DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: Again in 2019, I made a reservation for me and my spouse to go on Vantage Journey’s “Croatia & Culinary Gems of the Adriatic Coast” tour. Different members of our household have been additionally planning to hitch us on this journey. I made the ultimate cost of $20,655 for our journey in Oct. 2019.
As a part of the price of the journey, I paid $999 per particular person for a “cancel for any purpose” journey insurance coverage coverage from Journey Mate. A part of the explanation I had booked it was in case my sister-in-law’s most cancers returned. Sadly, it did, and he or she died earlier than the journey.
In early 2020, we canceled our tour and initiated a refund request by way of Vantage Journey. I additionally submitted a declare to Journey Mate. Due to the pandemic, Vantage canceled our tour earlier than its scheduled departure.
Journey Mate reviewed the declare and accredited it in mid-2020, however stated cost could be made by Vantage.
I've emailed Vantage a number of occasions and have made a number of telephone calls. Twice on these telephone calls, a consultant offered the projected dates of once we would obtain a refund. Nonetheless, now we have not acquired any refund or a written assurance as to once we will obtain one. Are you able to assist me get my $20,655 again?
— David Maddox, Arlington, Virginia
ANSWER: I’m so sorry in regards to the lack of your sister-in-law.
It is best to have acquired a fast refund in your pay as you go, nonrefundable bills after Journey Mate accredited your declare. I don’t know why you didn’t, however I do know you aren’t alone. Many vacationers had the identical drawback throughout the early days of the pandemic. It was a complicated time.
You dealt with this one by the e book. You acquire the right insurance coverage in your wants. A “cancel for any purpose” coverage will mean you can cancel your trip for any purpose and obtain a partial refund. However, some restrictions apply. Your Journey Mate coverage, nevertheless, was a little bit completely different from the usual “cancel for any purpose” coverage. It allows you to cancel, and also you’ll obtain your total pay as you go, nonrefundable journey value “within the type of a Vantage Journey Certificates for the cancellation penalty quantity.”
So, one of the best you can have executed was a voucher. However, Vantage additionally canceled your cruise. In that state of affairs, it is best to have had a selection between a voucher and a refund. It seems to be like issues obtained confused between your declare, the Vantage cancellation and your refund request.
I publish the names, numbers and e mail addresses of the Vantage executives on my client advocacy website at www.elliott.org/company-contacts/vantage-deluxe-world-travel/. A quick, well mannered e mail to one in all them might need “un-confused” the method.
Backside line: You shouldn't have to attend years for an organization to refund your buy.
I contacted Vantage in your behalf, and it refunded your cruise.
Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit group that helps shoppers resolve their issues. Elliott’s newest e book is “The best way to Be the World’s Smartest Traveler” (Nationwide Geographic). Contact him at elliott.org/assist or chris@elliott.org.
(c) 2022 Christopher Elliott
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