The first thing to do is get confirmation that your trip has been cancelled.
Some travel agents confirm your arrangements with third party accommodation or travel providers as soon as you book your trip. In which case, you might still be able to go as planned. If not, check if your trip is covered by an ABTA or ATOL bond.
- If your provider has gone into administration, you probably won’t be able to contact them by phone.
- Visit their website for more details on what to do next.
- If your trip was booked as a package, it should be protected by ABTA or ATOL. A package typically includes travel, accommodation, car hire and activities.
1. Get a refund through ABTA or ATOL
- Check your booking to see if you’re covered by ABTA or ATOL
- If you do, visit their website and complete the form to make a claim
Remember
- ABTA and ATOL are industry organisations. So, if there are failures across the travel industry, it may take some time to get your refund
- Trips booked separately or in parts are not usually covered by ABTA or ATOL
2. Get a refund through your bank or building society
Only try this if you:
- are not covered by ABTA or ATOL
- paid for your trip by debit or credit card
Important information about card schemes and payment protection
- Card payment schemes, such as Visa, let you dispute and charge back payments where you do not receive the goods or services that you have been promised when making a purchase. You are only able to charge back the value of the original purchase.
- You also have protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act if you paid by credit card and the payment was between £100 and £30,000. It doesn’t matter if the payment on your credit card was only for part of the balance, your booking will still be covered by section 75 cover for the whole amount.
- If you have booked part of your holiday by credit card – for example the flights but not the hotel – and the part booked on your credit card is cancelled, you may be able to claim for the parts not cancelled. This is not guaranteed and will depend on the terms and conditions of the provider that you have booked with.
You’ll need to send us evidence to support your claim
There are a few pieces of evidence that we’ll need to see in order to try and get your money back for you. See our evidence guide for more info. If you register your claim using our online form, make sure to have copies of your evidence ready to attach to the form – so that we receive your claim and your evidence at the same time.
Keep in mind
- You’ll need to speak to the bank or building society whose card you used
- For a Nationwide debit or credit card, you can find out more or make a claim.
- Visa dispute claims must be made within 120 days of the trip being cancelled, or the date when you were meant to travel. There are no time limits for a Section 75 claim.
- We’re working as quickly as we can during this busy time. So, claims are taking longer than normal to process.
- If your card provider couldn’t resolve your claim, ask them to confirm it in writing. You’ll need this as proof later.
3. Get a refund through your travel insurance
Your policy may cover you if a travel company goes into administration. So first, check the level of cover that you’ve got.
Only try this if you:
- weren’t able to get a refund through ABTA or ATOL – and have proof of this
Keep in mind
If your provider goes into administration and they are the ‘end supplier’, for example, airline or hotel, you will be covered if you're a FlexPlus Account holder.
FlexAccount holders with the travel insurance benefit are not covered if a travel provider goes into administration.
You can find out more detailed information and make a claim on our travel insurance important information page.