Holiday cancellation

[Seabubbles]

I booked a holiday park in Cornwall and paid an extra deposit on top to cover cancellation. The full balance is due end of March and the holiday is end of May but I've had to cancel, I had a nasty car accident which resulted in a lot of lost wages whilst I recovered and we are up the creek financially at the moment so I had to cancel the holiday. They have told me I can't have the deposit back because it doesn't meet their T&C's and my only option is to to rebook the holiday at a later date which I can't. I've explained I can't rebook the holiday as I am no position to be booking holidays in my financial position and not keen on a long drive after a car accident and been told unfortunately there is nothing they can do. AIBU to be cross about this? I know they are a business and need to make money but if they rebook our chalet they will be quids in and I'm the loser with my money sat in their account that I could really use back right now and it's frustrating to have paid a higher deposit to cover cancellation and have lost it all. They have had over 3 months notice from me. I'm just so frustrated it's disappointing enough cancelling our holiday and now this. I would never be rude and I'm not confrontational but I paid cancellation cover in good faith and feel they have moved the goalposts.

Hasn't it protected you from having to pay the balance?

Have a look at their terms. Occasionally, a refund or part refund can be made if they resell your holiday. This is why holiday insurance essential.
What about your bank, do they offer free insurance?

Sorry to hear this, it’s so annoying because you’ve given so much notice and if they can fill your original booking then I don’t see why they wouldn’t refund. However they are sneaky and like to profit from such things. Do you have insurance with your bank. I did it last year and had to cancel a holiday due to bereavement and my holiday was cancelled with the company baring x amount from
the deposit. I had insurance with my Lloyds account just travel insurance I told them about it and within 24hrs they had refunded me the amount I would have lost minus a £50 excess. They made it so much easier and now in future I would just keep that package account going just in case x

Also just to add if you don’t then the car insurance from the crash covers such things. It’s insurance and while not holiday insurance it’s because of that you’re having a loss. In theory it would also be covered x

I‘m sorry about your accident and the financial
impact too. I imagine they wouldn’t refund the deposit even if they resell the holiday, as keeping the deposit in these cases helps to cover the losses from holidays that aren’t resold. I run a small business and have to be really strict regarding deposits being non refundable, as clients pay these to reserve a date and likewise with cancellation fees, as it’s these things that help to prevent losses. I still often loose a significant amount of money due to cancellations (often made for good reasons) and I’m sure my clients often focus on me getting money for nothing rather than realising that this provides some contribution to cover my loss of income caused by not having been able to book other clients into their slot. It’s so frustrating to loose money though and I hope things get easier soon.

I understand I have to accept it and lesson learned I probably won't bother with cancellation cover as it's a bit too specific. The deposit was not advertised as non refundable. I guess I was just ranting with a knee jerk reaction. Just really struggling with money at the moment and it's frustrating as we could really use it back. Never mind. Thanks all

What type of cover did the cancellation cover ? I know that may sound a little daft, but I know when I book theatre tickets they sell this cover like crazy, and in reality the small print it covers you for very little so I never bother with it.

You generally lose a deposit if you don’t go, is it worth you trying to sell the holiday on or can you ask to book for next year (and hope your finances cover slightly)?

The UK holiday business isnt very profitable overall especially since the Covid customers have gone back to Europe.

Good luck though, it pangs enough to not have a holiday let alone lose part of the money. I would ask for option to book next year.

Sorry to hear about your accident and yes, holiday insurance cancellation cover mostly means you’re covered to not pay the remaining balance.
I would however, ask if you are now unable to drive or won’t be fit to travel to your destination and if so, would suggest you check your vehicle insurance policy.
Which you should check anyway to try and claim back loss of earnings etc….

Rather than cancelling it and losing the deposit altogether why not reschedule it for as far in the future as you can. You shouldn't have to pay anymore until closer to the time and you may find that by then your finances and your health have recovered sufficiently and you can pay the balance and go on the holiday.

Can you claim the lost wages back through your car insurance (if the accident was not your fault?)

Obviously I get travel insurance if I’m going abroad but for the uk I never bother because I got stung for something like this years ago, I paid extra for cover of “refund if you need to cancel” and my DSIS had an exam which we didn’t know the date of when booked, when I tried to cancel they said it was to cover illness, injury etc. and the small print confirmed I had indeed basically paid for I’ll get a refund only if I’m in a coma so can no longer go 😂

Naughty because I didn’t read the small print, but the wording when I took out the cover made it sound like something it wasn’t.

Is it Haven?

Aw op it’s shit but I agree with pp. if you’re not getting any money back and they have offered you to rebook then do that as far in advance as you can and hopefully things will have improved so that you can go. Don’t just cancel for good.

How much was the deposit? If you have travel insurance with your bank then you might get some back that way, although there would still be an excess.

I guess they must feel that if they accept one cancellation, they can't refuse others - even if you did send proof of your car accident, meaning there was exceptional circumstances

But I agree it's pretty shit, if the holiday is rebooked and they get their money anyway, it would be better to refund you. Or it means they get paid twice for that week!

I think deposits are generally non-refundable by definition unless specified otherwise.

I’m sorry though, that’s a shit start to the year. Would they let you postpone it to next year?

It won't cover 'cant afford to go any more' though. And not many people take out insurance for UK trips...

Maybe claim on your holiday insurance?

Rebook for next year, you shouldn’t have to pay the balance for another year and you might be in a better financial position by then. Or see if you can transfer it to someone else who buys the holiday from you.

What is in the terms and conditions of the cancellation cover? It will be specific reasons, and I suspect affordability isn’t one of those. If the injury you sustained prevents you, then that could be a different matter.

Unfortunately they are running a business, and the cover you purchased is probably a specific insurance policy.

i had an accident the day before a holiday for May half term in 2024. I had laid in full and the company let us move the booking to the following year. I assume as they have said you could do the same, that you have the option to at least move it to next year - that way you can assess affordability in another years time, and won’t actually them lose any monies.

Yes and if you can't go then you are no worse off than at present