Help with reclaiming holiday costs

penj61

I booked a package holiday with Travel Republic (TR) in December 2019 and paid a deposit by Debit Card, to travel to Spain in late September. Full balance is not due until 3rd August, but I paid the balance in full on a credit card in February 2020. In May I started to try to contact TR to cancel the holiday, but they have not responded to any of the Customer Service Requests, and their phone lines are still off.  I have cancelled online, but this has not been acknowledged.  At the time of cancellation, I should only lose the deposit, but am unable to get through to request the balance be refunded to my card.   (I have kept screen shots of all the contact attempts which are dated & timed).  ATOL say I am not covered by them as TR are still trading, and my credit card say I cannot make a section 75 claim and should claim on my insurance - but this is not appropriate.  I thought that the section 75 was for any transactions where you cannot get satisfaction from the retailer.  Where do I go from here to get my refund?

blindman

penj61 said:

I booked a package holiday with Travel Republic (TR) in December 2019 and paid a deposit by Debit Card, to travel to Spain in late September. Full balance is not due until 3rd August, but I paid the balance in full on a credit card in February 2020. In May I started to try to contact TR to cancel the holiday, but they have not responded to any of the Customer Service Requests, and their phone lines are still off.  I have cancelled online, but this has not been acknowledged.  At the time of cancellation, I should only lose the deposit, but am unable to get through to request the balance be refunded to my card.   (I have kept screen shots of all the contact attempts which are dated & timed).  ATOL say I am not covered by them as TR are still trading, and my credit card say I cannot make a section 75 claim and should claim on my insurance - but this is not appropriate.  I thought that the section 75 was for any transactions where you cannot get satisfaction from the retailer.  Where do I go from here to get my refund?

Why and WHEN did you cancel?

TR are very busy so it may take a while to get your refund of the balance.

Good that you kept screenshots.

S75 does not apply as you have cancelled. Only would be applicable if TR reply  and say you cannot have the balance back.

penj61

I cancelled on mid-June.  I cancelled as I don't feel it would be the holiday I booked, with the all-inclusive buffet not operating, social distancing both in the hotel and the resort, and as a lone female traveller no longer feel its a safe environment.

macman

Why don't you try and do a chargeback for the deposit amount? Your card provider is more likely to assist with this, rather than an S75 claim, as the retailer, rather than the card provider, then foots the bill.
Always better to start with a chargeback, and only use S75 if that fails.
Since it will be viewed as disinclination to travel, I can't see an insurance or card claim for the full amount succeeding: it's not clear if you accept this and are seeking only the deposit back?