HOLIDAYMAKERS are still being left out of pocket due to Covid restrictions — but HOAR’s Corona Crew offers a ray of hope for getting your cash back.
Our experts have secured refunds of almost £250,000 from travel firms and airlines for readers whose holidays were cancelled.
Paul Crump of Heathfield, East Sussex, turned to the Corona Crew for help after nearly six months chasing a refund of £16,576. This week he got his money back.
Paul says: “Without the Sun’s support holidaymakers like us and so many others would not be getting our refunds.
“Travel companies are failing to honour both their legal and moral duty of care to customers.
“We got no support from ABTA, which is supposed to help holidaymakers. They should reflect why HOAR gets results and it doesn’t.
“Without the help of HOAR a lot of people would be desperate.”
Paul and his wife Julie booked a 16-day holiday in April to the Great Wall of China and a cruise to Japan.
The couple, who run a music insurance company, were going away because Julie was due to go into hospital in June for brain surgery to treat a tumour.
But in February, as coronavirus gripped Asia, Paul, 57, realised the trip would be cancelled and applied for a refund.
He says: “The goalposts kept being moved.
“We were told it would be refunded by the end of March, but then it was changed to 90 days.
“It’s been incredibly frustrating.”
The pandemic put paid to Allyson and Mike Eyre’s 12-night cruise around the British Isles in May.
The £2,700 holiday included a trip to Merseyside for Mike, 81, an ex- supervisor and Liverpool fan.
After 60 days waiting for a refund from Princess Cruises and Iglu, the travel agent, the couple from Newhaven, East Sussex, lost hope of ever seeing their money.
Allyson, 66, a former librarian, says: “Within three days of writing to HOAR, I had my money back.
“The Corona Crew pulled out the stops. Thank you.”
Jamie and Nicola Dorman wanted a joint 40th birthday to remember so booked five nights in Las Vegas.
But two days before take-off the £2,500 break was cancelled and Funway, the agent that booked flights with Tui, announced it was to cease trading. However, Tui insisted all calls had to go through the agent.
Jamie, an engineer, and Nicola, both 39, were “pulling their hair out” trying to get their cash back.
Jamie, of Wisbech, Cambs, says: “We were being fobbed off, but within a week of contacting the Corona Crew we had our money back.
“I can’t believe how quickly this has been sorted since you got involved.”
Jean Kimpton paid £16,000 for 16 family members to go to the Dominican Republic. Tui refunded about £10,000 but Jean, 75, and her husband Dave, 77, who run a cattery in Hertford, could not get a refund for other family members.
Jean says: “It was meant to be a holiday of a lifetime.
“My husband and I were celebrating our 56th anniversary and it was to be an opportunity to go away with our great grandson.
“For some reason refunds for the last three bookings, worth £6,000, were held up. But thankfully, with the help of the Corona Crew, it has now been returned.”
Bob and Ann Downey were due to have a joint 80th birthday celebration with a luxury cruise in Hawaii, with his sister, Sheila Lovell.
When it was cancelled they were offered a rescheduled cruise costing more but Bob, a former gas engineer of Teignmouth, Devon, turned it down.
After more than 20 emails and numerous calls to Cruise 1st, Bob and Ann, an ex-secretary, got some money back but were still owed £1,806, and Sheila, 88, was due £1,294.
The money was refunded in days after the Corona Crew stepped in.
Angela Cooper, 53, a former nurse from Leeds, booked to take her mum Pauline to the Canadian Rockies but did not get confirmation the trip was off.
She was due a refund of £8,856 from Barrhead Travel and Newmarket Holidays.
She says: “I must have emailed 30 times and I was really worried. But when the Corona Crew stepped in I had a refund within days.”
Lyn and Peter Ellis spent £15,000 on a cruise from Australia’s Gold Coast to Bali, which was cancelled five days before they were due to set off.
The operator, Six Star Cruises, sent emails giving them options but after Lyn, an ex-social care manager, and Peter, a construction boss, both 65, opted for a refund, they heard no more.
Lyn, of Sawbridgeworth, Herts, says: “It’s great we are getting our money back.”
Alison Earnshaw, managing director of Six Star Cruises, said: “We apologise to any customers who have been affected by delays.”
Paul Eames-Long, 46, a window fitter, and his wife Sarah, 41, booked a £3,476 holiday to Disneyworld in Florida for their kids Ryley, 11, and Maisie, nine.
They heard nothing until the day of departure.
Sarah, from Barnet, North London, says: “We were promised a credit note, but no one called back.
“HOAR’s Corona Crew has been a godsend.”
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Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.hellofaread.com/money/petrol-and-diesel-prices-rose-by-average-of-3p-a-litre-in-july-figures-show/
