Best way to get a refund from First Choice Holidays during Covid

Summary

First Choice Holidays is part of TUI Group, the largest travel and tourism company in the world, selling holidays to about 27 million people in 2019. However during Covid-19, First Choice had to cancel 90% of its holiday bookings leaving millions of paying passengers in the lurch. The UK regulator the CMA is even conducting an investigation into whether airlines breached consumer rights laws during Coronavirus. But unlike airlines, travel agents aren't regulated. If you're one of the many unlucky First Choice Holidays customers waiting on a cancelled flight refund due to Coronavirus travel bans, you have a few options. Some options require more time than others, and with varying chances of working. You can call, email or use social media to get in touch directly with First Choice. Unfortunately, this is what everyone else is doing (2 million others) so you'll have to join the queue. Telephone| 0203 451 2693 ---|--- Website| https://www.firstchoice.co.uk Twitter| @FirstChoiceUK Time Taken:| 6-10 Months ---|--- Chances of working:| Moderate Cost:| Free These sites help you send a polite letter of complaint, based on EU law. Unfortunately this can be like screaming at a brick wall.

Key information

• •First Choice Holidays is part of TUI Group, the largest travel and tourism company in the world, selling holidays to about 27 million people in 2019. However during Covid-19, First Choice had to cancel 90% of its holiday bookings leaving millions of paying passengers in the lurch.
• •The UK regulator the CMA is even conducting an investigation into whether airlines breached consumer rights laws during Coronavirus. But unlike airlines, travel agents aren't regulated.
• •If you're one of the many unlucky First Choice Holidays customers waiting on a cancelled flight refund due to Coronavirus travel bans, you have a few options. Some options require more time than others, and with varying chances of working.
• •Telephone| 0203 451 2693 ---|--- Website| https://www.firstchoice.co.uk Twitter| @FirstChoiceUK
• •Time Taken:| 6-10 Months ---|--- Chances of working:| Moderate Cost:| Free
• •These sites help you send a polite letter of complaint, based on EU law. Unfortunately this can be like screaming at a brick wall (or banging your head against it), since a lot of the time the airline has already reimbursed the travel agent so they claim it's not their problem anymore.
• •Even worse, if you do win your case through a complaints site, they'll take 25% of your refund, leaving you with no holiday and no money to book one in the future.
• •Time Taken:| 2-3 hours ---|--- Chances of working:| Moderate Cost:| 25% of your refund
• •You can ask your bank or credit card company to process a refund, also called a chargeback. During Coronavirus, this has become more difficult, and can take months.
• •Time Taken:| Months ---|--- Chances of working:| Moderate Cost:| Free
• •By using a licensed solicitor to commence legal proceedings against the travel agent, you can get them to sit up and pay attention.

Practical guidance

• •Source: [Best way to get a refund from First Choice Holidays during Covid](https://lawhive.co.uk/knowledge-hub/travel-agent-refund/best-way-to-get-a-refund-from-first-choice-holidays-during-covid)

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