Travel Rep cancelled pkg hol in April..will not refund

Surfingruthie

Hi all,
I'm getting very frustrated with Travel Republic.  They cancelled my package holiday obviously due to Covid 19 and we were due to fly 24 April. 
They sent a message saying I had a credit note refund on the accommodation booking but no refund on the flights , Vueling notified me beginning of April that the flights were cancelled and I could have a refund. I emailed back to say the credit note is not acceptable and I would like a refund of which I'm entitled to my money back on the flight and hotel booking combined. 
I have since heard nothing from them despite me sending really polite emails asking for when I can expect my refund ( £480 ).
You cannot speak to anyone ,all correspondence is done through the booking and raising a customer query. I keep checking if anything has been resolved and it just says support is pending.
Has anyone any advice as to what my next steps should be ?
Thank you.

drdes11

If you paid by credit/debit card - try and request a chargeback from them. If by credit card, you can also try s75 claim.
Or send them a letter stating "Letter before legal action" and refer to Regulation 13 and 14 of the Package and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulation 2018. Ask for monies to be paid within 14 days (provide your bank account details) or you will take legal action where you will use this letter as evidence of your failure to resolve matter. And that they will be liable for additional costs.

I am in same position and have got them from "Sorry no refunds" to "wait till October" to "wait for a month". I am still pushing back to get money back sooner. Of course, I am very happy to take them to court and make them pay for the cost of holiday plus the court fees plus interest at 8%.
I am not a lawyer though and hopefully someone else can expand on my post to help you out. Long story short, the letter above should get you your money back - and if not, then the Small Claims courts looks pretty easy and not as scary as it sounds.

NoodleDoodleMan

Travel Republic are ABTA members - or at least they were according to this.

https://www.travelrepublic.co.uk/blog/what-does-abta-and-atol-mean

They are "at it" - simply trying to avoid refunds.

As above, it looks like you might have to play hardball to get somewhere.

Here's a start.

https://www.coronavirus-business-complaint.service.gov.uk/

I suggest you draft a typed detailed letter and send it toTravel Republic by Recorded Delivery so they can't bodyswerve receiving it, copied to ABTA, clearly stating you want a refund, no other option or offer. You can also copy it electronically to the above complaint service I believe as part of your submission.

You might also want to involve the Financial Ombudsman.