Opodo / Aer Lingus and the missing flight money ..

gabers14

Firstly I sincerely apologise if I should not have started a new thread but I am new here so bear with me ..
COVID19 has ruined 2020 for a lot of people and I appreciate in the grand scheme of things many people are in the same boat as me! I, foolishly, booked return flights to Faro via Dublin with Aer Lingus via Opodo .. due to them being the cheapest (more fool me I know). 

So COVID19 strikes down the world and our family holiday gets cancelled .. so Aer Lingus advise that they will offer 10% extra in value if I take a voucher rather than a refund! We fly with them frequently so I thought Id take this option .. but because I booked via Opodo they advised me that I have to talk to Opodo ... Opodo tell me that I have to talk to Aer Lingus and here I am 3 months later with both companies blaming the other. 

They will not speak to me on the phone. They have ignored complaint cases raised via their websites and the only joy I get is a standard "fob off" via twitter messages.
Can someone please help if you have had success getting money back from either recently?

Aer Lingus right up until today told me that they were processing my voucher request but now saying they refunded and speak to Opodo .. who said speak to Aer Lingus .. I am owed over £1200 and have no idea how to get my money back and an apology (a sincere one at that)

PS. I have also raised a case via Resolver ..
Many thanks

bagand96

I am assuming Aer Lingus cancelled the flights?  In which case you are entitled to a refund (or a credit voucher if you are happy with that)

Unfortunately because you booked via an agent (and quite a poor one at that) then it is correct that the airline won't deal with you direct.  It must be the agent that deals with it as they "own" the booking.

Many agents have been waiting for airlines to process refunds as they need the funds themselves before refunding the customer, and airlines have been very slow.  If Aer Lingus have only processed your refund today, then you might have to wait further for Opodo to process it.  However, you have waited a long time, you could explore a chargeback or Section 75 claim against Opodo.

Nick212010

I’ve made a Chargeback claim with my credit card provider against Opodo after Etihad cancelled all of my flights from Manchester to Sydney and back. Etihad won’t deal with me. I’ve jumped through all of the hoops Opodo have asked me to jump through (including providing the same information multiple times) to claim a cash refund and now I’ve hit a dead end in terms of communicating with them. They won’t reply to emails, and the telephone number I have for them is no longer in use. I feel I’ve been left with no choice but to make the chargeback claim, but am certain that Opodo will appeal the claim and I’ll be back to square one.

bagand96

Nick212010 said:

I’ve made a Chargeback claim with my credit card provider against Opodo after Etihad cancelled all of my flights from Manchester to Sydney and back. Etihad won’t deal with me. I’ve jumped through all of the hoops Opodo have asked me to jump through (including providing the same information multiple times) to claim a cash refund and now I’ve hit a dead end in terms of communicating with them. They won’t reply to emails, and the telephone number I have for them is no longer in use. I feel I’ve been left with no choice but to make the chargeback claim, but am certain that Opodo will appeal the claim and I’ll be back to square one.

If the chargeback is reduced or disputed, then as long as it is a credit card, try a Section 75 claim 

eskbanker

bagand96 said:

Nick212010 said:

I’ve made a Chargeback claim with my credit card provider against Opodo after Etihad cancelled all of my flights from Manchester to Sydney and back. Etihad won’t deal with me. I’ve jumped through all of the hoops Opodo have asked me to jump through (including providing the same information multiple times) to claim a cash refund and now I’ve hit a dead end in terms of communicating with them. They won’t reply to emails, and the telephone number I have for them is no longer in use. I feel I’ve been left with no choice but to make the chargeback claim, but am certain that Opodo will appeal the claim and I’ll be back to square one.

If the chargeback is reduced or disputed, then as long as it is a credit card, try a Section 75 claim 

An s75 claim is likely to be rejected due to the debtor-creditor-supplier chain being broken by the introduction of the fourth party....

Green133

I have had a part refund back from Aer Lingus via Opodo amounting to £79 from a cancelled flight costing £250. Like Gabers14 I'm stuck on how to get any further ,as communicating with either of them is like bashing your head against a wall.