Villa holiday where do we stand?

Dickyseville2477

We booked a villa holiday late last year with HomeAway holidays for 12 family members in Benalmadena.  It was just the villa we booked for a total cost of £2100 for the week.  Obviously with Spain shutting down, government advice and cancelled flights we were unable to go.  Over the past month we've tried to contact the villa owner about a refund via the website messaging app, but go no reply.  We also contacted Homeaway to complain about the lack of communication, but they couldn't contact the villa owner either and they said they were unable to authorise a refund without the villa owners authority.  I also messaged the villa owner 3 times about a refund, on his mobile which he read immediately but never replied.  On Friday I contacted the credit card company about a section 75 claim.  They advised they couldn't start it until the holiday start date had lapsed.  We were due to go on Saturday just gone.  Today the villa owner messaged us to say he was offering a credit so we could re-book the villa next year.  On checking the price for the equivalent week next year has increased from £2100 to £5600.  There's just no way we are going to pay again for the same villa.  Tonight I've started a section 75 claim.  Unfortunately we didn't have travel insurance.  Does anyone know where I stand regarding this please?

Life__Goes__On

Dickyseville2477 said:

We booked a villa holiday late last year with HomeAway holidays for 12 family members in Benalmadena.  It was just the villa we booked for a total cost of £2100 for the week.  Obviously with Spain shutting down, government advice and cancelled flights we were unable to go.  Over the past month we've tried to contact the villa owner about a refund via the website messaging app, but go no reply.  We also contacted Homeaway to complain about the lack of communication, but they couldn't contact the villa owner either and they said they were unable to authorise a refund without the villa owners authority.  I also messaged the villa owner 3 times about a refund, on his mobile which he read immediately but never replied.  On Friday I contacted the credit card company about a section 75 claim.  They advised they couldn't start it until the holiday start date had lapsed.  We were due to go on Saturday just gone.  Today the villa owner messaged us to say he was offering a credit so we could re-book the villa next year.  On checking the price for the equivalent week next year has increased from £2100 to £5600.  There's just no way we are going to pay again for the same villa.  Tonight I've started a section 75 claim.  Unfortunately we didn't have travel insurance.  Does anyone know where I stand regarding this please?

I would have started a Chargeback, as should be quicker,  normally a bank does that first as that  doesn't cost them.  but a S75 does.

Dickyseville2477

Doesn't a Chargeback have to be done within a set time from the point of purchase?

Life__Goes__On

It's either the time of purchase, or date of the event.
http://www.theukcardsassociation.org.uk/individual/chargeback-for-credit-and-debit-card-purchases.asp

Time limit

You should make a claim as soon as you identify the problem or are concerned about a transaction, as your card issuer usually needs to start the chargeback process within 120 days from when you made the transaction or when you were due to receive the goods or services.