Holiday (through School) cancelled , no refund offered

giraffe69

Completely unacceptable behaviour on the part of the school. I'd start with a letter to the Headteacher and if that gets nowhere to the Chair of Governors. Useful if there are other aggrieved parents in the same situation.

TELLIT01

The situation the OP finds themself in is no different to any other traveller who has had their holiday cancelled by the tour operator.  They are entitled to a full refund as was confirmed on the news today. 

sheramber

 https://schoolsweek.co.uk/coronavirus-schools-paying-out-thousands-for-cancelled-pgl-trips/
The school should be claiming on their travel insurance if the holiday company will not refund 

ukdear

Thank you all for your responses.

The lead teacher is the one who arranged it with the travel company from my understanding. No consultation with the parents, which is hardly surprising based on how the school has run and the trouble they had there not so long ago with prolonged strike action.

We have been asked to respond and state that we accept no refund will be given unless another student is willing to take up the place. This is what we are most aggrieved about. But taking on board the comments here, it is apparent that this is unacceptable and not legal.

We shall contact the school and explain this to them. No idea if the deposit will be refunded, but that is the least of our worries considering the huge amount that it has cost,

TELLIT01

The way the school is acting makes me wonder if they hadn't taken out travel insurance, and hadn't booked as a package trip either.  In that situation they may be having problems claiming their costs back.  That is their problem, not yours.

missile

daveyjp said:

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.

I thought I would try CMA. Unfortunately, when I got to the end of the complaints process, it seems to be a waste of time. Just another government quango. A toothless tiger which does little to help the consumer > 

TELLIT01

Advise the school that you want a full refund in accordance with CMA rules and that failure to comply will lead to a claim through the Small Claims Court.  Just the threat is often enough to make them see sense.

Voyager2002

NoodleDoodleMan said:

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

This advice is about twenty years out of date!

The majority of schools now are Academies: the head teacher will be accountable to a board of governors, but regulation is provided only by the Dept of Education. Local authorities (councils) now have only a minimal role in education, unfortunately.

pollypenny

That's a pathetic reasoning from the school, probably to make things easier for themselves. A formal letter telling them that you are entitled to a refund and expect one. 

NoodleDoodleMan

"The majority of schools now are Academies: the head teacher will be accountable to a board of governors, but regulation is provided only by the Dept of Education. Local authorities (councils) now have only a minimal role in education, unfortunately."

I had forgotten that schools south of Hadrian's Wall operated differently from up here. My bad.