The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has suggested against all but important travel abroad, cities and regions. This includes two important travel recommended notices: 1. If you are overseas, return to the UK as shortly as possible if commercial flights are still open 2. If you are currently in the UK, don’t travel to foreign land except if it is utterly vital Several airlines are now stating terminations of flights and the grounding of aircraft after the announcement that many countries are putting into effect ‘lockdown’ of borders and the restraint of travel to lower the spread of the virus.

The Government has announced a collaboration with airlines to organise special chartered flights. These will bring back citizens that are presently stuck abroad. Additional information will be announced by the government’s travel advice, all British embassies and all British high commissions. A committed travel supervision company will be employed for marooned residents to reserve and pay for the flight back home.

Additional information on going abroad and present government advices are available at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice Patrons who are yet to fly to their destination – Owed a repayment or, in some cases, the choice to rebook for another date.

Flight and Holiday Cancellations

Flights as part of a package holiday

Complete expense of the holiday will be repaid. This is happening inevitably for some consumers, but consumers can contact the company that they made reservations through for extra clarification.

Flights and hotel reserved separately

Consumers are recommended to call their hotels, asking for a refund/modification in dates. Several airlines are allowing travellers to rebook flights for free.

In conditions where the hotel and place are functioning, and the booking is non-refundable, then travellers may miss out.

Travel Insurance policies

Consumers are advised to certify the details of travel insurance policies that they have procured. These may payout financial reimbursement in situations where other measures do not.

If customers have arranged travel to infected zones after a caution was announced in the region, then there is a chance that any insurance policy may be discredited by this. Patrons are advised to verify the particulars of their insurance policies and if at all doubtful, contact their insurance company directly for more information.

New travel insurance policies

In light of current happenings, various insurance companies have terminated selling new travel insurance plans and, in some circumstances, have changed cover as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. The Association of British Insurers has stated that travel insurance is a product meant to be used in unexpecteed situations, and due to the current situation, issues occuring as a consequence of coronavirus are no longer considered ‘unforeseen’.

Already abroad and no meathods of getting back to the UK – Airlines have a responsibility of care to those customers in a foreign country if they have terminated a return flight. The airline should also pay for any extra costs for stay and any food essential. For those consumers who have received a reimbursement, then the obligation of concern ends here. It is then the responsibility of the passenger to arrange travel back to the UK.

In situations where none of the above is conceivable, or where patrons feel stranded, they are advised to contact the embassy in their present locality to get additional assistance. Specific embassy locations can be found by visiting www.gov.uk/world/embassies and searching depending on your destination.

Travellers wanting to cancel their travel plans

If there has been no caution released in relation to a country that the traveller picks to journey to, and the consumer selects to abandon their plans, then there is no certain right to compensation.

Customers are urged to certify policy and booking confirmation details and to contact their insurance/travel provider if clarification is necessary or a repayment due. If you belive that your customer rights have been breached, you can contact consumeradvice.scot for more information and assistance.

Events and Entertainment

Cancelled events

If the tickets to an event such as a concert or sports event have been cancelled, and these have been reserved via an authorised booking site, then you should genrally receive a refund.

The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) is the industry’s self-regulatory association and as such, oblige firms registered with them to refund the ticket’s face value price when an event is cancelled. This does not comprise the costs paid for delivery.

It is suggested that for any other ticket seller, the specific company terms and conditions are checked. For resale sites and other events, the corporation who originally sold the tickets should be contacted in the first instance to request reimbursements. There may also be the choice to rebook at a later date if the event is being postponed.

Postponed events

Original tickets should be retained until a postponed or altered date is announced. If there is an issue with the date that the event or concert has been pushed to is incompatible, then a refund can be asked for via the original booking company.

As with cancelled events, this may not comprise the charges paid for booking fees or delivery.

Certain events may differ, contingent on the terms and conditions of the planner.

Customers wishing not to show up – If customers choose not to concerts or sporting events, but the event is still going ahead, there is small chance of getting money back.

