I have booked and paid a deposit on a holiday package to Hawaii…

The booking has all been by phone and on line. They say they record all Conversations "for training purposes" so probably will have a record of the conversation. However as I an elderly person I could well have misunderstood the full meaning.

Cancellation policy states:" For payments made by you (other than non refundable deposits), if you cancel the booking we are unable to provide any refund to you unless and until we receive a refund of the amounts paid by us on your behalf to third party travel providers. Cancelled booking will incur charges. Those travel service providers are entitled to impose cancellation charges which can be up to 100% of the amount paid to them for the relevant service, regardless of whether travel has commenced.

If we receive any refunds from travel service providers, we will pass those refunds on to you. However you agree that we shall be entitled to retain a minimum cancellation fee of $300 per person which you agree is reasonable compensation to us for the services we have provided and expense incurred by us in facilitating and booking your holiday and processing the cancellation of your holiday"

I am concerned about them legally being able to force us to pay i.e take legal action against us, for the remainder of the holiday (which they say we have agreed to pay) and what happens if we simply refuse to pay any more. Can they just deduct money from my mastercard?

Our reason for cancellation is quite legitimate in that we can't travel without full insurance and the surgery occurred well after we paid the deposit.

Can we request to see evidence that they have paid the full cost to the other providers which they say is the reason they can demand we pay them?

Do think this is a bullying tactic and we should stand firm?

Leon

I have cancelled my credit card in response to your advice not realizing that you may not have been paid yet!!

If you not deducted the $65 from my card let me know and I'll give you my husbands details!!

Hi Leon

This incident is not yet resolved. The travel company have revised the amount they are demanding down to $2692.68 comprising $2292.68 (flight cost)+$600 cancellation fee (they -Hawaiian Airlines- are holding a $400 deposit which we paid to upgrade our seats) which seems to have not rated a mention. They also state that the "booking will remain active" until formal confirmation is provided and the outstanding amount is paid.

I have in writing replied that the booking is cancelled but I did not mention the outstanding money.

Should I do anything else at this point like asking for evidence of payments to the airline?