Falkirk families due £2.4m in refunds from COVID hit holiday plans

Now, a local MSP has stepped in to offer his help in getting the money back.

The figure was first published by Which? as a survey revealed customers across the UK were waiting on more than £1 billion in refunds for package holidays cancelled as a result of the pandemic.

Expressed as a proportion of population, the findings of the survey suggest that holidaymakers in Falkirk district could be owed £2,408,648

Angus MacDonald, SNP MSP, said: “For many people, this saga has rumbled on for far too long.

“It’s time for the UK government and the market regulator to get a hold of this situation.”

He added: “Times are tough financially for many local families, and while I appreciate holiday companies were inundated with refund requests earlier in the year, we are now in November.

“We aren’t talking about spare change here – the average cost of a cancelled holiday was £1,784 according to this survey.

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“While we all recognise the travel industry’s acute financial difficulties, there can be no excuse for them hoarding the hard-earned cash of their hard-pressed customers.”

Holiday companies are required to refund money within 14 days but the huge number of cancellations has left many of them overwhelmed - 21% of those surveyed who requested a refund in March were still waiting at the beginning of October.

During the summer, the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into package travel companies' handling of cancellations and refunds.

Mr MacDonald urged people to get in touch if they were still chasing refunds.

He said: “As a matter of urgency, the UK government needs to set out how travel companies will be supported financially to fulfil their legal obligations to passengers – and take firm action against those who continue to drag their feet.

“I would urge anyone in my constituency who is still waiting on a refund from March to get in touch with my office – I will offer any support I can to make sure you get your money back.”

If you are chasing a refund, please e-mail [email protected]

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