Travel question of the day: Simon Calder on getting a refund for a holiday that didn't happen
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Your support makes all the difference.Q Last year I paid money to a company called Resort Re-allocations for a holiday in Spain. Before my planned departure, the company said the booking had not gone through, and made a series of excuses. I asked for my money back and was assured it would be sent. Since then they have not answered emails. What can I do to reclaim the money?
Name withheld
A Resort Re-allocations is an interesting organisation. It appears that it cold-calls people, claiming to sell cut-price rooms at “higher end hotel chains”. You pay hundreds of pounds in advance for a week or two of accommodation, then six to eight weeks before your travel dates you contact the firm and they arrange the trip.
My confidence that this organisation would deliver a good experience was disturbed when I saw that “Lanzarote” was spelled incorrectly on its website. And it was dented further when I read two of the conditions that buyers are required to adhere to. One says you have to travel in a party of four; another says “you may be required to attend a presentation, of at least 90 minutes, to show you the facilities and to explain to you the benefits of the ownership system”. It then says: “If you fail to attend this presentation, without valid reason, you shall be liable to pay the full rental cost for your accommodation for the duration of your holiday.”
I wanted to ask Resort Re-allocations about these extraordinary rules. The firm gives an office address in Dunstable, a London phone number that is disconnected, and an email address to which I have written without success. So all I can say is that, over the years, I have been aware of a large number of “here today, gone tomorrow” companies that have promised all manner of tempting deals but not delivered.
You could contact your card provider to try to find out where the money went, but I fear it may be too late.
Every day, our travel correspondent, Simon Calder, tackles a reader’s question. Just email yours to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder
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