Raw Deal cruises to couple’s rescue

Sandra Alexander is quids in after Raw Deal helped secure a £300 refund for a cruise that was at first cancelled before the company went bust.

She and her husband were due to depart from Dundee for the Faroe Islands in May but the trip was cancelled due to the pandemic, then the firm Cruise & Maritime went into administration.

The couple paid £1,198 for the cruise and put in a claim with travel association ABTA to get their cash back. However, when the refund arrived it was £466 short.

Sandra, from Auchtermuchty, Fife, said: “ABTA had closed the claim saying it was settled.

“I had asked how they arrived at the amount and when we were likely to get the rest of our money, but their website said they were not accepting phone calls or postal enquiries as they are all working from home.”

Raw Deal got in touch on the holidaymakers’ behalf, and the association said it would investigate.

It transpired that the couple’s initial deposit – paid to their travel agent – had been overlooked. As a result, they have been reimbursed another £300 by ABTA and advised to claim the remaining £146 back from the travel agent.

Last month, ABTA warned more travel companies were likely to fall victim to the coronavirus crisis. A survey of 2,000 consumers showed only 15% of people took a foreign holiday between February and July with most people, like the Alexanders, stuck at home.

Sandra said: “It was amazing that it took just one call from Raw Deal and things were sorted.

“We were also given an apology because we hadn’t received a letter explaining everything, and that had been an oversight on their part. Raw Deal has worked its magic once again. Thank you so much.”