Worldchoice Sports and Secret Escapes deposit being witheld

woojh8

Booked a rugby trip with Secret Escapes in Dec 19 it got cancelled due to Covid. I have had a partial refund from Worldchoice Sports but my deposit and ticket money is being witheld.

Along with many others we have received poor service and response regarding a refund for the cancelled 6 nations match in Rome.

When this was cancelled in March, Worldchoice Sports used the excuse that as they were not in the office they would not be able to issue any refunds - but they did ask for the tickets to be returned to them.

Since then it has been a constant stream of excuses as to why they will not refund the full amount - even though they issued a full invoice which clearly states £500 deposit received!

As many have found - they are refusing to repay the £500 deposit that we had paid to Secret Escapes.

We contacted Secret Escapes and they have been extremely helpful in trying to resolve this but as the deposit money has been paid by them to Worldchoice Sports the contract to refund is with Worldchoice Sports.

By this point we were into July - 5 months down the line, and Worldchoice Sports offer us a refund credit note with a 20% increase in value of the note if we accept it or a refund of our holiday - less the £500 deposit and £100 for match tickets - therefore £768 and not the full £1398.

Looking at the ABTA website there is clear guidance that any refund credit note must be for the exact amount that is owed as refund - which leads me to believe this was a cynical move to avoid repayment.

When we contacted Worldchoice Sports with this information we received a curt one liner reply that 'their MD had agreed with Secret Escapes MD on the repayment' - so we contacted the Secret Escapes MD of European Operations and he replied that we are not the only ones being told this and that the deposit monies had been paid on to Worldchoice Sports and therefore they are contractually bound to process the full refund.

After a further email to Worldchoice Sports on the 28th July we have heard nothing back at all as of 14th August 2020 other than an automated email response.
4th Sept email from WCS to say SE are paying back deposit, sent that email to SE and they say WCS are paying back? Has anyone successfully got their money back, does anyone know the next step?

pogofish

So, what exactly is the bargain here...?

heatherw_01

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