Among the questions asked by those planning a trip or a work-related move that they are forced to cancel due to restrictions caused by the Coronavirus, without a doubt, is "how to recover the money spent on canceled trips due to the coronavirus." Here are some suggestions.
How to recover the money spent on trips canceled due to Coronavirus. Here are some tips from the European Consumer Center Italy.
The Coronavirus emergency is leading, at both national and international levels, to the adoption of various restrictions on movement, which inevitably affect those who, in recent days, had planned holidays and getaways.
Summary
Coronavirus: the rights of passengers
“In recent days, we have received numerous inquiries from consumers who have been forced to cancel trips and stays or who have simply decided to give them up due to the Coronavirus emergency,” declares Maria Pisanò, Director of the European Consumer Center Italy; “consumers ask us how to recover the money spent on trips they cannot use, but first and foremost, it is important to understand that each situation must be evaluated individually, as the measures adopted at national and international levels are not uniform, which greatly affects the opportunities for travelers to recover what they paid.”
A first distinction to make is between consumers forced to give up the trip due to explicit measures by competent authorities and consumers who, as a precaution, have decided to voluntarily give up.
Coronavirus: giving up the trip due to authorities’ provisions
In the event of canceled flights or transports, the passenger is entitled to receive a refund of the fare: although European regulations do not explicitly foresee this specific health emergency, having not used the service due to reasons beyond their control, the passenger should have no trouble obtaining a refund of what was paid.
If the consumer has purchased a tour package that includes a stay in territories subject to restrictions for safety reasons, it is possible to invoke the regulations on travel packages and related tourism services, which explicitly provide the traveler the right to cancel the contract in case of unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, such as epidemics, if these events affect the enjoyment of the holiday or prevent reaching the destination.
Coronavirus: voluntary forfeiture of the trip
If instead, the consumer decides, despite the absence of explicit bans, to forego the trip or stay, the refund of the amount paid may not be guaranteed. In this regard, it is reminded that:
- If the ticket was purchased with a refundable fare, the refund is due as specified in the ticket’s sale conditions.
- In case of voluntary cancellation of a flight, the passenger has the right to a refund of airport taxes provided the cancellation is made before check-in procedures.
- Where the legislation provides, in case of cancellation of the independent transportation service beyond the passenger’s will, the payment of monetary compensation or indemnity in cash, it is recalled that, in these circumstances, such compensation or indemnity is not owed. The legislation indeed exempts carriers from paying compensation where the cancellation is due to exceptional circumstances, such as health emergencies or safety risks.
- Finally, if the consumer voluntarily cancels a stay at a facility located in a territory where no emergency has been declared and no restrictions have been adopted, it will be possible to cancel the stay in accordance with the booking conditions.
Contacts
The European Consumer Center Italy is open from Monday to Friday and can be reached at the following phone numbers: 06.44238090 (Rome office) and 0471 980939 (Bolzano office)
Email: info@ecc-netitalia.it
Coronavirus: how to behave
First of all, it should be said that the “Fear” with which we are facing this moment should be replaced by a more responsible behavior based on caution but with prudence, without falling into panic, which at the moment is inappropriate.
Some useful tips from ADICONSUM.
Food shopping
All food sector and hygiene products are currently being produced. There is no need to rush to stockpile.
So, shopping can be done normally, and if you really do not want to leave home, home delivery services, now offered by all delivery services or large distribution chains, can be requested.
Personal hygiene products
It is almost useless to rush buying disinfectant gels or protective masks, unless you have been infected or had contact with people from risk areas, and among other things, in these cases, the National Health Service (SSN) provides these tools when needed.
These supplies are meant as prophylaxis to prevent transmission to others, when already infected. The risk is that they fuel speculation with unjustified price hikes, because they are unwarranted and unnecessary. Do not buy disinfectant gels or masks at excess prices or especially on illegal markets or from speculators.
In this phase, it is instead important to maintain personal and domestic hygiene according to traditional standards.
Wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, using plain soap, or for disinfection, as an alternative to gel, denatured alcohol at 90 degrees, which has a low cost but is equally effective. Always follow the instructions of the National Health Service.
Pubblicato in TravelNews
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