Online price error, already paid. Whats my rights?

ginarebareit

I’ve booked an onboard package on the p&o website for my upcoming cruise. I was looking at different ones they offered and saw a package listed at £60 that offered robes& slippers, champagne , special restaurant and spa treatment . I booked it and got confirmation email.
when I went back to book it for a another cruise next year, the price now shows £470 which is apparently the real price.
Ive gone through all the t&c’s and can find no clause stating anything re prices errors or that they have a right to cancel this package due to such an error. Where do I stand if they cancel it or contact me to cancel it?
 They’ve confirmed my booking on my account and sent an email stating it’s confirmed so do I have some rights to argue this? 

eskbanker

Cross that bridge if/when you get to it, but if it's a clear pricing error then chances are they'd be entitled to charge the correct price - how long ago did you book the package and when is the cruise?

Aylesbury_Duck

As above, if it's an obvious error, e.g. £600 shown as £60 for a short while, then you can't force them to deliver and they can simply refund you.  I'd sit tight.  It may have been a genuine loss-leader type of offer, or they may not wish to upset perhaps a few people who were fortunate to get the deal while it was there.  If they do withdraw it, there's no harm in trying to negotiate a reduced price or something else in return for the disappointment.

Alderbank

ginarebareit said:

Ive gone through all the t&c’s and can find no clause stating anything re prices errors or that they have a right to cancel this package due to such an error. Where do I stand if they cancel it or contact me to cancel it?

Item 36 in their T&Cs begins:

P&O Cruises reserves the right to vary prices up or down at any time up to 20 days before departure to allow for variations in the price of your Package

The terms continue to say that the guest has two choices -  accept it or cancel.
https://www.pocruises.com/legal-and-privacy/booking-terms-and-conditions#the-contract

ginarebareit

eskbanker said:

Cross that bridge if/when you get to it, but if it's a clear pricing error then chances are they'd be entitled to charge the correct price - how long ago did you book the package and when is the cruise?

Cruise is March next year and I booked the package today.  Apparently, lots have also seen this offered and booked the last 24 hours also. 

I’ve combed the t&c’s and there’s no clause re price errors or amendments other than prior to booking , and simply states prices subject to change.  

daveyjp

You don't need Ts and Cs, it falls under general mistake law.  If a price is offered which is obviously well below what one would expect to pay the contract can be voided.

However, £470 for what was offered is a rip off, but as P&O cruises have been £100 a night for almost 20 years they need to make up revenue from somewhere.

sheramber

ginarebareit said:

eskbanker said:

Cross that bridge if/when you get to it, but if it's a clear pricing error then chances are they'd be entitled to charge the correct price - how long ago did you book the package and when is the cruise?

Cruise is March next year and I booked the package today.  Apparently, lots have also seen this offered and booked the last 24 hours also. 

I’ve combed the t&c’s and there’s no clause re price errors or amendments other than prior to booking , and simply states prices subject to change.  

See the post above this one. 

Aylesbury_Duck

ginarebareit said:

eskbanker said:

Cross that bridge if/when you get to it, but if it's a clear pricing error then chances are they'd be entitled to charge the correct price - how long ago did you book the package and when is the cruise?

Cruise is March next year and I booked the package today.  Apparently, lots have also seen this offered and booked the last 24 hours also. 

I’ve combed the t&c’s and there’s no clause re price errors or amendments other than prior to booking , and simply states prices subject to change.  

How do you know that?  It probably doesn't matter, if it was a genuine and obvious error.   You're all in the same position.

There's nothing to be done at this stage, and the more you and others discuss it online, the more likely you are to alert P&O to it if it is an error.  Just sit tight.  If it all comes good, you've got what you wanted at what looks like a good price, and if it's an error that's later corrected and you're refunded, you haven't lost anything.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

eskbanker said:

Cross that bridge if/when you get to it, but if it's a clear pricing error then chances are they'd be entitled to charge the correct price - how long ago did you book the package and when is the cruise?

If it's a unilateral mistake (e.g clear pricing error) then this would more likely lead to the contract being void so the company wouldn't be entitled to charge the correct price, instead the two parties would be free to negotiate a new contract should they wish  

Alderbank said:

Item 36 in their T&Cs begins:

P&O Cruises reserves the right to vary prices up or down at any time up to 20 days before departure to allow for variations in the price of your Package

The terms continue to say that the guest has two choices -  accept it or cancel.
https://www.pocruises.com/legal-and-privacy/booking-terms-and-conditions#the-contract

A term allowing the trader to vary the price is subject to a fairness test, whist the rest of the term is clear as to why the price may vary and does include a cancellation option, the CMA notes

Using a term that, for example, gives a right to increase prices to cover any increased costs experienced by the trader fails to recognise that traders are much better able to anticipate and control changes in their own costs than consumers can possibly be. 

Many of the reasons for changing the price are something well beyond the knowledge of the average consumer and there could be a fair argument put forward to suggest that term may be void. 

In general whether £60 for a £470 service is a mistake that the other party knew or ought to have known is something that depends upon the specifics, for example is the "special restaurant and spa treatment" included in the price, if you have to pay for the food and treatments a low headline price with money made through the extras isn't unreasonable to assume, on the other hand I wouldn't except to get a cruise and a "special" dinner for £60.

Either £60 will be genuine and they hope to prise open your wallet every 5 minutes or it's a mistake and ultimately there's obviously no way to force them to simply offer the service for £60, instead you'd have to rebook and attempt to claim the increased cost back as damages from breach of contract should you wish to go to such trouble, which might not be the easiest thing to do if the company claim it's a unilateral mistake. 

sheenas

Agree with above they don’t have to sell you something . If it’s an error they will simply cancel the order and offer an alternative. Sit tight. 

GDB2222

Can they cancel this package and refund the £60, or do they have to offer a cancellation for the whole cruise?