Credit Card Dispute

Davomc82

I was due to go on holiday in July, I had booked the flights through a travel agent  and accommodation through Hotels.com due to the pandemic my flights ended up cancelled and both my destination (Catalunya) and here had travel restrictions in place.  I cancelled my accommodation and requested a refund on the deposit I had paid (€1000).  The company flat out refused to refund the deposit so I contacted my bank as I had paid it using my credit card and raised a dispute.  The bank refunded the money and said they’d raise the issue with the company and said if we didn’t hear from them then the issue was settled.  I didn’t hear back from the bank and thought that was the end of the matter.  However a few days ago I received an email from the company saying I owe them €1000.  Has anyone heard of this happening before? I’ve used the credit card disputed process before but never had a situation like this.

bradders1983

They clearly forgot to dispute the chargeback within 45 days and now they are trying it on.

Butts

File it in the bin !!

Caz3121

Davomc82 said:

The bank refunded the money 

what date was the money refunded?
what were the terms of the booking regarding cancellation?
If non-refundable and assuming that the accommodation was open, then this should have been a travel insurance claim

ARH_2

When did you request the chargeback? If it was more than 45 days ago, and the hotel didn't contest the chargeback, the money can't just be taken from your card again. 

If you owe them the money because it was non refundable, you still owe them. Have a look at the terms you agreed to and decide if you took a chance on there being a global pandemic or they did. 

If you think you don't owe them, then file it in the bin.

If you do owe them, you may consider choosing to pay what you owe. If you don't pay what you owe, the hotel will be able to chase it through court or debt collectors, but given that you're thousands of miles away, there's a slim chance they will, and you have a decent chance of getting away with it. 

Davomc82

Hotels.com said that no cancellation should apply if the destination was inaccessible, travel advice was to not go to Catalunya.  The accommodation company were refusing to abide by that.

bradders1983

Davomc82 said:

Hotels.com said that no cancellation should apply if the destination was inaccessible, travel advice was to not go to Catalunya.  The accommodation company were refusing to abide by that.

The fact you couldnt, or wouldn't, go there isnt their concern though.  You had a contract with them for them to provide you with X number of days of accommodation. If the hotel was open then they were sticking to their end of the contract.

sheramber

Davomc82 said:

Hotels.com said that no cancellation should apply if the destination was inaccessible, travel advice was to not go to Catalunya.  The accommodation company were refusing to abide by that.

Advice did not make the destination inaccessible. You chose to accept the advice so should have claimed from your travel insurance , if you were covered for FCO advice against travelling.

mattyprice4004

Davomc82 said:

Hotels.com said that no cancellation should apply if the destination was inaccessible, travel advice was to not go to Catalunya.  The accommodation company were refusing to abide by that.

This post actually sums up why you could be on the hook for the hotel if they persue it - by your own admission it's travel advice, not the law.

You just need to hope they don't persue the debt, but if it was non-refundable and they farm the job out to some cheap solicitors for a cut, there's nothing to stop them following the process to lodge a court claim etc.

Winning a Section 75 / Chargeback claim does not preclude them from taking alternative action.