GRADS FUME AT NO REFUND
Booking website says Schoolies not cancelled
GUTTED school leavers who want to follow health advice and Mayor Tom Tate’s stayaway order say they can’t get back deposits to booking site Schoolies.com, because they can still technically check in.
Their gripes come as body corporates warn the annual rite-of-passage will return to “bad old days” of unit parties after the State Government pulled pin on official events.
Despite Cr Tate urging schoolies to stay away come November, accommodation portal Schoolies.com continues to take bookings and promote rooms at that time.
Last week, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk canned Schoolies on the Glitter Strip, deeming it “high risk” in a pandemic, but locals fear axing official activities like beach parties won’t keep large groups away.
Hundreds of schoolies are venting in online forums about Schoolies.com failing to refund $150 deposits. Under terms and conditions, Schoolies.com says bookings remain current, and those who cancel over COVID concerns but can still get to their accommodation will have the deposit as a credit voucher.
Schoolies.com CEO Matt Lloyd did not respond directly to questions – he resent his Friday statement: “We are in conversation with local tour and attraction operators to provide deals to entertain this year’s graduates in a way that is safe and in line with advice of Government and Health officials.
It adds Schoolies occurs wherever youth travel to mark it and it is not controlled by any one group. Schoolies.com accomodation partners were working on COVID-safe plans including “staggered check-in” while Schoolies.com was investing in ensuring photo ID for all attendees, a 24-hour help line and extra security patrols, Mr Lloyd’s statement said.
But Aquinas College student Iain Matthews wants to cancel because he doesn’t see a point in paying extra for events that won’t take place.
He had requested his deposit back but has had no reply: “It stresses me out since the due date for payment is close and I’m trying to find a way to get my money back.
“The point of Schoolies is the fun and now these events are cancelled it ruins that.”
Helensvale State High student Lachie Artz also said he was frustrated by the Schoolies.com refund policy.
“It is so frustrating, I messaged them months ago asking if we would get a refund if something like this would happen, they said only if ‘they’ cancel it. Even though government has cancelled, Schoolies.com says it is still on for them so we have no luck. It seems irresponsible, when State Government has said it isn’t the right thing to do.”
Property owners who use Schoolies.com as a booking agent said any kept deposits were unlikely to be passed on to the Gold Coast businesses.
“Our apartments have been fully booked for two weeks with over 100 people each week, but we never get paid by Schoolies.com until a week before check in,” a local operator said. “If they have collected deposits from 20,000 bookings they’ll have made over a million, while we get nothing.
“We’ve asked about deposits but got no answers, many small buildings are in the same situation and there is growing anger about how this is managed.”
Accommodation providers bracing for an influx of schoolies face $100,000 security fees.
Hilton Residences body corporate chair Alan Sparks said bookings were still being taken, and they needed to prepare.
“All of the large buildings are talking to one another, the biggest problem in our minds is school leavers will be here to celebrate, but with no events it will all be in their rooms.
“That leads us to the usual safety concerns around alcohol, overcrowding and damage – this thing is set up for disaster.
“We essentially will be going back to the days before the government support stepped in.”
Mr Sparks said schoolies’ safety was paramount to residents who already pay $100,000 for security: “It is not refunded by Schoolies.com who make a fortune from it. The responsibility seems to have landed on our laps, these are early adults who want to come and party, it will not be a quiet time for them.”
Beefed up police patrols have been confirmed by State Government.
EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT CANCELLED, SCHOOLIES.COM SAYS IT IS STILL ON FOR THEM SO WE HAVE NO LUCK STUDENT LACHIE ARTZ
THE Schoolies situation is starting to reach farcical levels.
It would be funny if it wasn’t so serious. The Queensland State Government on Friday axed Schoolies “as normal” this year, which is to say it cancelled the official state-backed events program and also left any safety response up in the air, with a spokesman for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying “security arrangements are up to operators”.
Then soon after Mayor Tom Tate pleaded with Schoolies not to come, an acknowledgment that the State Government can pull the pin on its seven-figure support for the event but its essentially organic origins mean it will likely go ahead in some way shape or form. Probably a messy one.
Now hundreds of pre-booked schoolies are bleating – with just cause – about being knocked back for accommodation deposit refunds by Australia’s largest Schoolies bookings portal Schoolies.com because – despite the State Government announcement and despite Cr Tate’s pleading – Schoolies.com considers it to be game on for the rite-of-passage celebrations in 2020.
Member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek is up in arms, saying the State Government “can’t just walk away”.
To some degree, they are not, having confirmed extra police patrols will be on duty during the Schoolies dates and, critically, it expects everyone – spannered graduate teenager or otherwise – to abide by social distancing and gathering restrictions currently set at a maximum of 10. Good luck with that.
This situation is going to need a targeted, co-ordinated response. Schoolies.com is still live and taking bookings, and encouraging them, in the face of State Government and city council’s opposing direction.
Schoolies.com CEO Matt Lloyd’s response in a statement on Friday regarding welfare concerns noted measures to address that include all attendees having photo ID, a 24-hour helpline and extra security which was not specified.
It seems woefully inadequate in the face of its ongoing promotion of the event which flies in the face of state and council and to an overwhelming degree community expectation right now.
But it also, as Mr Langbroek points out, means it is just as irresponsible for authorities to walk away from a response.
Because right now, it seems schoolies – frustrated at not being able to get refunds – will be coming whether we like it or not.