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“O2 ‘Stress Free’ Prize Holiday Cost Me £280 – Advice?”

kmcmyler
kmcmyler Posts: 1 Newbie
Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
edited 8 September at 11:55AM in Compers chat corner
Hi everyone,

I won a “stress free holiday to Cork” through O2 Priority (flights + hotel via lastminute.com). Sadly I tested positive for COVID just before the trip.

I contacted lastminute.com within 48 hours to ask to move the dates (the hotel had availability).

They refused and pushed me to Ryanair.

I ended up paying £280.36 in change fees and seat charges just to keep the prize.

O2’s own T&Cs say prizes should be substituted in “unforeseen circumstances”.


Has anyone else had this experience? What’s the best way to get O2/lastminute.com to reimburse me? At the moment I now have flights (as I have paid for) but no hotel. 

What a great win!!🫠🙂‍↔️🫣😑😤

Thanks,
Kerry

Comments

  • Etccarmageddon
    Etccarmageddon Posts: 871 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 8 September at 11:21AM
    I think you need to ask this to be moved to the chat section?
  • beckstar1975
    beckstar1975 Posts: 680 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Testing positive for Covid is no reason to travel any more, and if you'd been too ill to travel (like seriously unwell) I guess you'd have appealed to their better nature same with any other illness.

    Most covid these days isn't too bad so definitely should have travelled

    :eek::eek::eek: LBM 11/05/2010 - WE DID IT - DMP of £62000 paid off in 7 years:jDFD April2017
  • MeteredOut
    MeteredOut Posts: 3,297 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    kmcmyler said:
    Hi everyone,

    I won a “stress free holiday to Cork” through O2 Priority (flights + hotel via lastminute.com). Sadly I tested positive for COVID just before the trip.

    I contacted lastminute.com within 48 hours to ask to move the dates (the hotel had availability).

    They refused and pushed me to Ryanair.

    I ended up paying £280.36 in change fees and seat charges just to keep the prize.

    O2’s own T&Cs say prizes should be substituted in “unforeseen circumstances”.


    Has anyone else had this experience? What’s the best way to get O2/lastminute.com to reimburse me? At the moment I now have flights (as I have paid for) but no hotel. 

    What a great win!!🫠🙂‍↔️🫣😑😤

    Thanks,
    Kerry

    Can you quote the exact T&Cs?

    Are you sure the condition was not solely to allow the prize organiser to substitute due to unforeseen circumstances?

  • gdmoney
    gdmoney Posts: 1,446 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Are you not covered by your travel insurance? If you didn't take any out, more fool you because it would have cost considerably less than £280.
  • PennysIntoPounds
    PennysIntoPounds Posts: 4,599 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Thank you for not travelling when ill.

    Many companies seem to respond better when asked (nicely) about an issue on social media so maybe try that 
    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6466032/an-in-between-phase

    Books read 2025: 49

    Hey! Use my code GW7II3 on Eureka Surveys and unlock a short 80p survey just for signing up! https://eurekasurveys.page.link/do9nSyy8u4nikx6r6
  • eyeballpaul
    eyeballpaul Posts: 1,038 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic
    O2’s own T&Cs say prizes should be substituted in “unforeseen circumstances”.

    I always thought that meant unforeseen circumstance for the company not for you?

    What did your travel insurance company say?


    thanks to all posters

    PARKRUN - The only time the ladies chase me!

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