Travel agent problem
Discussion
Apologies if this is in the wrong section but i think it related to law..
The basics are that my partner booked a holiday for next year & paid a deposit.
Due to my work circumstances I doubt if i'll be able to make it, so told her to cancel it & try to get at least some of the deposit back.
The problem now, she claims that the travel agent has told her that it cant be cancelled, she cant change any of the names, & if she wanted to chage dates / names, she would have to pay the full amount regardless & then re-book with no refund.
Basically sounds as if they are forcing her to pay for it knowing we won't be able to make it.
Personally I call bulls
t, but I know nothing about this as I've never had to deal with this kind of thing before.
It just doesn't sound right to me.
Anyone?
The basics are that my partner booked a holiday for next year & paid a deposit.
Due to my work circumstances I doubt if i'll be able to make it, so told her to cancel it & try to get at least some of the deposit back.
The problem now, she claims that the travel agent has told her that it cant be cancelled, she cant change any of the names, & if she wanted to chage dates / names, she would have to pay the full amount regardless & then re-book with no refund.
Basically sounds as if they are forcing her to pay for it knowing we won't be able to make it.
Personally I call bulls
t, but I know nothing about this as I've never had to deal with this kind of thing before.It just doesn't sound right to me.
Anyone?
static2010 said:
Personally I call bullst, but I know nothing about this as I've never had to deal with this kind of thing before.
It just doesn't sound right to me.
Anyone?
Start by considering what a deposit is. t, but I know nothing about this as I've never had to deal with this kind of thing before.It just doesn't sound right to me.
Anyone?
It is money someone pays the other as part of a contract so that if for whatever reason the contract is breached the party who is the victim of the breach is not left with the losses.
Essentially, you have paid a deposit on the agreement that you will fulfil your end of the agreement - pay for the rest of the holiday.
If you've decided you don't want to go on the holiday any more then you will likely find that your deposit is forfeited for the reasons above.
However, as always with contract law questions, the key point is what the contract states - in this kind of market, I am almost certain they will have a cancellation policy - start with that.
Well it seems extortionate to me as the deposit was over £600 each person.
I don't see why they wont just make changes.
It would be a case of loose the money already paid (£1300) & re book different dates. Rest assured, this far in advance the airlines or hotels wont see any of it, so thats the easiest money they've ever made!
She never received any T&C's when booking in the first place, so nothing to state there would be no changes allowed of any kind.
This sickens me to say the least!
I don't see why they wont just make changes.
It would be a case of loose the money already paid (£1300) & re book different dates. Rest assured, this far in advance the airlines or hotels wont see any of it, so thats the easiest money they've ever made!
She never received any T&C's when booking in the first place, so nothing to state there would be no changes allowed of any kind.
This sickens me to say the least!
static2010 said:
Well it seems extortionate to me as the deposit was over £600 each person.
I don't see why they wont just make changes.
It would be a case of loose the money already paid (£1300) & re book different dates. Rest assured, this far in advance the airlines or hotels wont see any of it, so thats the easiest money they've ever made!
She never received any T&C's when booking in the first place, so nothing to state there would be no changes allowed of any kind.
This sickens me to say the least!
Why would you presume you could make changes to those flying?I don't see why they wont just make changes.
It would be a case of loose the money already paid (£1300) & re book different dates. Rest assured, this far in advance the airlines or hotels wont see any of it, so thats the easiest money they've ever made!
She never received any T&C's when booking in the first place, so nothing to state there would be no changes allowed of any kind.
This sickens me to say the least!
Do you think that airlines allow agents to book them, so they can't sell the seat elsewhere and just let them off for free if the agent's customer changes their mind?
static2010 said:
Well it seems extortionate to me as the deposit was over £600 each person.
I don't see why they wont just make changes.
Won't just make changes! Try this. I booked two seats return Aberdeen to Sydney direct with BA 6 months advance. (This was 2012).I don't see why they wont just make changes.
The NEXT day I tried to change the Aberdeen to London flight one day earlier to have a day in the city, "Absolutely no problem sir £1800 please", I picked my self up off the floor and put the phone down. (No, not a typo £1800).
Following day, same call different operator, same result. I said "OK I will just book my self a flight from Aberdeen to London".
She says "As you have booked Aberdeen to Sydney via London, if you don't board the flight from Aberdeen, you won't be able to board the Sydney flight in London".
Good job I didn't move to Plymouth inbetween.
Good luck.
static2010 said:
Well it seems extortionate to me as the deposit was over £600 each person.
I don't see why they wont just make changes.
It would be a case of loose the money already paid (£1300) & re book different dates. Rest assured, this far in advance the airlines or hotels wont see any of it, so thats the easiest money they've ever made!
She never received any T&C's when booking in the first place, so nothing to state there would be no changes allowed of any kind.
This sickens me to say the least!
