The Journey Troubleshooter: Assist! I’m still waiting for my Vantage refund |

Immediately after Vantage cancels Rick Pedersen’s tour of Portugal and Spain, it promises a prompt refund. But 100 times afterwards, there’s no signal of the $12,959. How does he get a Vantage refund?

Dilemma: Previous year, we booked a tour to Portugal and Spain through Vantage Deluxe Planet Journey. This was to be our 3rd Vantage journey in as a lot of years, and the second with good friends. Together with the optional tours, air, insurance coverage and costs, my spouse and I paid out $12,959 for the tour.

This March, Vantage canceled the tour since of COVID-19 worries. On March 16, I asked for a refund. Vantage agreed to problem a refund in 30 times.

Two months later, I been given an electronic mail confirmation that the refund was “in procedure.” I have designed many calls and a few composed requests considering that then. Right after 100 days, I am continue to awaiting the refund. Vantage is stonewalling.

Vantage’s Tour Participation Settlement says that Vantage will problem a “prompt” refund for any tour canceled by Vantage for any cause. Can you assist me get my Vantage Deluxe Globe Vacation refund? — Rick Pedersen, Fulshear, Texas

Response: Vantage should really have refunded your tour in 30 times as it promised — and as it is contractually necessary to do. But it experienced no way of understanding what would transpire in the next 30 times. In March, you will recall, travel floor to an practically total halt. Each and every one of Vantage’s suppliers skilled comparable delays. So the refund approach slowed down substantially.

How sluggish? Perfectly, as I publish this, one particular cruise line is telling travellers they’ll have to have to wait two years to get their refunds. And permit me skip ideal to the resolution for all those travelers: File a dispute with your credit score card firm. Inquire your bank to acquire the income back.

But with this Vantage refund, I can comprehend the hold off. It seems to be as if they have been seriously sincere in their intent, and they stayed in contact with you (at the very least in the beginning). But you were being far more than individual and 100 times was plenty of time for Vantage to get its act jointly.

I’m happy you described Vantage’s Tour Participation Settlement, the legal agreement concerning you and the tour operator. It is really worth looking at the conditions and circumstances prior to you e book your tour, but if you’re facing a cancellation, you absolutely have to know your rights. I study the agreement the exact same way you do if Vantage cancels, you get a complete refund.

Other tour operators adjusted their terms and problems midway via the pandemic so they would only have to supply a credit score. Then they utilized the procedures retroactively. To its credit score, Vantage didn’t.

You can obtain the names, numbers and addresses of the Vantage supervisors on my buyer advocacy web-site at https://little bit.ly/2KVV2oY.

I contacted Vantage on your behalf, and you ongoing to go after your refund. Last but not least, on Aug. 14 — 5 months just after promising it — Vantage thoroughly refunded your $12,959. Better late than in no way.

So why am I crafting about a circumstance that settled just about 5 months in the past? My client advocacy corporation has a circumstance backlog, as well.

Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer of Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit group that helps customers solve their issues. Get hold of him at elliott.org/assistance or [email protected].