MARTIN LEWIS is known for his money saving tips and holiday hacks. Now, the money saving expert has offered holidaymakers “quick tips” to get their money back after cancelled trips and has explained the one thing you should avoid if you don’t want to lose money.
Martin Lewis is known for offering people tips for saving money, avoiding getting ripped off and getting money back from cancelled trips. But as well as being a personal finance whizz, he is also known for giving travellers great advice for what to do if their trip is cancelled. Since the coronavirus pandemic gripped the UK and the rest of the world, Mr Lewis has been busy offering top tips to people whose summer holiday plans have been ruined.
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Martin Lewis, who is the founder of the MoneySavingExpert.com, and the Money Saving Expert team have now offered travellers tips on how to get their money back and what to avoid doing in the future.
The website said that the “exact process to follow if your booking is cancelled and you want your money back will vary”.
This means that if its a flight, a hotel or a package deal, getting a refund will be slightly different depending on what it is.
The site said: “Before asking for a cash refund, consider if you NEED one.
“At the moment, many firms are really struggling.
“This means it’s safer to demand a refund rather than settle for a voucher, in case the firm collapses before you can use it.
“But it’s also worth considering whether you’re in a position to show forbearance.”
The site then recommended three tips to follow if you need a cash refund.
Firstly, “speak to the firm and use its refund system”.
The personal finance site suggests that this is the best place to start.
Secondly, the site says that “if that fails warn that you’ll take it further”.
Mr Lewis site claims that if speaking to the firm isnt proving to be useful then speaking to your card firm may be the best route to take.
However, they warned that going to your card company costs the firm money so wait for them to respond first.
And lastly, MoneySavingExpert states: “If the firm won’t give you money back, ask your card provider”.
They are advising that if they wont give your money back, ask for a “chargeback” on your card where the firms bank is asked for the money.
“If this doesn’t work, your final action would be to take the legal route, perhaps through a county court”, they said.
However, the site also warned holidaymakers that there is one thing they shouldnt do in the future.
They said that if you cancel your booking, you are likely not to be refunded.
This is due to the fact that current Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice is warning Britons against essential travel “indefinitely” so holidays booked in the near future, which are likely to be cancelled anyway, are likely to refund you.
The site said: “Though if you cancel a future trip before the firm cancels it, unfortunately there’s no guarantee you’ll get a refund.
“But some firms are now being more flexible and, in particular, are letting customers rebook.
“With insurance, the situation is likely to depend on whether an FCO warning is in place at the point you’re due to travel.”
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