Any success with travel agency refund

irelavv

Hey guys,
So I've been reading loads of threads and topics about flight refunds in regards to cancellations. My question is has anyone actually had any success with their travel agency with getting a refund and how long did it take?
Unfortunately, I'm with Opodo and like hundreds of other people we're just waiting on them to give us something back. My flight was cancelled, I called Blue Air and they were super helpful and polite. They were ready to process my refund but when they saw I had booked via Opodo they suggested to contact them.
So, has anyone had any success with their travel agency refunds and did you need to involve the small claims court - or any other institution - to get it? Thanks 

Nick212010

I posted my experience of Opodo in another thread earlier today. Basically, I'm still waiting on my refund.

Nick212010 said:

I had the same problem with my flight to Australia, booked 21 April outbound, return 4 May - both flights cancelled by Etihad.
Firstly I contacted Opodo via telephone within three days of my departure as soon as Etihad cancelled the outbound flight, as their instruction at the time, and was disconnected without speaking to anyone. Later the same day I spoke to one of their operatives, told them Etihad had contacted me to say the flight had been cancelled and request my money back, and when on hold I was disconnected by the operative again. I complained about their customer service the following day via email, and at the same time requested a full cash refund. 

I rang again and after holding for over an hour due to being transferred from one person to another, I was told my refund request would be confirmed or denied within three days. Technically, I'm still waiting for that confirmation.
I also received an email regarding my customer service complaint, and was also told that "We would like to inform you that we have received your refund request and we are currently treating your case accordingly. We will get in touch with you as soon as possible." This email came through the same day I should have departed, but more importantly I had written proof Opodo said they would request a refund from the airline. 

I rang the number I'd used previously after a month of no contact and found, like yourself, it is discontinued. I have received numerous emails from Opodo encouraging me to click on the link provided "to obtain your voucher for you, if you agree, as soon as it becomes available. To give your consent to this complimentary service, simply click I AGREE below." Obviously I've been disregarding these emails, I want a refund not a voucher. 

So to get to the crooks of your problem (I realise I'm partially sharing my experience of Opodo's abysmal customer service, rather than helping) you need to log into your online account and select 'Cancel.'
You'll then be asked to complete some details and then be asked do you want vouchers or a refund. I selected refund, and then clicked the button 'Cancel/Request Refund.' Whenever I log into my account now, my Refund Status is listed as "Requested" on 27 May. 
There appears to be no other record of my refund request being accepted by Opodo via email, and my account was not updated at the time. I did pay by credit card, and am contemplating using Section 75 to reclaim my money, but I'm fortunate that I'm in a situation where it is urgently needed to cover other costs and outgoings, so am armed with the correspondence and information I have just in case I need it to claim my Section 75 should this be prolonged for too long.

Alan_Bowen

There aren't any small claims cases being heard at present and when they start again, you can expect at least a 12-month delay before you get a hearing, the average wait last year was 39 weeks, so certainly no one has got a refund that way. Opodo are like so many online agents, simply not set up to deal with a crisis like this, by booking with them, you simply paid more than you would by booking directly with a low-cost carrier such as Blue Air. In truth many airlines aren't refunding quickly anyway, some are refusing refunds completely, others such as Virgin say at least 100 days, so as long as you hit the right button requesting a refund you have probably done all you can with Opodo.
The other route to refunds is through chargeback from the card issuer you used to pay for the ticket but there are many reports that if refunds have been promised but not paid, the banks are refusing chargebacks, so that is not a guaranteed route to refunds at the present time

Browntoa

And charge backs can be reversed on appeal , look at an earlier thread on amex card chargeback where it's been clawed back 

irelavv

Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it. I'm definitely joining the long waiting list for refunds.
The day after my flight was supposed to depart I called my bank and requested a chargeback on my card. I'm still waiting for a reply but, thankfully, Opodo have definitely messed up their Terms and Conditions on their website and emails. The foolishly state most airlines are not offering cash refunds which is simply a lie as you all know. This gives people plenty of grounds to plead 'false Terms' and claim their money back. Let's see what happens.
I'f that doesn't succeed I'm definitely registering a court claim no matter how long it takes. No way am I letting them get away with whatever excuse they come up with..