Email from Lastminute.com asking for my bank details to make a refund

fyrdracan

I had flights to Berlin cancelled in April due to CV19.  I followed the refund procedure with Lastminute.com and requested a cash refund (strange as they deducted an amount for that option but inflated the amount had I chosen vouchers!)
I waited and waited and had confirmation my refund request had been accepted and would be processed 'shortly'.
On 20/09 I received an email saying my refund was ready but due to 'technical reasons' it could not be made back to my original method of payment - which I thought was actually a legal requirement. The email provided a link and asked me to click it and provide my bank details.
Being cyber aware, I of course wanted to check this was genuine first and also ask why they cannot refund my credit card used to make the booking.  I found nothing on-line about emails of this type, was unable to get in touch with them and have had all my emails ignored.
Has anyone else had one of these and any got any advice?  

Westin

It would be the norm and typical to refund the original payment method but occasionally things can present a problem so hence perhaps why they are asking for action your end to confirm other information/refund options.

Caution is of course good and obviously if you had never used LM or had not been expecting a refund I would commend your hesitation. Given that you are however expecting and desire a refund on a cancelled booking there is of course a high chance that this is legitimate.  

I’d probably click thru, check the link and see what info is required. Just you bank details would be I think OK, they would need more info fit was a scam and looking to take money from the account.  If however still in doubt you will have to persist and show patience and call them.

Voyager2002

Does the email from Last Minute quote details such as your name; your booking reference; and mention the correct refund amount? If so, it is likely to be from them. Otherwise it is always possible that it is simply a phishing attempt. In any case (as posted above), there is no harm in giving away your account number and sort code. You should absolutely not give away any sensitive account details, and over the next few weeks you should be particularly careful if you receive any phone calls or whatever claiming to be from your bank and quoting your account number...

fyrdracan

Thanks, but he problem is, you can't phone them - none of their phone lines are open due to CV19.  I emailed their press office - they refused to help.  I have forwarded that to the CEO so maybe I can finally get some kind of response from him.

bradders1983

What bank details are they asking for?

If its just a sort code and account number then there isnt much anyone can do with those, and those details are nicely printed on the bottom of cheques and have been for decades.

Butts

It it was a legitimate Company I would not hesitate to forward the details , but with their track record I can see it as a further "stalling tactic".
Wonder if Card Companies are getting twitchy about dealing with them as they owe them a lot of money ? I can't see why you couldn't forward card details for the refund ?
Hindsight is a great thing but the error you made was not going for a chargeback earlier in the process.

fyrdracan

Butts said:

It it was a legitimate Company I would not hesitate to forward the details , but with their track record I can see it as a further "stalling tactic".
Wonder if Card Companies are getting twitchy about dealing with them as they owe them a lot of money ? I can't see why you couldn't forward card details for the refund ?
Hindsight is a great thing but the error you made was not going for a chargeback earlier in the process.

What's a charge back?

mattyprice4004

fyrdracan said:

Butts said:

It it was a legitimate Company I would not hesitate to forward the details , but with their track record I can see it as a further "stalling tactic".
Wonder if Card Companies are getting twitchy about dealing with them as they owe them a lot of money ? I can't see why you couldn't forward card details for the refund ?
Hindsight is a great thing but the error you made was not going for a chargeback earlier in the process.

What's a charge back?

Google will explain the ins and outs, but basically the card company reversing the transaction. 

As for the deduction of admin fees etc this is quite normal it seems - and they’d offer an inflated amount as a voucher to save having to give any cash out at a time when everyone is taking rather than spending. 

Hasbeen

fyrdracan said:

I had flights to Berlin cancelled in April due to CV19.  I followed the refund procedure with Lastminute.com and requested a cash refund (strange as they deducted an amount for that option but inflated the amount had I chosen vouchers!)
I waited and waited and had confirmation my refund request had been accepted and would be processed 'shortly'.
On 20/09 I received an email saying my refund was ready but due to 'technical reasons' it could not be made back to my original method of payment - which I thought was actually a legal requirement. The email provided a link and asked me to click it and provide my bank details.
Being cyber aware, I of course wanted to check this was genuine first and also ask why they cannot refund my credit card used to make the booking.  I found nothing on-line about emails of this type, was unable to get in touch with them and have had all my emails ignored.
Has anyone else had one of these and any got any advice?  

Its not as if your bank details are a secret. Sort code, Account number?

You should have taken the charge back option at the time.

Butts

Hasbeen said:

fyrdracan said:

I had flights to Berlin cancelled in April due to CV19.  I followed the refund procedure with Lastminute.com and requested a cash refund (strange as they deducted an amount for that option but inflated the amount had I chosen vouchers!)
I waited and waited and had confirmation my refund request had been accepted and would be processed 'shortly'.
On 20/09 I received an email saying my refund was ready but due to 'technical reasons' it could not be made back to my original method of payment - which I thought was actually a legal requirement. The email provided a link and asked me to click it and provide my bank details.
Being cyber aware, I of course wanted to check this was genuine first and also ask why they cannot refund my credit card used to make the booking.  I found nothing on-line about emails of this type, was unable to get in touch with them and have had all my emails ignored.
Has anyone else had one of these and any got any advice?  

Its not as if your bank details are a secret. Sort code, Account number?

You should have taken the charge back option at the time.

Unfortunately the poster did not know what a chargeback was !!!

bagand96

Whilst we can all get excited here about the ins and outs of chargeback, it's all not very relevant. The company is offering the customer a refund and is asking for bank details to do this. 

There is no legal requirement or law that states a refund should be to the original payment method. 

The customer is expecting a refund from LM.com and the company have offered that and are trying to give it. As long as sensible precautions (as advised above) are taken, then there's no issue.