Help my holiday provider (lowcostholidays) has gone into administration

[kizzle]

My holiday handler lowcostholidays has gone into administration today

I had fully paid this company months ago and an email has stated my booking is cancelled

I feel panic as I have never experienced this nor know what to do now?

My holiday is in September

 

[sam_rogers]

Oh no!! I almost booked our September holiday to universal Orlando through them a few weeks ago. I really hope you get this resolved

 

[hogwartsdropout]

Did you book with a credit card?

 

[Jon84]

Have you got travel insurance already? , depending on cover levels you might get some back.

Or, as said, if you used a credit card you should be able to get it back.

The news says they have 113,000 bookings outstanding, so you won't see a penny from LCH

 

[Embraer]

Neither ATOL nor ABTA as registered in Spain, hopefully as has been stated you had independent travel insurance or paid with a credit card

 

[kizzle]

I partially paid by credit card (roughly £400) [Barclays Bank]

I paid the remaining balance with my debit card (roughly £600) [Lloyd's Bank]

I have travel insurance which I purchased through lowcostholidays which was fully paid almost a year ago, the company on the travel insurance is called Cover-More https://www.covermore.co.uk, I cannot get through on the phone (always engaged)

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated no matter how blunt the reply has to be as I feel the debit payment may be a problem recovering?

Thanks for everyone who has replied atm

 

[Aliceacc]

How awful. I'm sorry, I have no idea of what to do.

I would start with Disney... let them know what's going on. See whether they can keep all your reservations until this is sorted out.

From there I would speak to both banks and to the insurance company... all as early as possible. Start with emails today, and follow up on Monday morning.

Good luck.

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Firstly, very sorry to hear this has happened to you.

I read an article about this earlier, so hunted it down & I've copied some of it below (don't want to link to the article encase I'm not allowed). Hopefully there is some info in here that you can use.

I would get on the phone with the hotel you are booked with, or Disney if you are staying on site, and the airline you are due to fly with to confirm if your bookings have been paid and are still valid.

If not, contact your travel insurance company to find out what exactly your policy covers with regards to Low Cost Hols going into administration.

Holidaymakers currently in resorts will be able to fly home, as their flights have been paid for and the return tickets they hold are still valid.

But they may have to pay hotel bills before making a claim on their travel insurance, with their credit card provider if they paid that way, or with the administrators Smith & Williamson LLP and CMB Partners UK Ltd.

Those who have not yet travelled may find their flights and hotel rooms have not been paid for and should check with the airline and hotel directly .

If customers have received plane tickets they will be paid for and are valid.

If plane tickets have not been received, then the seat is not confirmed and flights will need to be booked again. Hotel reservations will almost certainly not be valid and will need re-booking.

Travel association Abta said: “Low Cost Holidays are not a Member of Abta and they do not hold an ATOL licence issued by the UK CAA.

“We would strongly advise you to check with your travel provider if you booked through one or with your airline to determine if your flight seats remain available and to separately check with any accommodation to determine if your booking is secure.

“If in any doubt, we recommend that you contact your local Citizens Advice or Trading Standards.

“Most standard travel insurance policies do not include travel organiser failure, however we would recommend you check your insurance policy along with contacting your credit or debit card company, if that is how you paid.

“We strongly recommend that you satisfy yourself in relation to any travel arrangements before departing.’’

 

[kizzle]

How awful. I'm sorry, I have no idea of what to do.

I would start with Disney... let them know what's going on. See whether they can keep all your reservations until this is sorted out.

From there I would speak to both banks and to the insurance company... all as early as possible. Start with emails today, and follow up on Monday morning.

Good luck.

Cheers, just found out my flights was paid for and they remain still

I'm staying outside Disney at International Drive and the Hotel has not been paid for nor they have any information about me, I paid for the hotel and transfers fees again (doh)

I will contact asap I'm sure they will refund the credit card but debit I don't know so I probably lost the £600 which is like so many Disney presents right now lol looks like I have to buy gifts at primark and make out there from America haha

 

[kizzle]

Firstly, very sorry to hear this has happened to you.

I read an article about this earlier, so hunted it down & I've copied some of it below (don't want to link to the article encase I'm not allowed). Hopefully there is some info in here that you can use.

Holidaymakers currently in resorts will be able to fly home, as their flights have been paid for and the return tickets they hold are still valid.

But they may have to pay hotel bills before making a claim on their travel insurance, with their credit card provider if they paid that way, or with the administrators Smith & Williamson LLP and CMB Partners UK Ltd.

Those who have not yet travelled may find their flights and hotel rooms have not been paid for and should check with the airline and hotel directly .

If customers have received plane tickets they will be paid for and are valid.

If plane tickets have not been received, then the seat is not confirmed and flights will need to be booked again. Hotel reservations will almost certainly not be valid and will need re-booking.

Travel association Abta said: “Low Cost Holidays are not a Member of Abta and they do not hold an ATOL licence issued by the UK CAA.

“We would strongly advise you to check with your travel provider if you booked through one or with your airline to determine if your flight seats remain available and to separately check with any accommodation to determine if your booking is secure.

