Campaign group It’s Right to Refund warns Govt delaying refunds is ‘unnecessary and unfair’
The founder of the It’s Right To Refund campaign has reminded the Government of its obligations under the Package Travel Directive and the risks of judicial review if these are contravened.
The reminder has come from VIVID Travel managing director Kane Pirie in a letter to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.
It follows an announcement that ABTA expects its proposed Package Travel Regulations (PTRs) reform to be confirmed by the Government tomorrow.
It’s Right To Refund believes the ABTA proposals open a ‘Pandora’s box’ that could see some customers waiting into 2021 before they receive their money back.
Pirie said: "We trust Government will recognise that such a delay is unnecessary and unfair andfurthermore, will exacerbate the financial distress of many members of the public.
"To go ahead with the ABTA proposals, which contain no fixed end-date for repayment, would be a ‘kick-in-the-teeth thank you’ to the British public who have sacrificed a great deal to support the lockdown, whatever the financial cost.
"That kick in the teeth is even more abhorrent when you recognise that many NHS workers will alsobe told: ‘Your holiday organiser needs your money more than you do so you will have to wait. And, by the way, thanks for saving all our lives.’
"There is an obvious and obviously better alternative: a short grace period exactly as the Government quickly and without problems introduced for car MOTs.
"We beg you to change course and warn that aside from the legal rights, which we reserve in full, you should not underestimate the great British public. This Great Refund Robbery is a turkey that will not fly."
The It’s Right to Refund campaign was launched earlier this month and now has more than 12,500 followers.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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