YOU HAVE YOUR SAY
EVERY week, Money Mail receives hundreds of your letters and emails. Here’s what you had to say about our investigation into the hefty fees that travel firms charge customers who have to cancel their holidays . . . THIS is a scandal. It’s time the tour companies looked at their policies regarding refunds and helped customers who are not able to travel. Then we can put an end to the sharks who view our misery as a bit of luck. Keep up the pressure. B. W., Telford, Shropshire. SADLY, a lot of people only consider insurance for luggage and medical care just before they go away. They forget that cancellation insurance may be needed from the moment they book their holiday. J. L., London. WE RECENTLY had to cancel a holiday as my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite medical evidence, we were told to contact our insurer as no cancellation payment could be made. J. C., via email. IN 2014, my wife and I paid a large sum to visit my father that summer in the U.S. But he passed away before we departed.
I phoned American Airlines to explain, but was told the tickets were non-refundable.
After asking if the situation could be referred to a supervisor, I was told the full cost would be refunded — which it was. Sometimes, the personal approach can work, even if the rules appear inflexible. M. S., London. THANK you for your article. It goes without saying that everyone must take out travel insurance before or at the time of booking — though it doesn’t seem obvious to many. A. A., Essex. TRAVEL firms are very good at trying to fob you off. We once claimed a refund for an expensive excursion that was a disaster.
After a long delay, the company offered us a 50 pc refund, but we persevered and, eventually, got the full amount. It went on for weeks: they presumably hope you’ll lose interest. You have to keep going. G. W., Chipping Sodbury, Glos. I HAD to cancel a Thomson holiday this year due to serious illness. I had travel insurance, but Thomson said, in the circumstances, it would let me use the money to book later in the year so I wouldn’t have to pay cancellation fees. That suited me fine, as I didn’t have to claim on my insurance. N. P., Peterborough, Cambs.