“If in any doubt, we recommend that you contact your local Citizens Advice or Trading Standards.

“Most standard travel insurance policies do not include travel organiser failure, however we would recommend you check your insurance policy along with contacting your credit or debit card company, if that is how you paid.

“We strongly recommend that you satisfy yourself in relation to any travel arrangements before departing.’’

Cheers for this, lucky for me my flight is valid, hotel was lost, I managed to get the hotel discounted and used quidco for extra cash back just rebooked the hotel direct cus I got all my Disney tickets paid etc so too much to lose if I don't go now, so hopefully at end of all this I only lost on avg £600 still a blow but can't dwell on it (ahhhhhhhh!!!!) just how the gamble goes booking for cheaper deals :O

I feel bad for anyone who has lost their flights or has kids?! For me I'm lucky(ish) as the flights was the most expensive

 

[LiquidSunshine]

Cheers for this, lucky for me my flight is valid, hotel was lost, I managed to get the hotel discounted and used quidco for extra cash back just rebooked the hotel direct cus I got all my Disney tickets paid etc so too much to lose if I don't go now, so hopefully at end of all this I only lost on avg £600 still a blow but can't dwell on it (ahhhhhhhh!!!!) just how the gamble goes booking for cheaper deals :O

I feel bad for anyone who has lost their flights or has kids?! For me I'm lucky(ish) as the flights was the most expensive

At least your flights are ok, and because you have managed to get the hotel rebooked, you can still look forward to going.

Contact your debit card issuer and see what they say. If not, contact your travel insurance and see what they cover for this type of thing.

Really terrible for anyone who has lost out completely.

 

[DanM3]

As you paid some by credit card you should be covered for the full amount. You don't have to pay in full by credit card to be fully covered. I would contact your credit card company and talk to then about a refund

 

[kizzle]

As you paid some by credit card you should be covered for the full amount. You don't have to pay in full by credit card to be fully covered. I would contact your credit card company and talk to then about a refund

Hope so I'm having trouble getting through atm (prob weekend?) but i think it positive, hope it works because just paid out again This is true love for Disney haha

 

[kizzle]

At least your flights are ok, and because you have managed to get the hotel rebooked, you can still look forward to going.

Contact your debit card issuer and see what they say. If not, contact your travel insurance and see what they cover for this type of thing.

Really terrible for anyone who has lost out completely.

Yeah it had to be done I been planning for 2 years lol didn't have any holiday last year so this year is the one! I'm feeling positive that I will get some sort of refund that's why I just went ahead of rebooking rather than waiting to refund as last thing I want is all hotels getting fully booked, just hope others with lowcostholiday can successfully carry on with their trips as mentioned earlier I'd hate to break it to kids if a problem was to arise that was promised

 

[Florida2012]

Gutted for you, but I bet you are so relieved that the flights were paid for! Lol

- Keep trying to get through to the insurance company, even though you got it through LCH it shouldn't be affected (as these are usually independent of them, they should just be an agent for them). Thing is with over 100,000 people affected I'm not surprised the line is busy!

- As someone said, even though you only paid a proportion on your CC you are usually covered for the whole amount

- At a last push, give your DC provider a call, as sometimes they provide cover

Fingers crossed you get this resolved, good luck

 

[Sam1]

How gutting. Sorry I'm no help, just wanted to wish you luck getting sorted. It sounds like you're on your way to doing that, but I hope you manage to recover any losses. What a nightmare!

 

[kizzle]

Gutted for you, but I bet you are so relieved that the flights were paid for! Lol

- Keep trying to get through to the insurance company, even though you got it through LCH it shouldn't be affected (as these are usually independent of them, they should just be an agent for them). Thing is with over 100,000 people affected I'm not surprised the line is busy!

- As someone said, even though you only paid a proportion on your CC you are usually covered for the whole amount

- At a last push, give your DC provider a call, as sometimes they provide cover

Fingers crossed you get this resolved, good luck

Haha yeah I was more worried about that as I could sleep in a box out there

My hotel is like 2 half star rating lol! So wasn't to fussed but was worried about getting accomendation as like being so close there be no vacancys or increased prices

100k ppl jeez no wonder can't get through on the lines I bet they only got one phone as well and prob left it off the hook or something lol but I keep trying, I update whether in successful in recovering any money

 

[kizzle]

How gutting. Sorry I'm no help, just wanted to wish you luck getting sorted. It sounds like you're on your way to doing that, but I hope you manage to recover any losses. What a nightmare!

Thanks lol, you usually read about these things and think that never happen to me

I thought I was ATOL protected as well which wasn't the case

Lesson here is you get what you pay for

 

[gavvy]

As long as you paid over £100 on a credit card- and it sounds like you have then the CC company are responsible for the full amount you have lost. you will need to do a claim and it wont be quick though but you will be covered.

 

[Jon84]

As mentions by others. As you paid at least 100 by credit card you can get a section 75 refund on the parts of the holiday not delivered.


http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/section75-protect-your-purchases