? about Canadians crossing to US

[tvguy]

You seem to assume there are some universal laws of consumer protection at play. That's not the case. The OP booked a service from a Canadian provider and who knows what the terms of her contract were. Heck, here in Canada the major airlines and package tour providers didn't even offer refunds (only credits) because there was no law/regulation compelling them to do so. Pop on over the the Canadian Community board and check out the scores of people discussing how to finally get all their (unwelcome) travel credits used up.

Well, I am shocked that any reputable travel provider would even think about not giving refunds. That is one of the big issues in the Travel Industry with the pandemic, having to refund money because services could not be provided. It certainly was an issue in 2020, but the travel Vloggers for over year has touted that to go ahead and book trips because if covid cancels them, you will get your money back. Check out the cruise line forum.

 

[White Cat]

Well, I am shocked that any reputable travel provider would even think about not giving refunds. That is one of the big issues in the Travel Industry with the pandemic, having to refund money because services could not be provided. It certainly was an issue in 2020, but the travel Vloggers for over year has touted that to go ahead and book trips because if covid cancels them, you will get your money back. Check out the cruise line forum.

I got my Canadian dollars back from a USA trip to Maine only by pushing hard. My wife had rented a house every October from that agency for the last 30 years. They realized the mistake they would be making had they not refunded our money only by my pushing. They did refund our money but they really didn’t want to. Or have too.

 

[tvguy]

I got my Canadian dollars back from a USA trip to Maine only by pushing hard. My wife had rented a house every October from that agency for the last 30 years. They realized the mistake they would be making had they not refunded our money only by my pushing. They did refund our money but they really didn’t want to. Or have too.

Yes, early on there was resistance. I strongly disagree with the last three words.

 

[ronandannette]

Well, I am shocked that any reputable travel provider would even think about not giving refunds. That is one of the big issues in the Travel Industry with the pandemic, having to refund money because services could not be provided. It certainly was an issue in 2020, but the travel Vloggers for over year has touted that to go ahead and book trips because if covid cancels them, you will get your money back. Check out the cruise line forum.

Oh well then, if "the internet" says it, it must be true.

 

[tvguy]

Oh well then, if "the internet" says it, it must be true.

Well, this is the internet. I take it you did not put it on a credit card?

 

[ronandannette]

Well, this is the internet. I take it you did not put it on a credit card?

Of course I did. But again, you seem to be willfully refusing to understand that there is no requirement for refunds to be given if the contract only provides for a credit. Covid or no Covid. There is no recourse to dispute through a credit card unless the terms of the sales agreement have been breached. Why are you refusing?

 

[prairie_girl]

Says who? I can assure you when my epic cruise and land tour of the UK originally booked for May of 2020, fell apart, there were several service providers that although their services were not available and their border closed, would provide a future credit only. Her right to a refund will depend solely on the contract she signed.

I'm thinking Canadian cousins...

Oh well then, if "the internet" says it, it must be true.

Don't forget about Judge Judy

 

[tvguy]

Of course I did. But again, you seem to be willfully refusing to understand that there is no requirement for refunds to be given if the contract only provides for a credit. Covid or no Covid. There is no recourse to dispute through a credit card unless the terms of the sales agreement have been breached. Why are you refusing?

Judges have ruled that "no refund" policies are unenforceable if the there is a breech caused by covid. If the vendor doesn't provide the service as specified in the contract, they must refund all money. You booked a tour with XYZ tours on June 5th, and XYZ tours is shutdown by Government order, and they can't provide a tour on June 5, they have to refund your money. While not by their own doing they breeched the contract. That was pretty well documented in the news in 2020-21. Now, many vacation providers in the past 6 months started guaranteeing your choice of a future credit or a cash refund. The cruise line forum has many threads that explain that better than I can in this space. You go to board a cruise ship and test positive at the port, 100% refund, no questions asked. You get covid during a cruise and are quarantined, 100% refund, no questions asked. Now some travel providers are offering 125% future credits instead of a full cash refund, but they leave that option to you.

 

[sonnyjane]

For clarification, I am not the one that needs to travel. My DD has been engaged for 2+ years and her wedding is coming up in several weeks after being postponed from last March. We signed a contract with a band based out of Canada and have been in touch through out COVID and updated them with the date change.

I called the band leader Wednesday to update him on music selection and he informed me that it didn't look like they were going to be able to cross the border to perform in March. He cited the Canadian government and referenced some trucker protest against mandates to Ottawa.He said he had hoped things "would loosen up" by our date.

He also mentioned they crossed to the US in October 2020 (before vaccines) and when they returned home had to quarantine for 2 weeks. It's also apparent that the band has not performed anywhere since October 2020, as the vocalists and the horns are in the US, while the core of the band is US based. So riddle me this, who wants a band that hasn't played together in a year and a half??

He states he is not in any position to refund my deposit and I'm sure trying to recover them from another country is not worth my time. I felt like I did due diligence, they were performing in the big casinos here and were well respected.

Luckily, her date is not in big demand as it's in the middle of Lent and I have a couple of possibilities I am looking at. Every band I am calling is getting this same call from other brides.

P.S. I'm a nurse and by nature, a rule follower!

In that case it totally sucks of them to not be willing to give you a refund, but they aren’t jerking your chain about the restrictions. Canada is taking the rules very seriously. I’ve crossed into Canada once in Nov. 2021 for work and needed proof of vaccination, a negative PCR test, and was administered another random test upon crossing. Since then the US has also implemented even more restrictions to enter from Canada. You now have to be vaccinated to enter the US (no matter how you’re entering), and need to have a negative test if you are flying into the country.

 

[SMF_mom23]

FWIW, I would still try to dispute with your credit card. I work for a local treasury department and we had TWO property owners who paid for their real estate taxes with credit cards last year that disputed the charges with their card company. We disputed both but only one held. How someone can claim they didn't receive a product or service when paying their real estate property taxes for a parcel THEY OWN I will never understand.

 

[johnsontrio]

FWIW, I would still try to dispute with your credit card. I work for a local treasury department and we had TWO property owners who paid for their real estate taxes with credit cards last year that disputed the charges with their card company. We disputed both but only one held. How someone can claim they didn't receive a product or service when paying their real estate property taxes for a parcel THEY OWN I will never understand.

I wish it had been a credit card transaction but I wrote him a check. It was cashed through a Canadian bank but he has an office address in the US as well as Canada, so we might have a path to pursue. I need to solve my problem of getting a band first, get through the bridal shower this coming weekend and may have our attorney fire off letter. After things settle we'll figure out if there is more to do to try and recover the deposit. But I realized today everything was over the phone and I need to get something in writing because he could show up, day of, and try to fulfill the contract and collect the remaining monies. Ughhhh....

 

[SMF_mom23]

I wish it had been a credit card transaction but I wrote him a check. It was cashed through a Canadian bank but he has an office address in the US as well as Canada, so we might have a path to pursue. I need to solve my problem of getting a band first, get through the bridal shower this coming weekend and may have our attorney fire off letter. After things settle we'll figure out if there is more to do to try and recover the deposit. But I realized today everything was over the phone and I need to get something in writing because he could show up, day of, and try to fulfill the contract and collect the remaining monies. Ughhhh....

Oh that stinks! Hopefully you can line someone up who is even better than your original.

A few weeks before my wedding, my photographer, who was the boyfriend of one of my mom's friends, moved back to Canada (I'm from So. Indiana). It turned out for the best as we ended up with a FANTASTIC photographer who cancelled a Memorial Day camping trip so he and his wife could help us out.

Good luck to you! Better things are on the horizon!