Flight tax refund question

[anonymous-user]

I have an annoyance,I'm hoping someone will be able to clear up for me please..

I recently booked a holiday through an on-line travel agent. Seemed like a good idea, priced up less than most High St agents & all looked rosy.
Unfortunately we had to cancel due to an illness in the family, we have insurance which will cover most of it. It was close to departure so we lose the money, fair enough, insurance to cover (- any refunds I get).

But as I did not use the flights I called the airline to get the tax refund, as flights not taken, the insurers obviously do not pay me that. The airline have refunded the tax to who paid them, ie the travel agent. Even gave me the last 3 digits of the account it went to.

So rather naively I thought they would pass it on to me. But all they say is ' we have sent you the cancellation letter stating no refund available'.

Its impossible to speak to a real person there, apart from the booking line of course. Booking easy, support dosn't exist.

So they make on the holiday, then retain any refunds?

I've given them 1 more chance to refund me, only about £100 or so, better in my pocket than theirs. If they refuse could I complain to ABTA / anybody else? As it sounds like a bit of a scam.

[anonymous-user]

Just got this mail:-

hello,
unfortunately you have agreed to our terms and conditions not Easy Jet therefore you will have to claim this back off your holiday insurance.

So in other words, they keep the tax refund too.
So thats me shafted I guess?

Message to myself
NEVER BOOK A HOLIDAY WITH A TRAVEL AGENT AGAIN. THEY WILL RIP YOU OFF. BOOK FLIGHT & ACCOMODATION YOURSELF AS ITS CHEAPER & BETTER SERVICE!!!

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 6th August 17:06

[Monki]

I thought that you would receive the tax/vat back from any flights not used?

might be worth going to citizens advice and don't forget that travel agents are not that amazing, probably a manager thinking he/she has got a bit of cash for nothing.

[anonymous-user]

Monki said:

I thought that you would receive the tax/vat back from any flights not used?

might be worth going to citizens advice and don't forget that travel agents are not that amazing, probably a manager thinking he/she has got a bit of cash for nothing.

I thought that too.
But it goes into their pocket as they paid for the flights & T&Cs say no refund given, in tiny print, page 857 paragraph 6.
I was reaching boiling point but have now calmed down as I have diverted any mail from them straight to my trash can!
But it will cost them & any other travel agent in the long term as I will never use one again!

[audidoody]

I heard most of RyanAir's profits came from witholding tax from people who couldn't be bothered going on their £1 flights

[Percy Flage]

I heard the internet was a place where you could hear all sorts of things.

Some may even be untrue, apparently!!! Well, to say I was shocked was an understatement.

Edit to correct disklexkia

Edited by Percy Flage on Wednesday 6th August 18:32

[bleesh]

I think technically it's the Gummint you have to claim the tax back from, but I bet there's actually no way to do it

Steve

[mybrainhurts]

I don't see how they have any right to retain tax refunds.

Ask your MP, you might stir something up.

[mcflurry]

AFAIK the tax can be claimed back -- BUT the admin fee is exactly the same as the original tax!!

[BigRichi]

might help...might not

i used to work for an insurance company dealing with these kind of claims......afaik but it may have changed.

if you have something in writing from the travel agent saying they wont refund the tax and you take this back to your insurance company then they should refund this as well.

your insurance company shouldnt take an admin fee....is you have already paid your excess

however, every insurance company is different with different t&c's but you can only ask

[anonymous-user]

BigRichi said:

might help...might not

i used to work for an insurance company dealing with these kind of claims......afaik but it may have changed.

if you have something in writing from the travel agent saying they wont refund the tax and you take this back to your insurance company then they should refund this as well.

your insurance company shouldnt take an admin fee....is you have already paid your excess

however, every insurance company is different with different t&c's but you can only ask

Thanks for that, sounds like a plan as I do have it on Email now from the travel company. I think I'll wait for the main claim to pay out 1st, to save any delays. Then try again for this little extra amount. Thats what the insurance is there for I guess.
I was just a little peeved at the travel company, the amount didn't matter taht much but it was the principal of it!

[HRG]

Jimboka said:

BigRichi said:

might help...might not

i used to work for an insurance company dealing with these kind of claims......afaik but it may have changed.

if you have something in writing from the travel agent saying they wont refund the tax and you take this back to your insurance company then they should refund this as well.

your insurance company shouldnt take an admin fee....is you have already paid your excess

however, every insurance company is different with different t&c's but you can only ask

Thanks for that, sounds like a plan as I do have it on Email now from the travel company. I think I'll wait for the main claim to pay out 1st, to save any delays. Then try again for this little extra amount. Thats what the insurance is there for I guess.
I was just a little peeved at the travel company, the amount didn't matter taht much but it was the principal of it!

If they piss you off surely it's worth contacting HMRC?

[anonymous-user]

HRG said:

Jimboka said:

BigRichi said:

might help...might not

i used to work for an insurance company dealing with these kind of claims......afaik but it may have changed.

if you have something in writing from the travel agent saying they wont refund the tax and you take this back to your insurance company then they should refund this as well.

your insurance company shouldnt take an admin fee....is you have already paid your excess

however, every insurance company is different with different t&c's but you can only ask

Thanks for that, sounds like a plan as I do have it on Email now from the travel company. I think I'll wait for the main claim to pay out 1st, to save any delays. Then try again for this little extra amount. Thats what the insurance is there for I guess.
I was just a little peeved at the travel company, the amount didn't matter taht much but it was the principal of it!

If they piss you off surely it's worth contacting HMRC?

It sounds like it must be an industry policy. I did sign their T&Cs I guess, no refund at all close to departure. Even though this is a tax refund, it is refunded to them as they paid for the flight. I did assume they would pass it on, but I also assumed they were a decent company & would do the right thing. My mistake.
I'll have one more go, quoting ABTA step 3, try to settle in a manner that is acceptable to both parties. Step 4 follows, an ABTA complaint. Maybe the'll cough up to save the aggro.

[oyster]

They are obliged to refund the taxes to you as they are due to go to HMRC in the event that the flight is taken - if no flight is taken then no tax is paid to HMRC - it's your money.

Could you imagine if you returned an unwanted gift to John Lewis and they kept the VAT? They can't do that.


(of course some weasel travel firms like Ryanair decide to charge an admin fee on refunds that just happens to be the same as the tax refund due)

[anonymous-user]

After nearly 4 months I have received my £100 flight tax refund!!

It took 3 letters to ABTA,& numerous obstacles from the holiday company, before they finally agreed to cough up.

Maybe it was not worth all the aggro, but I had a bee in my bonnet & was sure they should have paid me. Perhaps I just bored them into submission, but it got the right result!

[Olf]

Jimboka said:

After nearly 4 months I have received my £100 flight tax refund!!

It took 3 letters to ABTA,& numerous obstacles from the holiday company, before they finally agreed to cough up.

Maybe it was not worth all the aggro, but I had a bee in my bonnet & was sure they should have paid me. Perhaps I just bored them into submission, but it got the right result!

]


Good work - so what was the basis for being sucessful so the rest of us know?

[jesusbuiltmycar]

Well done...