Chargeback or Section 75

swerbs

My mum booked and paid with her credit card for flights through an agency middle of July with Turkish Airlines, all seemed fine had eTickets and PNR until a month later she went to check her booking and the airline said payment has not been made.

So she contacted the agency and they arranged different flights with Qatar Airways. All seemed, could manage the booking through Qatar until earlier this week when the booking completely disappeared.

Qatar confirmed to us that the tickets for the reservation was not confirmed or issued by the travel agency therefore it was automatically cancelled.

Tried contacting the agency they kept saying have to wait for airline to update. I believe my mum has been scammed especially after reading up the agency on Trust pilot.

I was just wondering wether a chargeback or a Section 75 is the way to go here?

eskbanker

Either should be viable if the agency fails to resolve the matter, who is it?

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6681854/chargeback-or-section-75

Most card issuers wont give you a choice, you simply raise a "dispute" and they will decide the appropriate path. Given one is timeboxed and the other you can do potentially years later in most cases a chargeback will be done first.

What is the actual date of the flight? Its likely a complaint cannot be considered until the date has passed

swerbs

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82123245#Comment_82123245

The flight is supposed in April 2027, I understand the bank wouldnt dispute it until date of departure has passed but with Qatar confirming the agency didn't confirm or issue the ticket therefore booking is now cancelled, I am now a bit confused as the agency has my mum's money but there's not actual flight booking

lincroft1710

Would suggest your mother asks the agency to refund her money. Although asking and receiving are 2 completely different things

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82123257#Comment_82123257

But isn't that effectively the same situation as before with the Turkish booking, i.e. the agency still has time to resolve the situation? I agree that it sounds unlikely that they will, but if contemplating chargeback they should be given the opportunity to (re)issue confirmed tickets, i.e. to remedy the apparent breach of contract, especially with seven months to go.

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82123257#Comment_82123257

Not a travel industry expert but understand that there are often many layers involved, probably less so with airlines but that isnt to say all are direct either, but certainly for other components. There is nothing to stop the agent from still securing a ticket with Qatar, which is the problem. May come with a different reference but the promise is never the reference number.

There are a few agents that specialise in this, they sell you a ticket now but they dont actually buy the ticket from the airline/their agent until a later date basically betting on the pricing falling. At least one such agent is fairly clear that its what they are doing but others its more in the small print. With them their terms allow them to cancel the booking which you then get a refund for but you are left with no ticket and now higher prices. OBviously without knowing if your agency cant say if they are open on betting on prices or maybe they do it more covertly

Until you havent been able to take your flight because they failed to book the ticket there hasnt been a breach

born_again

Chargeback

Far quicker, but with risk. If it fails should auto go for S75.

Although unless you have 100% proof (gone bust is about only one) that you will not be getting flights. They will not start process till day after fights were due.

Who is the agency & how were they booked?

As not unheard for some to wait till nearer date of flight to book tickets.

swerbs

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82123378#Comment_82123378

https://thebestairfare.uk/

This is where they booked from online

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82123399#Comment_82123399

Whole range of problems with that site, there are 386 active travel agents registered at their address and 84,000 other companies and yet their website says you can walk into their offices. It is a large multi-company office building but not that big but it does have a company formation service based there which will explain the volume of companies.

It looks ropy but there is no definitive proof that it is and so your options only materialise when the breach does

TadleyBaggie

The domain has only been registered for 6 months, suspect they are less than legit…