What did she sign when she booked the holiday? There are usually terms and conditions on the back of the booking form.I don't see why they wont just make changes.
It would be a case of loose the money already paid (£1300) & re book different dates. Rest assured, this far in advance the airlines or hotels wont see any of it, so thats the easiest money they've ever made!
She never received any T&C's when booking in the first place, so nothing to state there would be no changes allowed of any kind.
This sickens me to say the least!
Bluebarge said:
static2010 said:
Well it seems extortionate to me as the deposit was over £600 each person.
I don't see why they wont just make changes.
It would be a case of loose the money already paid (£1300) & re book different dates. Rest assured, this far in advance the airlines or hotels wont see any of it, so thats the easiest money they've ever made!
She never received any T&C's when booking in the first place, so nothing to state there would be no changes allowed of any kind.
This sickens me to say the least!
What did she sign when she booked the holiday? There are usually terms and conditions on the back of the booking form.I don't see why they wont just make changes.
It would be a case of loose the money already paid (£1300) & re book different dates. Rest assured, this far in advance the airlines or hotels wont see any of it, so thats the easiest money they've ever made!
She never received any T&C's when booking in the first place, so nothing to state there would be no changes allowed of any kind.
This sickens me to say the least!
I wonder if it was booked online. Many holidays bookd online are not packages but separately sourced flights, hotels etc.
I had an issue where I booked online with a well know website Travel R. A week before departure they told me that the hotel was not available anymore. The wouldn't refund the flights as they said it wasnt a package. So in essence, I still had to pay for flights and car hire, even though I couldn't go because there was no accommodation and they couldn't source a suitable alternative.
UK law is very weak on this. Such action is illegal in most of Europe. I spoke to "watchdog" and they put me in touch with a specialist lawyer, but there was noting he could do.
I will now ONLY book packages or refundable flight
I had an issue where I booked online with a well know website Travel R. A week before departure they told me that the hotel was not available anymore. The wouldn't refund the flights as they said it wasnt a package. So in essence, I still had to pay for flights and car hire, even though I couldn't go because there was no accommodation and they couldn't source a suitable alternative.
UK law is very weak on this. Such action is illegal in most of Europe. I spoke to "watchdog" and they put me in touch with a specialist lawyer, but there was noting he could do.
I will now ONLY book packages or refundable flight
Nothing I have read here is a surprise. I have booked a trip to Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney and then back to the uk via San Francisco, for next February. The hotels are all non cancellation/alteration, no refund, as are the flights and I have paid almost £5K up front for two of us.
On the other hand it is about £5K cheaper to do it this way than have the option to change etc. Unless I am ill or something big gets cancelled, when in most cases I am insured, I will make the trip.
Why should we expect to get the best prices, and retain full flexibility?
On the other hand it is about £5K cheaper to do it this way than have the option to change etc. Unless I am ill or something big gets cancelled, when in most cases I am insured, I will make the trip.
Why should we expect to get the best prices, and retain full flexibility?
As said always read the T&Cs. The answer to many questions is in thee, even if it isn't the answer people hope for.
If your flight is 6 months away and you want to change from a Monday to a Tuesday flight I really do not see why you would not try to accommodate for a realistic admin fee if you are not going to be put to any loss yourself.
Likewise the situation above where the poster wanted to change one small part of their itinerary, and was willing to forgo that part of their trip, and they would not let them is mind boggling - although I do understand why you couldn't get two day tripper ferry crossings for a 5 day trip to France.
REALIST123 said:
Why should we expect to get the best prices, and retain full flexibility?
Yep I must say that I do agree, yet I do have an issue with the 'no refunds, no returns, no exceptions' attitude of many companies in this area. If your flight is 6 months away and you want to change from a Monday to a Tuesday flight I really do not see why you would not try to accommodate for a realistic admin fee if you are not going to be put to any loss yourself.
Likewise the situation above where the poster wanted to change one small part of their itinerary, and was willing to forgo that part of their trip, and they would not let them is mind boggling - although I do understand why you couldn't get two day tripper ferry crossings for a 5 day trip to France.
Did you pay with Visa by any chance?
You MAY have free cancellation insurance via Visa*
I only know this because our neighbour's mother got rushed into hospital at the weekend (doesn't look good
). They were due to go on holiday this weekend, but phoned to cancel. They were told that because they had paid using Visa, they were covered by Visa's cancellation insurance. I asked in the bank, and our Visa card has this as well.
You MAY have free cancellation insurance via Visa*
I only know this because our neighbour's mother got rushed into hospital at the weekend (doesn't look good
). They were due to go on holiday this weekend, but phoned to cancel. They were told that because they had paid using Visa, they were covered by Visa's cancellation insurance. I asked in the bank, and our Visa card has this as well.- Caveat: We're in Belgium, but maybe UK Visa has this service as well?
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