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Viator - no refund

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  • 27-09-2017 6:06pm
    #1
    GingerLily
    Registered Users Posts: 4,767 ✭✭✭


    I didn't attend a trip recently while on holiday (it was my honeymoon actually) as there was a severe thunderstorm. The thundstorm started an hour before we were due to meet and lasted until well after the tour departed.
    The meeting point was in a very pedestrian area - to be honest it was in a very vague location "beside the bronze statue on the East boardwalk" kinda thing.

    I contacted the company that day requesting a refund, it's been three weeks and I've not heard back from them. They're also blocking my review for them so when you see the trip on trip advisor you cannot see my review.

    I'm really annoyed they can just take my money and ignore me, what can I do?

    Viator is TripAdvisor company


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    #2
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,838 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    Did the tour run?


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    #3
    kathleen37
    Registered Users Posts: 810 ✭✭✭kathleen37


    What were the cancellation terms when you booked the trip?


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    #4
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    How do you think you are entitled to a refund? Did they cancel the trip? What are their T&Cs?


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    #5
    Fighting Tao
    Registered Users Posts: 6,483 ✭✭✭Fighting Tao


    Having gone on may tours and getting locations similar, I never had any problem finding the location. If you looked, you'd have found it.

    I doubt you have any claim unless you have proof that the tour didn't run. You choose not to go. Therefore the company owes you nothing except maybe a polite email telling you that you have no valid reason for a refund. Actually they don't even owe you that.

    I don't blame them for not displaying your review. How can you review a tour you choose not to go on?


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    #6
    GingerLily
    Registered Users Posts: 4,767 ✭✭✭GingerLily


    L1011 wrote: »
    Did the tour run?

    I don't know, they never replied.

    Viator says it will issue refunds if tours are cancelled due to bad weather


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    #7
    Tenigate
    Closed Accounts Posts: 849 ✭✭✭Tenigate


    If the tour ran you're not entitled to a refund.
    If you didn't go on the tour it would be dishonest to review it.


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    #8
    GingerLily
    Registered Users Posts: 4,767 ✭✭✭GingerLily


    Tenigate wrote: »
    If the tour ran you're not entitled to a refund.
    If you didn't go on the tour it would be dishonest to review it.

    How? I didn't say a dishonest thing in my review


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    #9
    Sleeper12
    Registered Users Posts: 16,913 ✭✭✭✭Sleeper12


    GingerLily wrote:
    Viator says it will issue refunds if tours are cancelled due to bad weather


    But they don't guarantee that tours will be cancelled due to bad weather.

    It appears that the tour wasn't cancelled


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    #10
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,838 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    GingerLily wrote: »
    How? I didn't say a dishonest thing in my review

    Because it isn't a review of the tour if you didn't do it

    If no refund or contact about cancellation came, it's likely the tour ran and you just didn't turn up


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    #11
    GingerLily
    Registered Users Posts: 4,767 ✭✭✭GingerLily


    Sleeper12 wrote: »
    But they don't guarantee that tours will be cancelled due to bad weather.

    It appears that the tour wasn't cancelled

    So they can just run the tour when there's a severe weather warning and to avoid giving refunds?

    Seems a bit unfair


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    #12
    Fighting Tao
    Registered Users Posts: 6,483 ✭✭✭Fighting Tao


    GingerLily wrote: »
    So they can just run the tour when there's a severe weather warning and to avoid giving refunds?

    Seems a bit unfair

    You choose not to turn up! The issue was with you and not the tour.


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    #13
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    GingerLily wrote: »
    So they can just run the tour when there's a severe weather warning and to avoid giving refunds?

    Seems a bit unfair

    You are clutching at straws and looking for any excuse other than accept the fact. You decided not to go. You did not arrive to discover the tour was cancelled. You blame the company, the weather, the location instructions. But YOU decided not to go. Tough but it was your call.


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    #14
    GingerLily
    Registered Users Posts: 4,767 ✭✭✭GingerLily


    Fighting Tao wrote: »
    You choose not to turn up! The issue was with you and not the tour.

    It really wasn't a choice, there was lightening striking buildings around us.


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    #15
    ytpe2r5bxkn0c1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 32,688 ✭✭✭✭ytpe2r5bxkn0c1


    GingerLily wrote: »
    It really wasn't a choice, there was lightening striking buildings around us.

    And the streets were completely empty. Not a person in sight for miles. Just empty streets and deserted shops.


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    #16
    davo10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,926 ✭✭✭davo10


    GingerLily wrote: »
    It really wasn't a choice, there was lightening striking buildings around us.

