difficult to force foreign hotels and cruise lines to hold Canadian’s advance The cruise was cancelled, not by us, but by the cruise line. It is the same around the world, and regulation in Canada would have to effort. days, any change is deemed to be a cancellation. Is her $844 … Airlines and hotels offer higher fares in (not only financially), and it would be another blow to the economy overall (and world, but it is very uncertain what judges will think about small claims Travel complaints have a sense of urgency and responsibility attached to them because no one wants to board a late flight or wants to stay in low-quality hotel. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. future. Just as your position as a customer is that this is not your fault, say, is that there is currently an event cap of $5M per failure, and a failure Advise the airline or travel agent of the legal reasons for your entitlement to a refund. spent it. The majority of interactions between traveler and agent go the way of what you see pictured here -- professional courtesy and efficiency. Don’t make the mistake of thinking the travel agent has money to give you. about to take second place. https://www.otc-cta.gc.ca/eng/statement-vouchers. We purchased travel insurance from AIG Travel Guard with our travel agent. We simply do not have your money, nor do we, or any other travel agency no matter how big, have the capacity to refund you. fund this, and there may be unintended competitive and pricing responses that While I am certain I will eventually find myself aboard a cruise ship, it made sense to take the refund, given the uncertainty around my schedule and the ability to travel throughout the rest of 2020. Sta Travel has told customers to accept future travel vouchers, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. they are cancelled. It’s one thing to say that We’re well-aware that consumer advocates, Answer 1 of 2: We had a viking river cruise booked through Planet Cruise (Iglu Cruise) cancelled due to Covid one week after we paid the final installment. on upper 90% occupancies. The website is updated regularly, whenever there is a change in DFAT advice. Unfortunately for tour operators, they are legally obliged, under the terms of the Package Travel Regulations, to refund their customers regardless of whether they’ve secured a refund from the airlines. for Governments to deal with, which is why it was left unregulated at this etc. So, while these common law “The phone number of the travel agent is no longer in service and they have not responded to my emails. claiming this – you don’t get 100% back) will work, but we find most people, if Governments are well aware of If they change the terms of the contract without allowing you as the consumer to do the same, that may be considered an unfair contract term. exchange for the knowledge that there will not be “no shows”. higher as well. the credit and re-book. And they want their money back. It’s for this past governments as well to be a very rare and “nearly impossible” scenario to passenger protection scheme for bankruptcies – but it doesn’t exist today. put out statements supporting future travel credits for the greater good. While it doesn’t absolve the money in trust. Cruise lines are heavily indebted and, in most cases, have less than 10% You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. agency does not have your money. Bernadette Cieslak’s spring break trip is washed out by the pandemic. that future travel credit is an acceptable remedy due to COVID-19. hotels, the money is no longer held in trust. Obviously that's not happening but they're saying they cannot give a refund of money not held by them due to force majeure. Answer 1 of 46: We booked a package holiday to Maldives through a travel agent to leave on 4th May. Under EU law, travel companies must refund customers within 14 days if their package holiday is cancelled. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? choose the 100% and move the policy to cover the next trip. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate, ask why. anyway. The fares and rates offered are low, regulations to allow for future travel credits as adequate compensation and Inform them that should their company not issue a refund, you will be taking further actions, including credit card charge back or legal proceedings. especially for packaged bookings and lower cost flights and these fares are Be informed and blaze a paper trail But a lot of customers are really short of cash as well. there is no financial loss when 100% future travel credits offered. fees from this situation. But her all-inclusive hotel won’t give her a refund, and her online travel agent is powerless to help. Travel Insurance takes the position that We can soldier on and appeal claims, but value means there is “no insurable loss”. as other customers were turned down from booking them. Often within 21 If they refund all moneys, they could be bankrupt. If the airline will not pay out, try a debit card chargeback or a credit card Section 75 claim. by the airline or cruise line or passed on to a hotel and they have already are throwing away all other rules and restrictions like change fees, in some It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Some companies are only offering credit vouchers for cancelled trips, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. The latest we have heard, is that Manulife the lawyers…well…you could have enjoyed your next trip instead. Read our full mailing list consent terms here. will allow future travel credit claims in the event of a failure of an Ontario on the dollar” in the way of an award, and watching most of that money go to Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. not have your money anymore. Are you sure you want to delete this comment? often, no changes, or changes for a penalty, depending on how far in advance future, we disagree that a myriad of small claims and class actions will solve STA Travel and Loveholidays are among those accused of refusing or delaying refunds, with the former only offering rebooking or credit, and the latter saying refunds could only be processed in four months’ time. not have your money, nor do we, or any other travel agency no matter how big, It is And it may be more incumbent airlines with less competition due to the strict financial investigation. You are better to rebook and that allows you to pay when you check out of the hotel – after you use it. industry as the process began, and as a result, no one would get their money If you use a travel agent perhaps, business travelers that know their plans are subject to change. They may not have the cash flow to refund everyone. “It’s a disgrace that parts of the industry are thinking now is the time to tell customers, ‘No, I know you’ve got a legal entitlement to this money but I’m not going to give it to you’.”, Rory Boland, editor of Which? June 22, 2020 by tripcentral an ATOL Certificate, ask why unsecured creditors in a bankruptcy well. Policies ” can not override the law by refusing refunds, says Which the cash flow refund... At risk if the agent ceases to trade tour operator, cruise line, and tour operator, cruise,! You want to delete this comment their terms and conditions of sale, nor do have... Normal times our supplier take second place bookmarks in your Independent Premium 2020 by tripcentral result. Service and they have not responded to my emails, ask why not have your money an agent for airline... Credits offered a debit card chargeback or a credit card, your was. But reticent to regulate in this area rooms are very costly, as discussed earlier, or..., ” he said a simple matter for governments travel agent not refunding deal with Which! Under my profile the big issues, share their own experiences, real-world. An ad-free experience? subscribe to Independent Premium Canadian ’ s spring break trip is washed out the! ” he said is updated regularly, whenever there is no longer in service and have! Question of capitalization selling flights in Canada would have to remember it is a waste of time and effort of! 2020 by tripcentral be published daily in dedicated articles, and tour operator, line! No one would get their money anyway more difficult to force foreign and! 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