Holiday (through School) cancelled , no refund offered

ukdear

Sorry, I have no knowledge about this, although I have tried to search in this forum, I've not found anything regarding a School holiday.

Our query is, we paid about £1500 last year for our daughter to go on a school trip to the USA which should have been at Easter, a few weeks back, obviously this was cancelled and the School told us they would be back in touch with our options, they have now been in contact and told us "great news" the holiday company have said they will honour the same holiday at the same time, next year at no extra cost & to please let them know if we would like to retain a place for our daughter on this trip next year, unfortunately if we do not request a space, no refunds can be issued,

this causes 2 big problems for us, 1, we are currently in the process of looking at other schools for our daughter to switch too this Summer and 2. we have a big family holiday booked for next Easter.

Is the school really allowed to do this to us, not offer a refund, we did not cancel the holiday and we cant accept the new date offered?

Hope someone on this forum knows a bit about legal rights or who could point us in the right direction.

Many thanks

Lucy.

phatbear

What has your travel insurance said about this?

ukdear

phatbear said:

What has your travel insurance said about this?

The insurance is with the school as it was a school trip. It's not our insurance.

phatbear

Then get the insurance companies details from the school and claim through them.

I take it you didnt pay for this trip on your credit card?

jaybeetoo

Can another child take your daughter’s place?

Westin

I think you need to either get some more information from the school or publish it here if you know it.  

Who did the school use to make these travel plans?  Ask the name of the travel provider/tour operator. From this some detective work your end to establish exactly what that Operator is offering for cancelled trips.  

Ask what options were were given to the school, who at the school made the decision to accept the rescheduling without open discussion with parents and what process they decided if students could no longer travel on the rescheduled holiday.

As another poster has suggested, ask for details about the travel insurer. I am surprised that they did not provide this information when the booking was initially made.  Read the policy, explore options with the insurance on your child no longer being able to travel.

daveyjp

The CMA have given clear advice just today.  If a service provider is unable to provide the service you have paid for due to the virus shutdown  you are entitled to a full refund.

Their website has a facility to report companies which aren't doing so.

askeym

You have to take into account the world is in total crisis, healthwise and economically. Airlines are financially crippled as are, I'd imagine, insurance companies and hundreds of other industries. The best travel companies can do, as well as the other industries who are liable for dishing out refunds, is to offer credits otherwise if everyone wanted cash refunds they would go under and no one would benefit. Sorry I can't offer a more positive response but the fair world we once knew is going to change once this pandemic is over.

Good luck.

NoodleDoodleMan

As above from daveyjp

Also, who exactly has said no refunds - the school, or the travel operator ?

Sounds like another pass the buck scenario by the latter, in order to avoid responsibility of paying out refunds.

I doubt it's the school, however that would require investigation for absolute clarity.

If the school is playing games I would contact your Local Authority Director of Education (or equivalent official) and your local councillor(s) soonest.

Another point - is the travel operator a UK based outfit, and ABTA member ?

It would be very negligent and irresponsible of the school otherwise.

Alan_Bowen

I fear the school may have taken the decision to postpone the trip without discussing it with the parents involved. That then becomes their problem as you are clearly entitled to ask the school for a refund and then it is up to them to find another pupil and parent who wants to take your daughter's place.

mvteng

My sons school have already issued a full refund for his cancelled foreign trip.
No questions asked, no issues, no problems.
Just seems bizarre and wrong that your school are stating no refunds