Car Hire through Virgin Holidays

[Grandee]

Has anyone cancelled a booking for car hire through Virgin Holidays? Do I need to ring them or can it be done online and will I incur any charge? This is one part of canceling a DIY holiday including hotels in 4 different locations. Nightmare . Any help appreciated.

[nicola-disney15]

I have just tried cancelling mine through the text service they are currently offering. They are pretty quick at replying however they are refusing to refund and are saying I have to claim on my travel insurance.

This would be fine if car hire was subject to their usual T&C's but VH offer free cancellation on car hire only bookings which is still advertised on their website so they should be refunding

[Grandee]

After waiting for 90 minutes on hold for a VH operative I have had a running (text) battle with them to get a car hire refund and they gave me the same twaddle saying that I had to claim through my insurance. Further they said, that "... since the middle of this week parliament have now issued instructions to all insurance providers that they need to support these claims"
VH very kindly offered to provide me with a cancellation invoice so that I can let my insurance company have it! This would obviously mean if I made a claim I would have an excess to pay.
Seems like VH is in rip-off mode and it is surely time that an ombudsman somewhere delivered a swift kick up the backside!

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Game on in my view!

Their own website is very clear. Free cancellation!

virginholidays/hol...anada-car-hire

Halfway down the page in the coloured box - No cancellation or amendment fees

[Grandee]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

Game on in my view!

Their own website is very clear. Free cancellation!

virginholidays/hol...anada-car-hire

Halfway down the page in the coloured box - No cancellation or amendment fees

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I totally agree Tom, and I'm not prepared to accept their crap - too old and too ugly for that. Does anyone know of a travel ombudsman or similar?

[cornishfrogboy]

By contrast, my Car hire companies x 2 for my now cancelled California vacation were very good indeed. They waived their $60 Cancellation fees, wished me good luck etc etc.

Why am I not surprised to find Virgin wriggling and trying to evade paying back even though their t’s and c’s are seemingly clear?
I hope that all these people who will not use anybody else are taking note of these issues.

As others have said, we should remember the companies that came up to the mark.. and even more importantly, those that did not.

[rhino]

I was told this that I would lose my deposit of a £175.00 .I had paid in full when I booked direct with virgin holidays for car hire only the total cost of hire was £740 for two weeks full size suv so I would only get a refund of £567.89 refund or my bank this was yesterday

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Originally Posted by rhino

I was told this that I would lose my deposit of a £175.00 .I had paid in full when I booked direct with virgin holidays for car hire only the total cost of hire was £740 for two weeks full size suv so I would only get a refund of £567.89 refund or my bank this was yesterday

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I assume you have a whole 'package'?

I do believe things become more unclear when lots of things are wrapped up in a package as opposed to those who have a stand alone car hire.

Best of luck to everybody attempting a refund.

For years I have pushed VA as being good for car hire. I haven't used them for ages as Auto Europe is consistently cheaper.

I will think long and hard before mentioning VA and VH for car hire going forward.

[Grandee]

I'm of the same mind, Tom! I will return to the fight after breakfast.

[Bradz]

I cancelled a couple of months ago as DFCH had a better deal. They tried to charge me a cancellation fee but I had a screenshot the ‘Free Cancellation’ and ended up getting my money back in full.