Bought hotel and now company has gone bust

Wychy15

I paid for a hotel in January 2020, for Benidorm in May 2020. The holiday got cancelled due to covid and I got a refund from my flights but the company I paid the hotel from said I could only get a credit voucher. I refused this many times and they said it was in their contract that would have to be like this, and that after the credit voucher has expired (1 year) I get my cash refund so they  proceeded to give me one anyway.

after a year had passed I got in contact asking for my cash refund that I was entitled too, but they refused and said they had to deal with other bookings who had booked before me. I constantly rang them up asking for updates when will it be processed and they eventually said that my refund was being processed in august 2021, then again in October 2021 but still nothing. then when I go to get in contact with them in November 2021 because I still haven’t received anything.

they have gone into liquidation.
so there is nothing I can do to receive my money. How is this fair? 

Is there nothing I can do ? 

I’ve got all emails that were sent with the conditions… 
seems crazy how they can get away with this. 

Wychy15

These are a few photos of the credit voucher. Which states the conditions. 

[Image removed by Forum Team]

Grumpy_chap

You may wish to redact your personal data.

[Deleted User]

It's not about them 'getting away with it'. They've gone out of business.

Assuming you paid by card, a chargeback or S75 would be the simple route.

If you paid by cash or cheque, then travel insurance.

bagand96

Have you tried getting in touch with the Travel Trust or raising a claim with them?  https://alphaholidays.traveltrust.co.uk/

Failing that if you paid by credit card consider a Section 75 claim.

In both cases it might be a little complicated as you had a voucher and not an actual live booking, but given you have proof they'd promised a refund and then it never materialised you should at least try. 

cx6

what do you mean by holiday - was it a package holiday (ie atol bonded)?  or were the flights and hotel booked separately?

when the holiday was 'cancelled' what do you mean? did the hotel remain open but you could not travel or did the hotel close?

Alan_Bowen

You had a room only booking with Alpha Rooms, part of the wonderful Teletext group whose actual company name was Truly Travel. The statement of affairs shows the 'deficiency' in the accounts to be in excess of £9 million!! However, despite there being no reference to the trust account anywhere in the statement of affairs, they allegedly put all the money you paid into a trust account held by the Travel Trust Association. If you go to https://alphaholidays.traveltrust.co.uk/ and fill in the claim form you should get a refund. It may take up to 12 weeks but it will be quicker than if the company had continued to trade!

Wychy15

cx6 said:

what do you mean by holiday - was it a package holiday (ie atol bonded)?  or were the flights and hotel booked separately?

when the holiday was 'cancelled' what do you mean? did the hotel remain open but you could not travel or did the hotel close?

Was just hotel unfortunately.
Yh alpharooms got in contact and said that the holiday was cancelled due to travel restrictions.

cx6

If the hotel remained open for visitors then I suppose they could argue it was not their fault you couldn't get there

If the hotel closed, then obviously you are due a refund

Westin

@Wychy15 I would encourage you to make a claim via the TTA on the link that @Alan_Bowen kindly provided.

Wychy15

Hi guys thanks for your comments.
I have put in a claim at the site but even that is not guaranteed.
Guess I just wait and hope haha