I signed up for a trip originally scheduled for the 2nd week of May, 2020. Due to COVID-19, the tour company has rescheduled the trip for the 1st week of May, 2021.
The San Francisco-based tour company is refusing to refund my money and cancel my enrollment. I no longer wish to go on this trip. I am in a VERY high risk group for COVID-19 and don’t believe the situation will be resolved enough to make it safe for me to travel.
What are my options?
Are there any laws, rules, or regulations that apply that would require them to refund my money?
Are there any professional associations or regulatory agencies I can contact for relief?
Can you think of compelling arguments that would convince them to do a refund?
What would you do?
Thanks,
J.
Additional Details:
The San Francisco tour company, the one I bought the tour from, “bought out” a week in an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean and then sold the trip under their (the San Francisco company’s) logo / auspices.
The San Francisco company claims they can’t refund my money because the all-inclusive resort wouldn’t cancel the reservation. The best the resort would do is switch the week to May 2021. So the San Francisco company is essentially holding me (and my money) hostage.
Both the tour company and all-inclusive resort are well-established and long standing businesses.
The final 25% payment for the trip is due to be charged to my credit card on April 15 (7 days from now). I have asked my credit card company not to accept this charge, but they’ve told me that I’ll just have to contest the charge after it has been made. Should I let them charge my card, or will not allowing that final payment give them another reason not to refund my money? (i.e., I defaulted, so they get to keep all previous payments as cancellation charge or something?)
Somewhat similar here, an event that I bought $500 tickets for in Jan. was cancelled in March & 3rd party ticket people are dicking me over refund. My credit card company said no problem, they’d get my $$$ back. BUT IMHO you do have to allow the charge to process before you can file a dispute.
It wasn’t clear in your post but did the tour company cancel the trip for the dates you originally booked for? Or are the original dates still valid and only offered to rebook you on a different date?
And, what does their refund policy state?
Credit card companies can’t just decide “not to accept” charges. There are rules and procedures to contest charges. If you do something, like close the account, before the final payment goes through, I think you’ll find yourself in a bigger mess like a damage to your credit score, being blacklisted by the merchant, loss of banking privileges, etc. It’s better to file a dispute and let the investigation run its course.
The original date has been “rescheduled” to May 2021. The May 2020 trip is not happening. The tour company automatically transferred everyone’s registration to the new date, without recourse to getting a (full) refund if the May 2021 is not acceptable.
Then you have a valid claim. The product you purchased (which includes specific dates) is not as per the sales contract. Unless… the contract gives them an out to change dates due to certain circumstances. That’s why the refund policy is important. What does it say?
Did you get holiday insurance? If so, you should be able to claim a refund from them. Any policy should cover cancellation due to circumstances beyond your control.
If not, well you’ll know better next time. Seriously, folks, get holiday insurance when you travel. A small expense to protect against this sort of thing, as well as unexpected medical or legal bills, or theft.
Depends on when you booked. The travel insurance may not cover Covid19 related changes depending on when it was made. According to them, it was a known issue that wouldn’t be covered significantly sooner than the average person.