We have 12k sitting with this company and although they keep assuring us that if they go under, we will be refunded, I’m still scared we won’t see that money again…
I took a tour with them just before COVID! They were such a great company and I deffo plan on using them again – my tour guide was like having a good friend show you around. I had the most spectacular time, the best vacation I’ve ever taken.
They did lay off a large portion of staff in March and I actually spoke to their… president, I believe?, via video chat after my vacation. They are trying as hard as possible to survive and I sincerely hope they do. I trusted them with my life during March… if I was in your shoes, I would trust that my money would be returned.
Politely insist on a refund.
I have a trip booked through them, they’ve told me if travel is still unsafe/refused by November they’ll rebook my vacation at a later date with the funds used for the previous booked trip.
If your trip date has gone by and they’re not giving you your money or rebooking you, that’s kind of worrying.
The 12k is the deposit or part of the balance or what? That matters a lot, I would think. I’d say your deposit is gone if you cancel. The balance would be another matter.
Did you not get travel insurance? It’s a condition of traveling with them (at least here in the US–dunno about elsewhere). I would be curious to know what effect this has on your situation if you got insurance. I’ve never had to use it myself but this is surely a time you’d be able to claim.
I have traveled with them many times and always had a good experience (never did one of their group tours but had them make all my arrangements for my own travels). That said, I have to agree with what others have said. Business is business and, if you feel like the risk is too high to wait, then you should pursue getting your balance back.
Our Inside Japan trip (due to leave last April) was cancelled by them as soon as the pandemic was declared in March. They offered me a refund but with a 30% cancellation fee, despite it being them that cancelled the trip. The trip cost nearly £20k (we’d been saving for 5 years) so I would have been charged nearly £6k by them for them cancelling. Legally, under UK Consumer Law, I am entitled to a full refund within 2 weeks. Inside Japan refused. I complained to ABTA and CMA with no effect. I tried to claim a chargeback on my credit card and my travel insurance – neither of which worked. I threatened Inside Japan with legal action but they continued to refuse to comply with the law. Eventually I left a bad review on Trustpilot and resorted to spamming them on their social media – Facebook & Twitter mostly, leaving comments on every one if their posts asking why they wouldn’t comply with the law and refund me my £20k. I got a full refund in June. They are a horrible horrible shameful company.
My sister had a similar problem with a travelling company and going to Thailand, also from Canada!
Call your credit card company and tell them what’s going on, she was almost immediately granted the refund on the card based on communications with the company and current circumstances. I would highly recommend going that route.
There is no way they should be holding 12k of your money during this time.
Holy shit that’s an expensive tour. What is included? I need to get into the tour business
why would anyone pay this much to travel there ? ah to be rich 🤤
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I took a tour with them just before COVID! They were such a great company and I deffo plan on using them again – my tour guide was like having a good friend show you around. I had the most spectacular time, the best vacation I’ve ever taken.
They did lay off a large portion of staff in March and I actually spoke to their… president, I believe?, via video chat after my vacation. They are trying as hard as possible to survive and I sincerely hope they do. I trusted them with my life during March… if I was in your shoes, I would trust that my money would be returned.
Politely insist on a refund.
I have a trip booked through them, they’ve told me if travel is still unsafe/refused by November they’ll rebook my vacation at a later date with the funds used for the previous booked trip.
If your trip date has gone by and they’re not giving you your money or rebooking you, that’s kind of worrying.
The 12k is the deposit or part of the balance or what? That matters a lot, I would think. I’d say your deposit is gone if you cancel. The balance would be another matter.
Did you not get travel insurance? It’s a condition of traveling with them (at least here in the US–dunno about elsewhere). I would be curious to know what effect this has on your situation if you got insurance. I’ve never had to use it myself but this is surely a time you’d be able to claim.
I have traveled with them many times and always had a good experience (never did one of their group tours but had them make all my arrangements for my own travels). That said, I have to agree with what others have said. Business is business and, if you feel like the risk is too high to wait, then you should pursue getting your balance back.
Our Inside Japan trip (due to leave last April) was cancelled by them as soon as the pandemic was declared in March.
They offered me a refund but with a 30% cancellation fee, despite it being them that cancelled the trip. The trip cost nearly £20k (we’d been saving for 5 years) so I would have been charged nearly £6k by them for them cancelling.
Legally, under UK Consumer Law, I am entitled to a full refund within 2 weeks. Inside Japan refused. I complained to ABTA and CMA with no effect. I tried to claim a chargeback on my credit card and my travel insurance – neither of which worked. I threatened Inside Japan with legal action but they continued to refuse to comply with the law.
Eventually I left a bad review on Trustpilot and resorted to spamming them on their social media – Facebook & Twitter mostly, leaving comments on every one if their posts asking why they wouldn’t comply with the law and refund me my £20k.
I got a full refund in June.
They are a horrible horrible shameful company.
My sister had a similar problem with a travelling company and going to Thailand, also from Canada!
Call your credit card company and tell them what’s going on, she was almost immediately granted the refund on the card based on communications with the company and current circumstances. I would highly recommend going that route.
There is no way they should be holding 12k of your money during this time.
Holy shit that’s an expensive tour. What is included? I need to get into the tour business
why would anyone pay this much to travel there ? ah to be rich 🤤