We had a holiday booked during September, so, being the clever-clogs that I am (?) I decided to book our train fares to and from the starting point of our tour, plus hotel rooms for the nights at either end of the holiday well ahead. If you book these things early enough, you can save quite a lot of money,after all.
So why do I say it cost us money? Because the holiday has been cancelled, and I can't get the money back for the fares and the hotel.
I had travel insurance, which included cancellation cover, so I promptly phoned the insurers for a claim form only to find that we're not covered. It seems that the cancellation was for if we cancelled due to ill health, etc, not if the holiday organisers pulled the plug. They said that the holiday organisers were liable, so then I checedk the small print on the booking form. Guess what? They say that if they have to cancel due to being let down by a 3rd-party supplier, (which is what happened) they're not liable either.
So I'm not going on holiday in 3 weeks and I'm out of pocket by about £300 because I wanted to save money..
Dislike! Where was your holiday to take place? I hope you can still manage to have fun!
ReplyDeleteOh no...that is a lot of money to lose!! Sorry....
ReplyDeleteThere is something wrong with that on so many levels! You'd think the hotel and train would refund the money if they can re-book the rooms and the train lines the seats by then. Surely it doesn't cost them 300 pnds. to click a few buttons! (Sorry, don't know how to do the money pound symbol)
ReplyDeleteIf you booked with a credit card you will be covered under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, I think, Sue.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, you'll have to do a bit of digging round online to check your rights - are the holiday company ABTA/ATOL registered? As far as I can see, the holiday company that you have booked with have broken the contract that you entered into with them - and I don't give a stuff about their terms and conditions saying that they can cancel and keep your money (third party fault or not), and neither would the small claims court. The threat of action will be enough to get the refund, I think.
What a bummer, I am so sad - lots of money.
ReplyDeleteCan you just take the trip anyway and do something else that is fun?? I think it is terrible how so many companies are saying they are not liable, AND keeping your money. We have the same thing here in Paducah each year. You make a reservation at some hotels, and if you have to cancel, oh well, they keep your money AND rent the room out to the waiting list. Not the best policy, but if you want to sleep in a room that is what you basically have to agree to. We had this happen 3 years ago when my sis in law and I had booked two rooms, and then my mother in law because gravely ill. The hotel DID refund all our money after my hubby told them what had happened. They really did not have to do that, but we were so thankful they were nice enough to do that. We would have gone to the corporate level if they did not.
ReplyDeleteOh Sue, I'm so sorry. Is there anyway you can go it alone? You and Mr. Fixit could be the tour guides maybe and change the arrival and departure dates?
ReplyDeleteTell pooh - this is NOT a good thing. :-(
ReplyDeleteNot good! Too bad someone couldn't take advantage of your bookings.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear this i hope you can get something sorted so your not out of pocket
ReplyDeleteHugs Janice
Oh crud! Are they transferable? Perhaps you could attempt to sell them? Or maybe go without the event just for a bit of time away?
ReplyDeleteOUCH! What rotten luck!
ReplyDelete(Congrats on the win!)
I think for a small fee you can change the dates to a timeline that better suits your wishes.
ReplyDeleteMy friend booked a trip planning to meet a friend. the friend got sick & could not go. So the friend had planned to take another trip later, and just modified this first trip to meet the second trip plans.
Oh my gosh, that is just not right....I hate that part about traveling, you think they would reimburse you for something they never gave you. Now I am grumpy for you.
ReplyDeleteOh that is so rotten. I was wondering if they would let you reschedule for another date. Sometimes people are nice enough to do that.
ReplyDeleteOh that sucks Sue!! Have you checked to see if it can be rescheduled?
ReplyDeleteMy goodness. I guess stories like that make me shudder whenever I hit "send" on vacation plans! Hope that you can reschedule!
ReplyDelete