful route, although may now be timebarred seven months on from the Thomas Cook group collapse - do you have any insurance?

stevel1987

Hi Thanks for reply. Yeah I did read article but it didn't really mention my situation. As it is just the actual wedding I paid for. Not flights and accommodation. 
No, I don't have wedding insurance. Actually never really thought about wedding insurance to be honest. 
I just found it unfair that other people have got money back from nationwide but I have been rejected. Is it worth going to the FO to chance my luck?

born_again

So we have wedding travel company > freedom travel group > to the hotel for wedding?

So Freedom Travel (Thomas Cook) fold. That means that The "wedding travel company" should have refunded you.
https://www.theweddingtravelcompany.com
Is that the company you booked through?

Why did you have to pay the £1,700 again? 
When was the wedding due?

stevel1987

Hi. yeah i think that is the chain.
Yes that is the wedding travel companys website. They said I need to claim through section 75. my wedding is due October 15th this year in Cyprus. (heres hoping it still goes ahead) 

the £1700 was the deposit. But I had to pay another £1700 and reclaim the original back, but had no luck so far. 
I don't know what to do.

stevel1987

I tried abta for a start and they also said section 75 claim should be made.