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!

@Paddingtonthebear how long after the first email saying you need to pay the remaining deposit did you get the next email about taking you to court? I was supposed to pay the rest of my deposit the Tuesday before last and got the chasing email last Tuesday which we’ve still ignored.

Why do they get to hold on to people’s money and only provide credit refunds if the holiday is cancelled yet we still have to pay balances for holidays that won’t happen? They’re applying one rule to themselves and another to us the consumer. For that reason I’m not going to pay anything further. They can take me to court. I’ll say paying my mortgage is more important to me then paying for a holiday that won’t be happening and that I’ll have to fight to get the money back for!

@Jedstre - if the new holiday is more expensive then there is no charge to change according to t&c’s.

Lots on BBC breakfast about it today and it has gone to the Competition and Markets Authority this week

Also, if the new holiday is cheaper they won't refund the difference - I'm still bloody waiting for £365 from a month ago! Am fuming. Did the right thing by rebooking and now wish I hadn't. They're taking the piss.

Can anyone please share the UK customer service number? I am trying 0203 451 2688 and it doesn't even give me the option to wait. I can proceed further via App or website aswell to pay my balance deposit which is due today.

I still can’t even get in to my booking to pay or amend (or cancel) so I physically can’t do anything anyway.

But anyway I think it’s very telling that Tui are asking for our patience and understanding with regards to them paying back everyone’s money but aren’t affording us the same when it comes to paying holiday balances. Why can’t they put balances back until 4 weeks before departure with everything being so uncertain at the moment? Why are they still insisting on 12 weeks? They are wanting their cake and eating it and that isn’t sitting well with me.

• can't

@mommydragon I've just tried calling them and it just says call volumes are high and to call back later. I really wouldn't pay them if I were you - you'll have a battle to get your money back.

Oh, and I've just checked online and the refund they owe me it's now showing as an o/s balance due to them! It just gets better and better!!

I am worried about them taking me to court for the balance deposit... but have taken screenshots showing the errors I am getting when I try to log in. I also got through to the number I mentioned below and waited for someone to talk to for half an hour... so think I have done what I could here.

Seriously, there's no way they're going to take people to court. There are thousands in your position.

@mommydragon yep I’ve done the same, I’ve got screenshots of the errors I get when trying to access my booking via the app and via the Tui website. I called the number and got through to someone after 45 mins of being on hold and he showed me another way to access my booking but all I could do was enter Advanced Passenger Information, still couldn’t make payments or amend my holiday. I think I’ve done enough.

They can go ahead and take me to court if they want but I suspect they won’t have the time to do so. And if international travel isn’t up and running by the time of my holiday and they would be cancelling the holiday themselves, would they even have a leg to stand on? Suing me for a holiday that I stopped paying for that couldn’t go ahead anyway? I think they are relying on people being scared to be in breach of contract and paying and then they have your money and they will take their sweet time giving it back to you!

Hi, I had a Tui holiday booked for end July - paid £800 deposit. Full balance of over3K due Monday 4 May. I wanted to cancel as I am in a high risk group (not shielding). Tui told me I would lose the deposit if I cancelled unless I could provide a letter from my doctor saying I couldn't travel. I got this letter from my GP, emailed it through whilst on the phone to them, and they have cancelled the holiday and confirmed I will received my deposit back in full.

Just wanted to share in case any of you were in a similar position. (I am type 1 Diabetic if it helps).

Good luck everyone,

Can anyone confirm... if you move your TUI holiday to next year do you keep the same booking reference? I understand this means you're still covered by your existing travel insurance policy!

Hi @holidayheadache - I rearranged my holiday booking with TUI and kept the same booking ref.

Also to update, I finally got through after an hour and ten minutes this morning and they have processed my refund for the difference in cost.

What phone number are you using to speak to Tui on?

I have been trying but no luck!

The one I got through on was 0203 636 1931, but I had to try a few times before I didn't get the 'call back later' message. And then it took an hour and 15 mins before I got through. Painful.

I've moved mine to next year. Managed to do it online, no amendment fee but I'm not sure why as it's clear I wasn't going before 30th June.
I have to pay the rest of the deposit balance next month and then nothing until May 2021.
The booking reference is the same.

@holidayheadache - as long as the new holiday is more expensive there’s no amendment fee.

There's no amendment fee if the holiday is cheaper either

@chocolatesaltyballs22 - does that also apply to holidays after 30th June?

@Nearlyadoctor the new holiday is slightly cheaper. Same resort just a different date.

@holidayheadache are you happy with that? Going a year later? See for me, even if I were able to get in to my booking to change it to next year, the holiday is no longer like for like anymore as my daughter is then too old for us to have the option of a family room and instead it gives us two doubles and the price is pushed up by £700. That wouldn’t be something that I’d book. I’d rather upgrade to a 2 bedroom suite or something but there isn’t the option in that hotel. So I’d rather just book from scratch.

@Rollergirl11 yes I've got a good deal. It's still a holiday I'm likely to have booked next year anyway.
That said, I looked at lots of alternatives too. I sandy restricted to rebooking the same place.
I was surprised how easy it was.

Ah not sure @nearlyadoctor, sorry. Mine was an Easter holiday.