    What matters here is whether the tour was cancelled, if it was then you are due your money back, if it wasn't then it is considered a "change of mind" and no refund is due. Before putting up a review about something you might be entitled to, you need to establish if the tour actually went ahead. They may have taken shelter for a few minutes and then proceeded.


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    #17
    GingerLily
    Registered Users Posts: 4,767 ✭✭✭GingerLily


    Oaklee Flaky Unit wrote: »
    You are clutching at straws and looking for any excuse other than accept the fact. You decided not to go. You did not arrive to discover the tour was cancelled. You blame the company, the weather, the location instructions. But YOU decided not to go. Tough but it was your call.

    What weather conditions would you deem reasonable for someone to claim they couldn't leave indoors? Just out of curiosity?

    I made a choice to not risk my life, that's correct, but I doubt any honest business would refuse a refund in this situation.

    I guess I learned my lesson, don't buy tours from "reputable" sources, they charge twice the price but won't responde to any valid complaints, there's no added service just added cost


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    #18
    GingerLily
    Registered Users Posts: 4,767 ✭✭✭GingerLily


    davo10 wrote: »
    What matters here is whether the tour was cancelled, if it was then you are due your money back, if it wasn't then it is considered a "change of mind" and no refund is due. Before putting up a review about something you might be entitled to, you need to establish if the tour actually went ahead. They may have taken shelter for a few minutes and then proceeded.

    Lol, did I say it was raining?


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    #19
    Tenigate
    Closed Accounts Posts: 849 ✭✭✭Tenigate


    Did you enjoy your honeymoon besides?

    Is your husband looking for a refund?


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    #20
    Yawns
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,255 ✭✭✭Yawns


    pfft it's subjective. The mother in law won't drive if it's a slight bit of rain outside even if it's a sun shower as she calls that a thunder storm. Granted yours sounds like an actual proper storm.

    Find out if the tour ran. If it did, then you have no recourse. If it didn't, then you should be due money back.

    They should be allowed block your review because if you didn't actually take part in the tour then you can't give an honest review. It was probably more a rant than a review.

    Try to find out if the tour ran is the first port of call. If the tour was cancelled then you would be entitled to your money back.


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    #21
    Furasta
    Registered Users Posts: 38 ✭Furasta


    GingerLily wrote: »
    I made a choice to not risk my life, that's correct, but I doubt any honest business would refuse a refund in this situation.

    I guess I learned my lesson, don't buy tours from "reputable" sources, they charge twice the price but won't responde to any valid complaints, there's no added service just added cost

    You are more likely to die driving your car than going out in a thunderstorm, the odds are way against you getting hit by lighting. 

    You paid for a service and you made your own choice not to go, end of story.


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    #22
    Sleeper12
    Registered Users Posts: 16,913 ✭✭✭✭Sleeper12


    GingerLily wrote:
    Seems a bit unfair


    The best advice I can give you is to let it go.

    Here's something that I am learning more and more. So many things happen in life that we can't control. Some fair & some very unfair. What we can control is how we let them effect us. I'm at the stage in life where I try to avoid stress. I don't know how much the tour cost but I'm guessing not a lot. Even if you were in the right I wouldn't loose any sleep over it. It would be a shame to even remember this in years to come when thinking about your honeymoon.
    Congratulations on your wedding and I hope you have a great life together ahead of you.


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    #23
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    GingerLily wrote: »

    I made a choice to not risk my life, that's correct

    Where is everyone else from the tour, all killed?


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    #24
    davo10
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,926 ✭✭✭davo10


    GingerLily wrote: »
    Lol, did I say it was raining?

    No, did I?


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    #25
    Hitman3000
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,596 ✭✭✭Hitman3000


    How can you review something you didn't experience?


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    #26
    Fighting Tao
    Registered Users Posts: 6,483 ✭✭✭Fighting Tao


    Bruthal wrote: »
    Where is everyone else from the tour, all killed?

    Maybe that’s why no one has responded. All representatives of the company are dead.

    Basically deciding not to go is the reason the OP will never be entertained when seeking a refund.


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    #27
    frag420
    Registered Users Posts: 6,158 ✭✭✭frag420


    No such thing as bad weather OP, just the wrong clothes!!

    Look at it this way, say you book tickets online for the theater.

    On the day of the show you look outside and its all thunder n lightning n rain n winds, umbrellas are turning inside out, people are wearing the wrong clothes and you decide to stay at home and watch Corrie instead of venturing outside!?

    Do you think you should get a refund on those tickets??


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