No compensation for baggage damaged by Wizz Air

Emmia

michael1234 said:

FUDbyDesign said:

  I immediately raised a case with Wizz Air online and they requested me to get a quote for the repairs from a baggage repair shop.  

..........

Is this it, then?  Are there any more options available to me or will I have to just "suck it up"?

Thanks in advance!

Everybody is different but if it was me and I was sufficiently annoyed then I would probably sue. It sounds dramatic but these days it isn't. You can file a small claim online (Google "MCOL"). If you have proof your case was fine before the trip and damaged afterwards I would think you have a strong case (I'm NOT a lawyer). Someone else mentioned your alternative dispute resolution complaint that you have already made might stop you going to court so check that first.

Morally and hopefully legally they should not get away with doing this to us "little people". If you do claim and win, I hope you will come back here and tell us the good news.

I think this might be the problem. Does the OP have clear dated photos of the case inside and out, taken before they travelled showing no damage or cracking in that area?

The crack probably resulted from cumulative damage -  rough handling by baggage handlers (who don't usually work for the airline) e.g. being tossed around, and almost certainly dropped on several flights.

Westin

Wizz Air credits are convertible to the cash equivalent so you can take that option if you don’t plan to travel with them in the near future.

https://www.wizzair.com/en-gb/help-centre/delay-cancellation-and-refund/refund/refund-policy-and-eligibility

flaneurs_lobster

michael1234 said:

If you have proof your case was fine before the trip and damaged afterwards I would think you have a strong case 

Or rather, not....

FUDbyDesign

michael1234 said:

Everybody is different but if it was me and I was sufficiently annoyed then I would probably sue. It sounds dramatic but these days it isn't. You can file a small claim online (Google "MCOL"). If you have proof your case was fine before the trip and damaged afterwards I would think you have a strong case (I'm NOT a lawyer). Someone else mentioned your alternative dispute resolution complaint that you have already made might stop you going to court so check that first.

Morally and hopefully legally they should not get away with doing this to us "little people". If you do claim and win, I hope you will come back here and tell us the good news.

Thanks, I will check the terms of the ADR determination.  You know, I'd love to take this to small claims but for the amount involved, I don't think it's going to be worth it especially given the time I've already expended on this.  I expect the airlines factor in to their calculations whether the claim is likely to lead to court - and they've read me like a book!

Grumpy_chap

FUDbyDesign said:

I'd love to take this to small claims but for the amount involved, I don't think it's going to be worth it 

Well, you purchased a suitcase for £50
You had 7 years use from that suitcase
The suitcase got damaged
WizzAir gave you a £50 credit
The WizzAir credit can be converted to cash equivalent

What exactly is the remaining loss that you suffered and would love to take to small claims?

NoodleDoodleMan

I think there would also be difficult to prove that the luggage was undamaged before arrival at the check in desk - unless you have a date/time stamped photo of the case(s) taken at that point.

Some years ago I had a claim with TUI for 2 damaged items of luggage returning from Egypt - they wanted copies of the original purchase receipts before they could consider my case.

They eventually conceded that the damage was not accidental but deliberate - after I forwarded close up images of the burst zip interlocking eyes which were clearly caused by identical "enemy action" on each case - and settled for half price reimbursement for new ones.

FUDbyDesign

WizzAir gave you a £50 credit

The WizzAir credit can be converted to cash equivalent

It is credit to be used against the cost of flights. It can't be "converted" into anything else.

la531983

FUDbyDesign said:

WizzAir gave you a £50 credit

The WizzAir credit can be converted to cash equivalent

It is credit to be used against the cost of flights. It can't be "converted" into anything else.

WIZZ Credits

Have you tried the procedure outlined on this page by using the Convert Credits button?

FUDbyDesign

la531983 said:

WIZZ Credits

Have you tried the procedure outlined on this page by using the Convert Credits button?

Thank you, I was not aware of this.  I gave it a try but unfortunately it doesn't work in my case, apparently because I booked through a third party.  I contacted the third party, who then pointed me back to the airline!  Anyway, I'll try calling Wizz Air later.  It's good to know they have a policy that covers this situation.

saajan_12

FUDbyDesign said:

..
I finally found a shop in London that was willing to provide a written statement (based on the photos I sent them) about the un-repairability of the suitcase, but they would charge a £30 fee.  I asked Wizz Air to cover the cost of that since they were the ones insisting on this process, but they flat-out refused.  
..

FUDbyDesign said:

Emmia said:

Unfortunately hard shell suitcases do crack, was it a particularly expensive one?

I believe it was about £50 when I bought it. There are cheaper equivalents now.  

So the £30 to prove a suitcase was unrepairable was clearly unreasonable to even entertain. I would never have even requested that. At that price point, its clearly a case of replacement not repair, as you've seen it would cost more to have someone look at it sideways.
Not surprised Wizz Air and ADR refused your claim based on that. 

I'd just have quoted a % of the cost of a replacement case with proof of the cost from a baggage shop (% to allow for depreciation). Probably £20-30 all in, which WizzAir may have just paid off rather than arguing the toss..
Suggest asking for that now (unless you can get the £50 credit converted to actual cash).