Goodwill gesture in vouchers or cash?

Suew55

I had a ‘no fault’ accident whilst on a P&O cruise and have complained to them about my treatment after the accident, which resulted in a long delay in getting the correct treatment I needed and then getting potentially fatal blood clots in my lungs. P&O have refused to pursue my complaint against the ship’s doctor who decided to offload me to an hospital that couldn’t do the surgery he said I needed, and have offered me a ‘goodwill gesture’ of future cruise credit. Due to the traumatic events, I don’t intend to travel abroad again - and certainly not within the 2 year timeframe the future cruise credit would be valid for - so it is of no value to me, and is not transferable so I can’t even offer it to anyone else in return for cash. Can I insist on them giving me money instead of FCC, even if the value is less than what they have offered me?

MattMattMattUK

Suew55 said:

I had a ‘no fault’ accident whilst on a P&O cruise and have complained to them about my treatment after the accident, which resulted in a long delay in getting the correct treatment I needed and then getting potentially fatal blood clots in my lungs. P&O have refused to pursue my complaint against the ship’s doctor who decided to offload me to an hospital that couldn’t do the surgery he said I needed, and have offered me a ‘goodwill gesture’ of future cruise credit. Due to the traumatic events, I don’t intend to travel abroad again - and certainly not within the 2 year timeframe the future cruise credit would be valid for - so it is of no value to me, and is not transferable so I can’t even offer it to anyone else in return for cash. Can I insist on them giving me money instead of FCC, even if the value is less than what they have offered me?

No, you cannot insist, you can ask. It is a gesture of goodwill, they can make the offer in whatever form they wish and withdraw the offer whenever they wish.

Grumpy_chap

The goodwill gesture can be anything that P&O agree to, or withdrawn.

For a case as serious as this sounds, one assumes you have needed to claim on your travel insurance.  The insurer is probably best to pursue any follow-on efforts that are appropriate - you seem to be suggesting a medical negligence claim against the on-board Dr.  Although it is not clear that the Dr was negligent:

• You fell ill
• The on-board Dr gave the treatment they were able within the facilities on-board
• The treatment required exceeded that capability so you were transferred to a land-based hospital (A&E equivalent)
• That A&E hospital could not perform the treatment you required so it is for that hospital to transfer you to an appropriate medical facility that can undertake the necessary treatment.  That may have included repatriation to UK for treatment.

Undervalued

Suew55 said:

I had a ‘no fault’ accident whilst on a P&O cruise and have complained to them about my treatment after the accident, which resulted in a long delay in getting the correct treatment I needed and then getting potentially fatal blood clots in my lungs. P&O have refused to pursue my complaint against the ship’s doctor who decided to offload me to an hospital that couldn’t do the surgery he said I needed, and have offered me a ‘goodwill gesture’ of future cruise credit. Due to the traumatic events, I don’t intend to travel abroad again - and certainly not within the 2 year timeframe the future cruise credit would be valid for - so it is of no value to me, and is not transferable so I can’t even offer it to anyone else in return for cash. Can I insist on them giving me money instead of FCC, even if the value is less than what they have offered me?

No!

IF you have a valid claim against them (and I am not sure you do) then you can sue them for compensation. If you win the you will be awarded a sum of money which they will have to pay.