Unable to get Refund or Voucher from TAP Air after months of a cancelled flight

CKhalvashi

maranassy said:

Hi.  Thanks for replying.  The flight was due to take place on the 31st August - it was cancelled by TAP Air in June.  I phoned the dispute chargeback team with my bank and they said the claim would still be within time-scales.  I have been told to wait until they send me a letter.   I will tighten up wording & refer to EC 261/2004 regulations as part of the charge back claim.  Is there any other authority I should be talking to?.  TAP AIR did get back to me again this evening on Twitter to give my a reference number for the refund & that my refund is still being reviewed' but without giving me the time-scales I requested.  
Many thanks again.

You are outside the timeframe for chargeback. It's 120 days from the date of cancellation (which was the date OP knew there was a problem with the booking).

I'd expect the claim to be rejected on this basis. You will likely be asked for the e-mail confirmation of cancellation, so you're unlikely to get money back this way.

maranassy

For flights the 120 day counts from the day I was supposed to receive the service which was 31st August.  I checked this online and also when I phoned up Santander.   If it was out of time they wouldn't have even sent the forms.

Butts

maranassy said:

For flights the 120 day counts from the day I was supposed to receive the service which was 31st August.  I checked this online and also when I phoned up Santander.   If it was out of time they wouldn't have even sent the forms.

I'm surprised Santander don't complete the chargeback process online ( as an option)
My Capital One claim involved scanning all the documents and filling the form out online and that was it.
A week from start to getting the cash back.

maranassy

No online with Santander.  Also they gave me about 3 days to get the forms sent back to them - so it was a bit of a mad panic.  I've now sent the forms with a ton of evidence & tried to demonstrate that TAP are in contravention of EC guidelines but also that it is highly unlikely that TAP will ever compensate me in either vouchers/money.
Based on what people have said, I hold out little hope.  If I lose,  I will have to think about what to do next.  My mum wants me to go and book new flights to Madeira again next year.  I would've considered another TAP if they'd give me a voucher but obviously they now owe me money & I can't trust them... 

maranassy

I have some good news for everyone.  My Chargeback was successful!  I got instantly refunded without question.   Secondly after I'd told TAP I would take severe actions they refunded me the full amount anyway.   I phoned Santander and they said they will take the chargeback refund back  as the airline had refunded me in full while the chargeback refund was processing - but that there wouldn't be an issues - just something that will  get quietly sorted behind the scenes.  They told me it is unusual for money to be refunded quickly - they said the dispute team looked at the evidence and felt it was very clear cut that I had to get the money back.

Thanks everyone for your advice.  My situation shows that persistence can work & also the chargeback process, providing you have the evidence, also can work out well.  A very happy outcome for this to happen just before xmas.