Cinema cessations

Quiet a few of the greater film chains have declared that they will be closing all their screens in the UK until further communication. For patrons who have already gotten tickets, refunds or the choice to postpone this to a later date (if possible) are available.

A few of the bigger chains with loyalty cards and monthly membership are instructing that monthly fees will resume, with a view to offering the ‘time back’ once service restarts as usual. Others are instructing that they will be stopping payments for memberships. Patrons are advised to watch on the websites and social media apprises from the cinema that they have booked through.

Getting back hotel and travel expenditures

If an event is terminated due to the coronavirus outbreak and there have been costs incurred for hotels and travel, then the businesses for every one of these should be contacted for more information on reimbursements.

Seperate terms and conditions may vary, but choices may be advanced to postpone or rebook on an alternative date due to recent situations.

As a side note, if the hotel or travel provider is incompetent to provide the service due to the coronavirus pandemic, then a reimbursement should be paid. Bookings for marriages and special occasions

Weddings and special occasions could potentially be afflicted by the coronavirus outbreak. If the venue or company catering the ceremony or arranging cancels, then a repayment should be arranged for whatever has been cancelled. For those with wedding protection, terms and conditions should be checked for whatever that can be obtained back. If it is the customer, or individual who has booked the event that is wishing to cancel or postpone the event, then some fees might apply. Negotiation and discussion with the coordinator around rescheduling the event is essential.

For whatever that has previously been paid in terms of deposits that cannot be repaid, the organiser should outline in detail the cause why a refund is not possible, including any costs they have sustained that are being passed on to the consumer.

Consumer rights and useful legislation

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act protects buyers for purchases made on credit cards in excess of £100. This makes the credit card company ‘joint and severally’ responsible when a product or service that has been paid for cannot be delivered.

For purchases under £100 made on a credit card, or those made on a debit card, buyers can contact their bank and try to make a claim through the ‘chargeback scheme’. This cannot be enforced by law, and the provision of this plan is at the discretion of the bank or building society.

Consumer rights remain unaffected throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Some delivery and logistical firms have proclaimed delays on unnecessary goods in favour of delivering medical supplies and essential products. For additional info on orders placed or delays experienced, the firm delivering the items must be the initial point of contact.

We have explained the important consumer rights legislation that is applicable in various situations below.

But, a complete guide to consumer rights, covering different aspects, is available by browsing consumeradvice.scot knowledge centre: https://www.consumeradvice.scot/knowledge-centre/

Consumer Rights Act 2015 – Faulty Goods – Repair or Replace

While buying merchandise from a trader, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 states they must be:

• Of satisfactory quality (free from any faults / damage and durable)
• As the agenttold
• Exactly like any sample shown
• Exactly like any model shown  Fit for the idea made known to the seller

When requesting for repair or replacement within first 30 days, then the buyer enters the wait period with the remainder of the thirty days (minimum of 7 days) resuming after repair or replacement.

Customers who believe that  anything mentioned above do not fit for their items and have passed the initial thirty days after  ordering, can be entitled to repair/replacement that is –

• Cost-free
• Repair should be long lasting
• Replacement should be like for like
• Within reasonable timescale
• Without causing considerable difficulty

In case a repair/replacement isn’t possible then they may rather be allowed to:

• Keep the products for a lesser rate
• Return the items for a repayment (full reimbursement in 6 months or partial refund after or if a vehicle)

Private Sales – Sale of Goods Act 1979

If something is bought from a private seller, the buyer is insured by the Sale of Goods Act 1979 which declares the goods must go with the explanation provided by the seller. This includes:

• Any description in an ad
• Any description provided in an email or text
Any description during chats over the phone or personally

If the buyer believes that the goods don’t go with the seller’s description, then they might be entitled to;

• A complete re-payment if the items haven’t been accepted (not used and issue observed quickly)
• Damages – a monetary amount to apy for mending or the difference between what amount was paid and what the products are really worth

The burden of proof is on the client to confirmverify that the products don’t go with the sellers description, that might be difficult if the description was delivered verbally.

