TUI low deposit - August holiday

[holidayheadache]

Another holiday one - sorry!

I've got a long haul holiday booked for the end of August through TUI. So far I have only paid £250 but as this is part of the low deposit scheme, a second deposit payment is due at the end of the month of an additional £250.

I'm under no illusion that this holiday will go ahead unfortunately. Does anyone know what will happen if I don't pay this? I understand that they can go to small claims court but is this realistic under the circumstance?

It seems ridiculous for us to pay money for something we're highly unlikely to benefit from.

Thanks!

I have read that holiday companies may not have sufficient funds to pay back as they have not received money back from hotels etc. That is why they are pressuring people to rebook or take vouchers, and why there is delay in getting refunds. If they paid back everything straight away some holiday firms would go bust. Also they simply cannot cope with the volume of customer calls. Tui are still offering holidays and there is a banner stating that they will rebook if your holiday is cancelled because of coronavirus regulations. There is no promise to refund and I’m not sure what would happen about insurance if anyone booked now.

@Cuddling57 remind me, are you in the same boat that you’ve just paid the low deposit so far?

The PM’s update has confirmed for me that we aren’t going to be in a position to make international travel for a long while yet and certainly not by August. But I wish they would just say now so everyone knows where they stand and aren’t pestered for further payments!

@Rollergirl11 that’s the position we’re in just paid first part of low deposit 2nd part was due last week.

They’ve asked for my final payment @Cuddling57 but I’m still ignoring it. Like @Rollergirl11 I’m hoping new guidance from government means Tui might review things

@Rollergirl11 yes I am in the same situation as you. Paid low deposit £150, rest of deposit was due but I didn't pay. Full balance due tomoro!

@Jedstre thanks for the update. I'm sure many of us will be in the same position. Next year is more expensive for us so I don't want to transfer my deposit to then.
Tui have issued a ten point plan for 'social distance' holidays!
Limited Buffett, limited sport and entertainment etc. Not sure what they will do with the swimming pool! Although I would like everyone to have to splash 2metres away from me ! The limited Buffett and sports isn't what I signed up for though! My DS needs entertaining!

@Hippywannabe the separate refunding of three separate credit card payments is normal.
They would find each original payment and just press refund on the credit card system. This would mean they don't have to enter any new credit card information or use new bank details thus preventing fraud.

What isn't right is that they didn't do all three at the same time/the same day.
I think they are trying to stall as much as they can as per @Jennywren13 .
Maybe ring them again!

@Cuddling57 where did you see TUI’s plan for social distancing? Are you able to link?

Doesn’t sound like the kind of holiday I’d happily she’ll out £7.5k for!

My brother is due a refund from them for a holiday to Thailand in March. They said they would refund him back in April before they went to the credit refund scheme. He has waited weeks and finally got a credit refund from them at the weekend despite then saying it would be a cash refund. He was absolutely furious, spent all day on the phone waiting to speak to them yesterday and they said that a cash refund was tricky because the flights are not with TUI. This is a package holiday that my brother booked solemy with TUI. The fact that TUI chose a different airline for the flights is nothing to do with my brother! They are using every tactic they can to keep hold of people’s money!

Here's the link Roller

www.tuigroup.com/en-en/media/press-releases/2020/2020-05-11-tui-presents-ten-point-plan-for-hotel-operations-post-coronavirus

Hancock has said that international travel this summer is unlikely. They are just buying time for the companies I think by not officially announcing it. Furlough to Oct for me says that some industries, travel being one of them, won’t be open for business before then. They just need to get on with announcing it formally now.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52632976

That 10 point plan is awful!

Just checking in again as have fallen of ‘threads I’m on’. Still ignoring reminders to pay the remainder of the deposit. Has anyone a little further on from me had any serious attempts from tui to get the money?

It’s good to know others are in the same boat and holding out too.

@SunshineOutdoors - I had a 2nd email re rest of deposit this morning. We’re the same as you and holding out.

@SunshineOutdoors I was due to pay the full balance today. I’ve had another reminder email from TUI today but not in any way threatening, it’s just the same as the deposit reminders I’ve had.

I've still not had an email and payment day has been and gone. I'm glad I didn't pay though. It's like a weight had been lifted.

We paid the low deposit back in Jan. our second part of the deposit was due at the end of March. A couple of reminder emails but nothing else yet.

I have a feeling TUI might go under. Matt Hancock saying holidays abroad unlikely for 2020 will probably seal their fete.

We was due to fly 27th may and received the cancelled email but no credit note.
After 2 full days of trying to get thru I managed to get a full refund after I refused the credit note...confirmed email I should have the money back in my account by monday.

So my final payment was due Wednesday, which I didn't pay.
I haven't had anymore emails since the one telling me to pay that day.
I've just logged onto the website and it's still counting down to my holiday. I though it would have automatically cancelled it.

@Cuddling57 same here! How many days till your holiday? Mine is 81 days. I plan to do nothing for the next week and see if they contact me. If you cancel 70+ days it’s loss of deposit but 69-63 days it’s 30% of the booking cost payable upon cancellation. So if I don’t hear anything from them saying they’ve cancelled due to lack of payment I might cancel myself just so I don’t incur any further charges. Not that I plan to pay anyway!

@Rollergirl11 mine is 81 days today.
Thanks for reminding me about the 70 days.
When I called the number they aren't taking calls so I emailed their customer services asking to discuss. Received an automatic email back basically saying they are busy!
I think I'm going to wait to see any more uk/Cyprus announcements and then email customer services again asking to cancel and ask for my £150 deposit back based on it's not the holiday I booked due to their ten point plan and quarantine when back etc.

@Cuddling57 are you not able to cancel it online? I have the option on my booking and I’ve gone through as far as it saying it’s £800 for me to cancel but haven’t hit the final button. I think some others on here have done that and it’s let them cancel but then they haven’t paid the remaining deposit.

Roller
Yes I can cancel but I don't want an email saying I owe them the rest of the deposit (£450) because I've cancelled it myself. I thought this would happen automatically when payment day passed.
I'll do it online just before the 70 days if there are no more government announcements etc.
I would like my £150 back, in an ideal world, but understand if I don't get it. I also don't want them to go out of business but don't want to give them my money for nothing! I am happy to write it off though.

@Rollergirl11 @Cuddling57. I’ve just checked and we’re 78 days until holiday 😬. I’ve not paid anything since first low deposit. I’ve ignored reminder emails to pay. I’m the same cuddling I don’t to want an email saying I owe them the rest of the deposit (£600). I’m set to lose the £200 deposit which I’ll live with but not prepared to hand over more than 4K