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Chronicle Live
National
Katie Dickinson

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis tells customers how they can get a refund from TUI

Money saving guru Martin Lewis has told customers how they can get a refund from TUI.

The travel firm has cancelled holidays requiring travel on or before May 14, 2020 and Marella Cruises travelling on or before May 31, 2020.

Previously TUI customers had been given the option of a cash refund or the choice of an alternative holiday of the same cash amount to another destination.

But on April 17, TUI amended their policy to say that if your holiday is cancelled you will receive a credit note.

For those unable to accept a refund credit, you can still apply for a refund, however this will only be processed for you once you have receive your refund credit.

Speaking about the latest policy change, Martin said he had been inundated with questions, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Giving his advice to customers on The Emma Barnett Show, the MoneySavingExpert explained what TUI passengers need to do.

Martin said: "TUI's policy is you're being offered a voucher for your holiday but you can get a refund and legally you are entitled to a refund but you need to call them up to get a refund.

"It's a subtle bit of behavioural economics pushing people to take the voucher and make them jump through hoops to get an actual cash refund.

"If you call them up you will get the refund. But guess what the problem is with calling them up?

"Like every other firm right now, you can't get through."

He added: "So, this is an administrative and institutional blocker some firms, especially travel firms, are using right now.

"Which is why you are given automatic entitlement to a voucher, making you jump through hoops and call them to get cash refunds.

"But you're going to be on hold for hours and hours to get a cash refund.

"Unfortunately, there's a lacuna of enforcement right now.

"There's a big debate in the travel industry over whether the government should extend the rules to make sure people can get cash refunds or whether they should just be able to give vouchers, otherwise the travel industry is going to kaput.

"My advice would be to question if I would be willing to take the voucher and am I protected if the firm went bust."

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