Vanquis credit card refusing to credit money for cancelled flight to miami

scottburke

Hi
got a slight problem with vanquis re flight to Miami on 19th of March Returning 23rd. Obviously it was cancelled Due to US travel ban. We Couldn’t get in contact with budgetair who we booked it with so raised it as “dispute payment” with Vanquis. Today they have come back to me saying they are not crediting money back as airlines are offering resolutions. I must speak to the tour operator or airline. 

Is this correct?? Any advice ??

mattyprice4004

How hard did you try and get in touch with the travel agent? 
Also, Section 75 disputes for these shonky online travel agents are often rejected; the reason being that they claim you only bought a ticket from them, and you've received that. It's the airline that failed to provide the service, not the travel agent - thus the credit card company aren't liable. 

I imagine budgetair will offer credit if you push harder to get in touch with them, which is better than nothing. 

scottburke

Thanks for your reply matty. Why are flights not covered by section 75???

mobilejo

They argue that the purchase which is subject to the s.75 protection is the payment to the travel agent, in exchange for tickets.
They allege that the travel agent has fulfilled their part of the contract, by providing the tickets, and what you are now dealing with is a breach of a separate contract with the airline to actually honour those tickets. The argument is that the credit card company are not liable for the failure of the airline, only the for the failure of the travel agent. Its the 'middleman' trap.

Its similar to s.75 claims failing for purchases made via Paypal.

Unfortunately, they have been running these arguments for years and seem to get away with it.