Refunds

Brambleside_5

Can anyone help me on this forum???We booked a holiday back in 2019 and we were only given the option at the time of paying by Bank Transfer - bearing in mind we were planning this a year before we actually were supposed to be going away!!!! Obviously the holiday was postponed due to Covid restrictions but we were told by the UK based operator we couldn’t cancel because the owners of the villa had already had our money and we couldn’t get it back although we were fine to rebook and they have kept the cost of the holiday the same- We are now due to go again in May this year however it’s looking unlikely due to covid restrictions again but this time if we can’t go I’m keen to try and sort a refund back - the travel company have been really difficult with us And are not returning our calls (they are still in operation) ! If it does get cancelled a second time are we able to get a refund - can they withhold monies when we’ve never received the goods????? Appreciate any advice on this matter 
Thanks 

pogofish

Maybe try getting this moved to the dedicated forum for COVID-related travel issues?

isplumm

is this a package that includes flights? Or is this a villa only holiday? If it is a villa only holiday and the villa is available, then I am not sure you would be able to get your money back.

Neil49

It would help if you said who the UK based operator was as this would allow others to study their terms and conditions and comment appropriately. 

[Deleted User]

I am not sure reputable travel operators would insist on bank transfer only.  Never a good idea at any time.   From the sound of things it doesn't sound like you booked a package holiday, therefore, you will have to wait and see if the villa is open and available to you in May.   Even if the villa is closed but you are offered a rebooking by the villa owners, this might be as good as it gets for you.     Your insurance may cover you so check the terms of the cover you have purchased as well as the t's and c's of the booking agents as suggested above.

CKhalvashi

Tedber said:

I am not sure reputable travel operators would insist on bank transfer only.  Never a good idea at any time.   From the sound of things it doesn't sound like you booked a package holiday, therefore, you will have to wait and see if the villa is open and available to you in May.   Even if the villa is closed but you are offered a rebooking by the villa owners, this might be as good as it gets for you.     Your insurance may cover you so check the terms of the cover you have purchased as well as the t's and c's of the booking agents as suggested above.

I had to pay in this way last year, but that was because I was booking with a Belarusian travel agent on a Minsk-Tirana-Minsk route (in BY on business twice with about 2 weeks free in the middle). I've never heard of this in the UK though, and wouldn't have agreed to this if it wasn't one of the largest operators in the country.

Is this a package? If that's the case then who has the money isn't your problem (and it definitely shouldn't be the villa owner, the money should be in a client account, which leads me to suggest it's villa only.)

We'll need to know what your contract says if it's villa only, mainly as you won't have additional protection. Your contract will likely also state who (and where) would need to be taken to court if necessary.

sheramber

Th OP hasn' t logged on for a week

Westin

sheramber said:

Th OP hasn' t logged on for a week

I always find this bizarre (and somewhat rude) when people ask one or more questions or wrap up their post with something like “Appreciate any advice on this matter“, yet don’t check back in a timely manner to read the replies people have kindly given. Poor show.