Lastminute.com refusing refund

Milena83

I booked on 15th July  through Lastminute.com holiday package to Bulgaria/ varna. The very next day on 16th  Bulgaria added UK on red list, straight away I cancelled the holiday 24 hours after the booking even payment was pending ..now
Lastminute.com are refusing any kind of support refund or voucher. I am heartbroken today I should have been on my holiday and I am 1100 pounds on minus. Can you please help me or advise me what to do.

Kind regards,.
Milena

Caz3121

when were you due to travel? what were the terms of the booking regarding customer cancellation? do you have a good travel insurance policy in place?
(you may have jumped too soon by cancelling yourself rather than waiting for them to cancel)

eskbanker

I'd argue that Bulgaria closing its borders to tourists would trigger cancellation rights (with full refund due) under regulation 12 para 7 of the Package Travel Regulations, i.e. unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances affecting the performance of the package.  If you paid by card, invoke your bank's chargeback process if Lastminute aren't fulfilling their legal obligations....

Westin

I would possibly agree with eskbanker but it depends on the actions you took after discovering the new limitations on travelling to Bulgaria.  Hope you did not initiate the change and go on line and press any buttons marked < Cancel >.

Any international travel is fraught with issues and disruption at the moment.  The pandemic rumbles on and there will be ongoing issues with international air travel for some time to come.   During these times booking a full package holiday with a reputable tour operator is key.  This forum alone is full of reports of people complaining about lastminute.com - as was the media covering stories of long delays or no refunds to customers through lastminute.com. You were very very 'brave' to book with LM. Big risk, big gamble. 

Thrugelmir

Milena83 said:

 I cancelled the holiday 24 hours after the booking even payment was pending ..now

What the the contractual cancellation terms you agreed to when making the booking?