Consumer Contracts Regulation Help (Groupon)

steve_c · 5 Jun 2016 at 15:24

Hi all

Not sure if any of you can help.

My wife booked a weekend away on Groupon as a surprise for my birthday. What she didn't know was that I had already booked for us to go away the same weekend to an event which we would both love to attend.

My wife wanted to change the booking or cancel it through Groupon but was unable to.

The terms and conditions (important part) were as follows:

No modification or cancellation allowed after booking confirmation.
Bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable once confirmed.

She booked the weekend through Groupon on Friday 3rd June.

The booking was made for the 19th June.

Is there any recourse for this via the consumer contracts regulations or are we bound by the booking?

Thanks in advance, as usual!

[TW]Fox · 5 Jun 2016 at 16:16

Travel and accommodation bookings are often non-refundable. I do not believe there is a legal right to cancel such bookings.

unwashed potato! · 5 Jun 2016 at 16:21

i know this is no good for the op, but this is why you don't book a surprise trip for your own birthday.

steve_c · 5 Jun 2016 at 16:23

[TW]Fox;29585537 said:
Travel and accommodation bookings are often non-refundable. I do not believe there is a legal right to cancel such bookings.

Thanks for the information. I would have thought there would have been a cooling off period of some sort or right to cancel, such as when buying online goods but looks as if we are out of luck...

Nitefly · 5 Jun 2016 at 16:26

I'm sure if you call up and enquirerd about the possibility of changing the date hopefully they might be accommodating - it's not in anyone's interest to lose a customer. Worth a punt!

steve_c · 5 Jun 2016 at 16:27

Nitefly said:
I'm sure if you call up and enquirerd about the possibility of changing the date hopefully they might be accommodating - it's not in anyone's interest to lose a customer. Worth a punt!

No luck with groupon but will try with the hotel. Definitely worth a try!

Brizzles · 5 Jun 2016 at 16:29

steve_c said:
cooling off period of some sort

Can't imagine there is a cooling off period if you are only booking 16 days in advance.

That would give 'the seller' no time to fill your cancellation.

Can't have it both ways, last minute bargain and the right to cancel

unwashed potato! · 6 Jun 2016 at 00:23

Brizzles said:
Can't have it both ways, last minute bargain and the right to cancel

exactly this. the price you're given would be no doubt because it fills an empty last minute slot. unless you're going to pay them for all the costs involved now readvertising it, i'm not sure you'll have much luck.

ukxenon · 6 Jun 2016 at 06:43

Nope. Othing you can do at all sorry to say

Haggisman · 6 Jun 2016 at 09:29

ukxenon said:
Nope. Othing you can do at all sorry to say

That's not strictly true - as has already been suggested, he can contact the hotel directly and while they are under no obligation to do so, they may allow him to reschedule the booking.

Stealthploit · 6 Jun 2016 at 14:21

well call and ask for a manager

and ask politly what can they to to help you out.. and if they can make an exception

Street · 6 Jun 2016 at 16:03

I booked a weekend in a B&B through Groupon last year, then realised it was on a date the missus was away. I phoned the B&B up and they cancelled it no probs.

Soundood · 6 Jun 2016 at 16:38

whistle in the wind, would be your best option