USA soccer school refusing refund

LondonGirlie

I will ask my son, I know a lot of the interaction with them was via an online portal so I’m assuming he has access to the contract through that. I do know that some of the parents of the children in the soccer schools in the USA were up in arms as the company changed the T&Cs after COVID hit and after people had signed up. With a lot of pressure on social media a lot of the parents were finally refunded, I’d rather not go down the social media road if I can help it but maybe that is an option. 

Grumpy_chap

LondonGirlie said:

"Important note - changes beyond our control;

Compensation will not apply if a significant change is made for reasons beyond our control. These include: war, threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist activity, industrial disputes, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, epidemics, health risks, changes due to rescheduling or cancellation of flights by an airline or alteration of the airline or aircraft type, closed or congested airports or ports, hurricanes and other actual or potential severe weather conditions, and any other similar event."

Does this wording exist in the original contract?  The parts in bold seem particularly relevant at the moment but cannot be enforced if they have just been added.

Also, you are not asking for "compensation" but a "refund".

Finally, 

LondonGirlie said:

He paid the company about half of the fee (£500) which is towards air flight, insurance etc.

What does that insurance cover that has been paid for?
Is the flight covered under flight cancellation rules?  (Long shot, as it is quite possible the flight has not actually been cancelled.)

LondonGirlie

I will double check the contract to see if that has been added after he signed. 

Yes I had noticed the difference in wording between compensation and refund. It’s £500 but I’m reluctant to go down the legal route for fear of costs being more than the £500. I have no experience in this at all. 

The insurance relates to health insurance while in the states and no flight was ever booked, that is my argument with them, I do not know what costs they had incurred before the programme was cancelled. 

Dr_Crypto

Have you got a link to the original contract? 

This looks more like a breach of contract case than a situation in which chargebacks would apply. Are they really providing a service? Arguable. 

Jeremy535897

Dr_Crypto said:

Have you got a link to the original contract? 

This looks more like a breach of contract case than a situation in which chargebacks would apply. Are they really providing a service? Arguable. 

Why not start with chargeback? See
https://www.money.co.uk/guides/chargeback-claims-how-to-get-your-money-back.htm

If that fails, then small claims court is the next option.

DCFC79

Keep the thread updated.

LondonGirlie

Thank you everyone for your advice, we will try the chargeback option and I will update when I have some news 🤞🏼

Thrugelmir

Jeremy535897 said:

Dr_Crypto said:

Have you got a link to the original contract? 

This looks more like a breach of contract case than a situation in which chargebacks would apply. Are they really providing a service? Arguable. 

Why not start with chargeback? See
https://www.money.co.uk/guides/chargeback-claims-how-to-get-your-money-back.htm

If that fails, then small claims court is the next option.

Suspect that they'll simply send a copy of the contract back to refute the chargeback. .