Lastminute.com - invoice

PintorUK

Honestly, I am tempted to tell everyone to avoid lastminute like the plague.

I have made a booking as far as 2 weeks ago and I've requested an invoice. I need the invoice in order to request a Schengen visa for my wife or we cannot go. 
I've called Lastminute several times asking for an invoice, their response is always that it isn't available yet and they will request it with urgency. On "My booking" page, it always says "invoice available in 3-4 days", it has been saying that since I booked it.

Because they don't issue an invoice or a receipt, I will most likely lose all the money. There isn't anything I can do. There is no customer support team available, they won't reply to Twitter/Facebook messages, there is nothing. Did anyone in here have any similar experience and so, what did you do? 

I think it's about time companies stop using "covid" as an excuse for every single service they can't provide. Due to covid, there is no customer support service? 

Westin

Why did you choose to book with this poor online travel firm, especially during a pandemic?  The internet is full of tales from LM customers reporting on their poor customer service.  

Will the travel booking confirmation not suffice for the visa application?

Sandtree

Does it actually need to be an invoice? I understood the requirement was just proof of booked travel/itinerary and therefore could be a booking confirmation rather than "invoice"?

PintorUK

Westin said:

Why did you choose to book with this poor online travel firm, especially during a pandemic?  The internet is full of tales from LM customers reporting on their poor customer service.  

Will the travel booking confirmation not suffice for the visa application?

That's a good question, I'm afraid I just didn't read any reviews prior to making the booking, was all too excited to go on holiday. 

Regarding the last question, no, unfortunately not. We actually had an appointment on Wednesday last week and we were told they would need an invoice or we won't be given a visa. 

PintorUK

Sandtree said:

Does it actually need to be an invoice? I understood the requirement was just proof of booked travel/itinerary and therefore could be a booking confirmation rather than "invoice"?

Yes, it needs to be an invoice or a proof of payment, this is what the VFS guys told us last week. I had printed the booking confirmation with the whole itinerary but they still didn't accept that. 

Westin

I would be tempted to challenge VFS again.  Many travel firms and airlines don't issue a (tax) invoice. Instead they provide a booking confirmation or a receipt. Those would normally be seen as proof of a travel booking.

This is how BA deal with such requests - https://www.britishairways.com/travel/webforms/public/en_gb/?eId=120001&wfpId=customer_receipt

Sandtree

PintorUK said:

Sandtree said:

Does it actually need to be an invoice? I understood the requirement was just proof of booked travel/itinerary and therefore could be a booking confirmation rather than "invoice"?

Yes, it needs to be an invoice or a proof of payment, this is what the VFS guys told us last week. I had printed the booking confirmation with the whole itinerary but they still didn't accept that. 

Love the fact VFS claim they have a more luxurious application option!

Ultimately if you are paying for their services you should heed their advice, otherwise what are you paying for, but looking at the application form from Spain (as you didn't say which country its for) they just ask for evidence of a return ticket and accommodation booking and dont state it has to be an invoice. 

PintorUK

Apologies, I should have stated it was for Greece as the requirements can be different. 

Your points are valid and I will challenge VFS on this. I have just read the requirements again for Greece and it doesn't state that it needs to be an invoice, It really is annoying.