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!

@Inspiralcarpetry is it your opinion that TUI are actively trying to hold on to people’s money then? Rather than it just taking a long time to get through the thousands of bookings?

Obviously just my opinion but yes, I believe they are hanging onto every customer's money until legislation is passed to deny refunds.
Yes, it will be harder for Tui workers to do their job currently, but how hard is it to press the button on a refund? They already have everyone's bank details.
On the Marella Cruises Facebook page, there are hundreds of people like me who are waiting for refunds. Not heard of anyone since 9th March actually getting one. Careful if you do comment there as there are a couple of rabid Tui disciples who are viciously defending Tui. Why, I have no idea.

They are totally holding onto people's money intentionally.

Has anyone been offered anything by TUI yet? We were thinking that if we don’t get to go on our July holiday we’ll book New York for Christmas instead but maybe that’s not an option if it’s taking a long time for them to refund or offer vouchers

Our situation is similar to your turnedouttes we have paid deposit fo r travel at the end of July and final payment due end of April.

No luck with Tui online or on phone.

I am not keen to pay any more money in case they do not survive this.

Would rather rebook for a later date.

Have contacted one of the travel journalists to see if that moves things on

I have been waiting over a month for my refund, countless calls, emails, nothing. Wankers

I had an email from them yesterday @chickedeee saying that there’s no need to worry about paying as all package holidays are ATOL protected. And if it was to be cancelled we can rebook for free. But I just feel nervous paying so much money for a holiday I know we won’t go on when DP is self employed so not earning a penny for the moment.
If you search #TUIrefund on Twitter it makes for worrying reading! I did however see someone on there saying they hadn’t bothered trying directly but had just gone to their bank who sorted it all out and got their money back so that may be worth a try

Thanks turnedouttoes like you I am concerned about paying. My fear is the scale of the problem if the company goes under is it really likely that they will pay all the money back?

I would rather loose the deposit than the whole lot as I do not believe the holiday will happen anyway. It is not in Tui's interest to reschedule everyone as they need cash flow.

They have already gone to german government asking for money 💰

Also does anyone know how it works with requesting a charge back from your credit card company? I paid £100 on my Lloyd’s debit card as the deposit and then a further £1,100 and due to pay £1,300 both on my Lloyd’s credit card. Would I be able to ask them to help with this as the initial £100 was paid on my debit card?

I've today submitted a claim on my bank insurance for our holiday booked in October 2019 for summer 2020. Cannot afford to pay the balance and really do need that deposit back as am out of work.

Long shot but crossing fingers

I called yesterday and asked for an extension on the final balance payment date. They gave me 2 extra weeks no probs, so will see what that brings. If nothing changes, I'll cancel then and lose the deposit rather than pay more.

Just to double check something please. We also have Tui holiday booked in Aug. £200 deposit payed on credit card. Next payment due this month. I’m assuming they can’t take the money from your credit card, that you have to make and authorise the payment? Therefore if I do nothing no further payment will be made? Same as you @Rollergirl11 I was just going to do nothing.

@Turnedouttoes

From which? You don't have to have paid the full amount on your credit card – the card company is liable even if you made only part of the payment (a deposit, say) on your card.

I have a holiday booked with TUI for Aug and have been paying lump sums so have decided to play rest of balance by credit card and claim in the future.

I have a similar issue but with a Hoseasons booking for July.
Much as I hope holidays in England can go ahead by then I don’t think I want to risk losing hundreds of pounds and only getting vouchers back instead of cash.
I won’t be paying the balance next month.
Everywhere I look so many people are having problems getting their money back and getting vouchers instead from holiday companies.

I'm watching with interest.

Have paid tui £800 so far with our balance due in 2 weeks, for a holiday in July.

I have travel insurance and have paid this via PayPal credit and credit card so I am hoping it will be secure.

We don't mind rebooking the same holy day for another date with the same cost. But don't fancy paying anymore money for a holiday to Tenerife

We're due to pay a final balance today not with tui and have decided not to throw good money after bad so we're just doing nothing and accepting that we will likely lose the deposit. As we are owed a refund for a holiday we're supposed to be on now through an online agent, not tui, but they're not paying up easily.

FWIW a few years ago we booked a holiday with tui and paid the low deposit. We were travelling with another family who couldn't go in the end because of a serious health emergency. When I went in to the store to pay our own family's deposit and explain about their situation they tried to make me pay them and there and said that it would be chased up. I nearly paid it but decided to leave it and nothing ever came of it. So maybe it's nit worth their while at the best of times let alone now.

@Racheyg I saw on Twitter earlier someone was saying they’d put in a claim with PayPal rather than TUI and they’d got their money back very quickly so you may be in a good position

We had a holiday booked through First Choice (same company as Tui) for the beginning of July. Same low deposit scheme.

The balance was due last week. What I’ve done is ch ages the whole booking to the same week next year. It cost about an extra £500 but that’s partly due to DS1 turning 18 in the mean time.

I would have had to pay the whole deposit if I cancelled which I think was another £750.

Anyway, now I just have to pay the rest of the deposit by the end of may and the balance next year and obviously there’s a much better chance of actually having a holiday to go on by then.

There see several very active Facebook groups started about Tui
It’s worth joining to get more info

Can you not pay the balance by credit card to get the cover offered by that?

@Perihelion I am having the same issue with Air France. They are just refusing to give a cash refund and I can’t get through by phone

@Turnedouttoes that's good to know. I I hope you manage to sort out your holiday.

Tui are definitely holding onto people’s money. Promising refunds that have not materialised 4 weeks later. I have heard they are trying to push through legislation that means they can offer credit for future holidays instead of a cash refund.

Keep paying. If they cancel (or go bust) you get your money back. If they don't cancel it means you can go on the holiday. Win win.

This!

You won't get vouchers back for a holiday THEY cancel. It's cash. Ignore those rumours.

For a holiday YOU cancel you could get vouchers.

Again, this!

And just make sure you pay by credit card for the great prot3ction credit cards give (in addition to thr ATOL prot3ction you will already have)