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Original poster

Niece had to cancel holiday but company wont give a refund is this right?

18 replies

Overseasmom100 · 01/04/2020 23:18

My niece booked a girlie weekend away for her 30th birthday recently. It was in the uk in a lodge with hot tub etc. It was a private rental who will not refund but only move to another date...Oct or Nov. No one in her party can do those months and 1 is pregnant and dropping out.

Can the owners do this...they would prefer money back

OP posts:

Scarletoharaseyebrows · 01/04/2020 23:21

Check the terms and conditions. Sounds about right though to offer a rebook. Most places are doing the same. I guess private rentals would prefer not to give their livelihood away either. It's tough all round right now.

superram · 01/04/2020 23:21

Yes, I’d imagine the booking was non-refundable.

Original poster

Overseasmom100 · 01/04/2020 23:23

They booked for April when weather would be ok and to coinside with her birthday so Oct Nov isnt ideal. She is on her own with a little one and was so looking forward to it. Money is tighter than ever now so would come in handy. Ive told her to email them again explaining

OP posts:

kilisibird · 01/04/2020 23:23

Have you posted about this before?

When was the break for? Why did she have to cancel?

kilisibird · 01/04/2020 23:25

Sorry cross posted.

Surely the place is closed? I would be expecting a refund, absolutely.

wlv12 · 01/04/2020 23:25

We’ve had similar for a cottage in the UK with hot tub.
We’d booked for a special wedding anniversary in May. We’ve had to rebook so have gone for late October. We’ll still enjoy it, regardless.

BubblesBuddy · 01/04/2020 23:27

Go for next year at the same time when the baby can be left with dad. Lots of places are being flexible. However I think they are entitled to their money back if the holiday is in the near future - the contract is frustrated. If they cancelled and it was months away, it’s a bit early to cancel.

Original poster

Overseasmom100 · 01/04/2020 23:29

Yes the caravan park is closed. I said that book for next year but 1 girl is pregnant and doesnt want to go now...they all paid individually.

OP posts:

Eminybob · 01/04/2020 23:31

See if you can claim on your travel insurance, some allow you to claim for cancellations under the non essential travel restrictions.

Original poster

Overseasmom100 · 01/04/2020 23:32

She hasnt got insurance think best they book for next year

OP posts:

VonHerrBurton · 01/04/2020 23:33

I'm pleased our pre-booked weekend, in uk, have said we can choose another date and we aren't losing our money.

Have they said it has to be October or November? Can't they just offer a credit note to rebook whenever? That's what we've been offered and I'm happy with that. I'd argue you should be able to pick your own date but unless you've got super robust travel insurance that covers pandemics - let's face it, nobody has that for a uk holiday - I think that's probably the best you'll get.

Hope it gets sorted and she can sort a credit note out to use at her convenience sometime in the future.

Hannah021 · 01/04/2020 23:34

it sounds fair to both parties... but like another poster said, read the terms and conditions regarding cancellation

Eminybob · 01/04/2020 23:35

Check if she has travel insurance through her bank account. I do and it covers cancellations due to travel restrictions.

kilisibird · 01/04/2020 23:35

It's pretty poor practice regardless.

PeterPanGoesWrong · 01/04/2020 23:43

October is often a gorgeous month, don’t write it off if they don’t want to go the same time next year.

She paid for a weekend break, the company is offering her a weekend break. She can’t demand her money back if there is nothing wrong with what is on offer.

GiantKitten · 01/04/2020 23:53

It's fairly standard from what I've read recently. If they cancel you get a refund, but if you do you don't, even now. In present circs advice is to hold out until they cancel.

& as far as insurance goes, we have had an annual policy with a Which recommended company for 2-3 years, & just discovered that they have never refunded when cancellation is due to pandemic or FCO advice not to travel

So I don't know how many companies do offer such refunds

kilisibird · 01/04/2020 23:53

She paid for a weekend break, the company is offering her a weekend break.

She paid for a weekend break on a specific weekend. You don't just phone and book a hotel and let them decide when you are to check in.

She can’t demand her money back if there is nothing wrong with what is on offer.

There is something wrong with what's on offer though, that's the whole point.

SapphireSeptember · 02/04/2020 00:49

I was wondering about this, I booked a hotel for next week via booking.com and even though I contacted the hotel directly to see if they could change dates they were useless, so went though the 'cancel for less' option on booking.com. The hotel then said they wouldn't refund me. I know I booked it as a non-refundable option but it's not my fault I'm not travelling to London. It's because the entire country is under lockdown and I can't.

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