Millions owed for cancelled holidays
Holidaymakers in Stirling are still owed millions of pounds worth of refunds from travel companies due to cancelled holidays during the pandemic.
A survey from consumer website Which has revealed the extent of the financial impact from trips put on hold due to Covid-19, with many firms left overwhelmed and unable to meet the 14-day refund requirement.
The survey, which took data from 7,500 people who had seen a package holiday cancelled as a result of coronavirus, found that more than 40 per cent of those surveyed has waited more than a month to be refunded, while just over a fifth were still waiting at the end of October.
According to a local MP, the findings reveal that local holidaymakers here could still be owed more than £1.4 million from refunds yet to be dished out - with the national total across Scotland sitting at over £81 million.
The issue of refunds not being paid has led to pressures from the Competition and Markets Authority on some of the major travel providers - leading to package firm Tui promising to issue all refunds by the end of September.
And Virgin Holidays have also been forced to processing all refunds for trips cancelled until the end of October by November 20.
Stirling MP Alyn Smith offered his help for anyone still looking for their money back to get in touch with his office.
Mr Smith said: “For many people, this saga has rumbled on for far too long – it’s time for the UK government and the market regulator to get a hold of this situation.
“Times are tough financially for many local families, and while I appreciate holiday companies were inundated with refund requests earlier in the year, we are now in November.
“We aren’t talking about spare change here – the average cost of a cancelled holiday was £1,784 according to this survey.
“While we all recognise the travel industry’s acute financial difficulties, there can be no excuse for them hoarding the hard-earned cash of their hard-pressed customers.
“As a matter of urgency, the UK government needs to set out how travel companies will be supported financially to fulfil their legal obligations to passengers – and take firm action against those who continue to drag their feet.
“I would urge anyone in Stirling who is still waiting on a refund from March to get in touch with my office – I will offer any support I can to make sure you get your money back.”