Social gatherings of more than six banned in England from next week - your refund rights

Former_MSE_Naomi

Most social gatherings of more than six people will be banned in England from next week in a bid to combat rising coronavirus cases – which could affect holidays, activities and more. Here's what we know so far about how you could be affected and your refund rights...

Read the full story:

'Social gatherings of more than six banned in England from next week - your refund rights for holidays, activities and more'

Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.

turns54

What are the new rules for funeral wakes held at private home. Are they restricted to 6 people only ( assuming different households are involved)?

kaMelo

I would suggest they are as a wake is a social gathering after the event and nothing to do with the funeral itself which has an exemption.
The gathering would be limited to six wherever it was held, not just at home, assuming of course you are not somewhere subject to tighter restrictions banning such socialising.

jon81uk

The current advice is to meet no more than six people OR more from two households only. so those who were planning holidays such as 20 people coming from six households were going against current advice anyway and I have no sympathy.

bradders1983

jon81uk said:

The current advice is to meet no more than six people OR more from two households only. so those who were planning holidays such as 20 people coming from six households were going against current advice anyway and I have no sympathy.

What about if they booked it in February?

jon81uk

bradders1983 said:

jon81uk said:

The current advice is to meet no more than six people OR more from two households only. so those who were planning holidays such as 20 people coming from six households were going against current advice anyway and I have no sympathy.

What about if they booked it in February?

Then I have some sympathy, but they should have already been expecting to change the plans to meet the current advice of no more than two households.
If two households each of five people were planning to meet then yes things have changed and it is going to be a pain to cancel etc. But if the plan was four households getting together then they have had three months already to re-think the plan.

bradders1983

jon81uk said:

bradders1983 said:

jon81uk said:

The current advice is to meet no more than six people OR more from two households only. so those who were planning holidays such as 20 people coming from six households were going against current advice anyway and I have no sympathy.

What about if they booked it in February?

Then I have some sympathy, but they should have already been expecting to change the plans to meet the current advice of no more than two households.
If two households each of five people were planning to meet then yes things have changed and it is going to be a pain to cancel etc. But if the plan was four households getting together then they have had three months already to re-think the plan.

Seen many a thread on here where people have been unable to do this due to inflexible accommodation providers, so its not as black and white as you think.

jon81uk

bradders1983 said:

jon81uk said:

bradders1983 said:

jon81uk said:

The current advice is to meet no more than six people OR more from two households only. so those who were planning holidays such as 20 people coming from six households were going against current advice anyway and I have no sympathy.

What about if they booked it in February?

Then I have some sympathy, but they should have already been expecting to change the plans to meet the current advice of no more than two households.
If two households each of five people were planning to meet then yes things have changed and it is going to be a pain to cancel etc. But if the plan was four households getting together then they have had three months already to re-think the plan.

Seen many a thread on here where people have been unable to do this due to inflexible accommodation providers, so its not as black and white as you think.

The advice is black and white and people should have expected to change plans. That doesn't mean they are entitled to a refund just that they re-consider their plans. The new rule might actually help some people who had booked trips as now it is illegal there is more chance of a refund (as per the MSE article).
But for anything indoors gathering over two households it was not advised back in July and people should already be expecting to change plans, even if that means they weren't getting refunds.

bradders1983

I can see why people would still go if they are losing a hefty amount of money by not doing so, if you agree with that or not.

jon81uk

bradders1983 said:

I can see why people would still go if they are losing a hefty amount of money by not doing so, if you agree with that or not.

and realistically if they have a sensible calm trip they will likely be OK. If they have a loud drunken party then its more likely the police will get called.

Spendless

turns54 said:

What are the new rules for funeral wakes held at private home. Are they restricted to 6 people only ( assuming different households are involved)?

I've been trying to find out the same thing. The general consesus (on here) is 'the funeral' applies to service only, though there may be guidelines issued before Monday. On previous performance I'm not expecting clarity from the Government though about it.
My mother-in-law is teminally ill. She won't see next month. A number of her family including her siblings live 2 hours away. We are facing that they will need to drive 2 hours here, attend the crem and then have to drive home.
Even her immediate family, her husband, grown up children, their spouses and grown up grandchildren exceed 6.
Currently we can't have MIL in our bubble as FIL is also living. I am wondering if when MIL goes we could then put FIL in our bubble making us a household of 5. If my husband's sister puts her single adult daughter into her household (making it 3), then would the 8 of us be ok going back to one of our houses after the service?