Rail companies and travel services have different rules about re-payments of tickets impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Scotrail are giving refunds on many train ticket types. Their process has altered a little due to the circumstances, and an administration fee might apply, depending on the ticket type.

A useful guide to refunds that are provided from Scotrail can be seen here: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/refunds People who have booked travel that is no longer needed or have booked travel to a annulled occasion should call the travel provider for additional info on their individual terms and conditions, along with refund policies.

Although the Government has suggested that everybody in a foreign land must come back to the United Kingdom, a lot are yet trapped with no means to get back home.

The Government has taken measures such as especially chartered planes to help get citizens home, but this may take some time. For the moment, they have made a lot of suggestions about what people who are trapped abroad should do.

If someone has or feels they are infected by coronavirus

The authorities of both the region and nation in which the customer is staying will provide advice and help on what to do if someone has, or believes that they have, coronavirus. Moreover, the citizen must seek medical assistance and self-quarantine.

The NHS have come up with a guide on symptoms that are generally shown when somebody is suffering from coronavirus. This is available at:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms-and-what-to-do/

The embassy or consulate in the area where the UK citizen resides can be used to contact the local authorities. For more information on embassies, or to locate the closest one in your area, please get in touch with 0207 008 1500, or simply visit:

https://www.gov.uk/world/embassies#

If a visa is expiring soon

If a visa is expiring, the actions mandatory will depend upon the region that the UK citizen is located. If doubtful, check out the travel advice for that country from the UK foreign and commonwealth office. This guide can be found by checking out:

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Moreover, the local embassy or consulate can be used to get in touch with the local authorities. For additional information on embassies, or to find the one in your vicinity, please call on 0207 008 1500, or alternatively visit:

https://www.gov.uk/world/embassies

If an affordable flight to home cannot be booked

The travel company must be contacted in the first instance for additional details on flying back home. They may delay or waive payment for the trip home.

People having travel insurance must contact their provider as the insurance cover will be extended by 2 months if those travelling are making every single effort to go back home. People who can’t afford travel may also check if their credit card insurance is applicable.

UK citizens who are stuck must even keep themselves updated on the announcements from local travel companies.

It is important to get in touch with family and friends to ensure they are aware that everyone in the party is safe. If possible, they may be able to transfer money to those people stranded to pay for transport home.

Employment & perks / financial aid

There is also the choice for those trapped to get in touch with their employer and ask for advance payment of their payment to pay for travel home. The UK government can even offer financial help in some situations. Additional info can be accessed on www.gov.uk

If money is over, or those stranded do not have somewhere to stay, or access to food / water / medical essentials

The UK Government has committed to making sure that British citizens in foreign country have access to housing, medical supplies, food and water.

If money is over whilst trapped abroad, The UK Government can also provide financial aid in certain situations. More details can be read on www.gov.uk.

If the trapped passenger has to care for a relative in the UK

If the citizen is stranded in a foreign country, they should ascertain that anybody they are taking care of is seen well. If someone else is looking after this person, they may be asked to carry on to do this until they come back to the UK.

They may request friends or family to take care of this person till they come back.

If no other choice is available, the home local authority must be contacted for further suggestion and help.

If the stranded passenger has tension about their job or self-employment

If they are doing a job, they must contact their boss wherever possible to keep them updated about their situation.

If they are employed, they can however be furloughed under the job retention scheme. If they are self-employed, they can make an application for the self-employment income support scheme.

Perks or state pension whilst trapped in a foreign country

The stranded passenger will still get Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit if they are in a foreign country for around 4 weeks.

In the case of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Carer’s Allowance, they are each payable for thirteen weeks whilst in a foreign country.

The State Pension will be paid irrespective of how long the citizen stays abroad.

Any questions or doubts about benefit payments whilst in a foreign country can be responed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), who can be got in touch with by calling or checking out:

https://www.gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad