The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised against all but important travel abroad, cities and regions. This entails two main travel advisory notices: 1. If you are overseas, return to the UK as soon as possible if commercial flights are still accessible 2. If you are currently in the UK, do not travel to foreign countries unless it is totally essential Various airlines are now declaring terminations of flights and the grounding of aircraft after the announcement that several countries are implementing ‘lockdown’ of borders and the restriction of movement to reduce the spread of the virus.

The Government has announced a collaboration with airlines to plan special chartered planes. These will return residents that are currently stranded abroad. Additional information will be released by the government’s travel advice, all British embassies and all British high commissions. A devoted travel supervision company will be utilized for marooned residents to reserve and pay for the flight home.

Additional info on travelling abroad and present government advices are available at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice Customers who are yet to travel to their destination – Owed a compensation or, in some cases, the choice to rebook for alternative date.

Flight and Holiday Cancellations

Flights as part of a holiday package

Whole amount of the holiday will be repaid. This is happening certainly for some consumers, but customers can get in touch with the company that they made reservations through for further clarification.

Hotel and Flights reserved individually

Consumers are suggested to get in touch with their hotels, requesting a repayment/modification in dates. Several airlines are allowing travellers to rebook flights for free.

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

Travel Insurance policies

Patrons are recommended to certify the details of travel insurance policies that they have taken out. These may offer financial reparation in situations where other means do not.

If consumers have planned travel to infected zones after a caution was published in the region, then there is a possibility that any insurance policy may be discredited by this. Consumers are advised to ensure the specifics of their insurance policies and if at all uncertain, contact their insurance company straight for further information.

New travel insurance policies

In light of recent happenings, many insurance companies have stopped selling new travel insurance policies and, in some conditions, 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 unforeseen conditions, and owing to the present circumstances, issues occuring as a outcome of coronavirus are no longer deemed ‘unforeseen’.

Already abroad and no means of getting back to the UK – Airlines have a duty of care to those travellers in a foreign country if they have terminated a return flight. The airline must also pay for any further charges for housing and any food essential. For those consumers who have received a refund, then the obligation of concern ends here. It is then the obligation of the commuter to coordinate travel back to the UK.

In situations where neither of the above is possible, or where customers feel trapped, they are instructed to contact the embassy in their present location to obtain additional help. Specific embassy locations can be obtained by visiting www.gov.uk/world/embassies and searching based on your destination.

Consumers opting to cancel their travel plans

If there has been no notice released in regard to a country that the consumer selects to go to, and the customer selects to abandon their plans, then there is no automatic right to compensation.

Travellers are insisted to verify policy and booking confirmation details and to contact their insurance/travel provider if clarification is necessary or a reimbursement due. If you feel that your consumer rights have been waived, you can contact consumeradvice.scot for more information and guidance.

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 by means of an authorised booking site, then you should usually get a repayment.

The Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) is the industry’s self-regulatory organisation and as such, require firms registered with them to reimburse the ticket’s face value price when an event is cancelled. This does not include the charges incurred for delivery.

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

Postponed events

Original tickets should be kept until a postponed or revised date is announced. If there is an problem with the date that the event or concert has been pushed to is not fitting, then a reimbursement can be asked for via the original booking company.

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

Individual events may be different, depending on the terms and conditions of the planner.

Consumers choosing not to attend – If customers wish not to concerts or sporting events, but the event is still taking place, there is not much likelihood of getting money back.

Cinema cessations

Numerous of the larger movie franchises have declared that they will be terminating all their screens in the UK until further communication. For patrons who have already purchased tickets, repayments or the possibility to reschedule this to a later date (if possible) are presented.

A few of the greater groups with loyalty cards and monthly membership are recommending that monthly fees will continue, with a view to imparting the ‘time back’ once amenities recommences as normal. Others are recommending that they will be stopping payments for memberships. Patrons are instucted to watch on the websites and social media apprises from the cinema that they have booked through.

Obtaining back hotel and travel expenditures

If an event is cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak and there have been expenditures suffered for hotels and travel, then the businesses for each of these should be contacted for more information on reimbursements.

Specific terms and conditions may differ, but choices may be proposed to delay or rebook on an alternative date due to present conditions.

As a side note, if the hotel or travel provider is incompetent to offer the facility due to the coronavirus epidemic, then a refund should be paid. Reservations for weddings and special events

Marriages and special events could possibly be affected by the outbreak of coronavirus. If the company or venue offering the ceremony or managing cancels, then a reimbursement should be organised for whatever has been cancelled. For those with wedding cover, terms and conditions should be conferred for everything that can be claimed back. If it is the customer, or individual who has booked the event that is choosing to cancel or reschedule the event, then some charges might apply. Negotiation and discussion with the organiser around postponing the event is essential.

For whatever that has previously been paid in terms of deposits that cannot be reimbursed, the coordinator should define in detail the basis why a repayment is not conceivable, consisting any costs they have sustained that are being passed on to the buyer.

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’ accountable 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, clients can get in touch with 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 the same throughout the coronavirus pandemic. A couple of delivery firms have proclaimed delays on avoidable goods for transporting medical items and vital items. For more info on orders already placed or delays experienced, the business delivering the goods must be the first point of contact.

We have detailed the main consumer rights legislation that is relevant in different circumstances mentioned below.

However, a more comprehensive guide to consumer rights, covering different aspects, is accessible by checking out consumeradvice.scot knowledge centre: https://www.consumeradvice.scot/knowledge-centre/

Consumer Rights Act 2015 – Faulty Goods – Repair or Replace

When ordering items from a trader, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 declares they must be:

• Of good quality (free from any faults / damage and long-lasting)
• As the agentdepited
• The same as any sample shown
• Just like any model shown  Right for the idea made known to the trader

If asking for replacement or repair in the first thirty days, then the purchaser enters the wait period with the remainder of the 30 days (minimum of 7 days) resuming after repair/replacement.

Customers who believe that  anything mentioned above don’t fit for their items and have passed the first thirty days after  ordering, can be eligible for replacement or repair which is –

• Cost-free
• Repair should be long term
• Replacement should be like for like
• Within practical timescale
• Without resulting in considerable inconvenience

In case a repair or replacement isn’t possible then they may instead be permitted to:

• Keep the merchandise for a lower price
• Return the products for a reimbursement (full refund within 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 covered by the Sale of Goods Act 1979 which claims the goods must go with the explanation provided by the seller. This incorporates:

• Any description in an ad
• Any description given in an e-mail or text message
Any description during chats on the phone call or personally

If the customer feels that the goods don’t match the seller’s description, then they could be eligible for;

• A total refund if the goods have not been accepted (not used and problem observed immediately)
• Damages – a monetary amount to apy for repairs or the difference between what was paid and what the products are truly worth

The burden of proof is on the customer to prove that the items do not go with the sellers description, which can be tough if the description was given orally.

Rail companies and travel companies have different rules regarding re-payments of tickets impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Scotrail are giving reimbursements on numerous train ticket types. Their process has altered a little because of the situation, and an administration fee may be imposed, depending upon the ticket type.

A valuable guide to refunds that are provided from Scotrail can be seen here: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/refunds Those people who have booked travel which is not necessary or have booked travel to a annulled occasion should call the travel provider for additional info on their individual terms, including refund policies.

Though the Government has suggested that everybody in a foreign land should return to the United Kingdom, many are yet stranded without any way to get home.

The Government has adopted steps such as specially chartered flights to help bring citizens home, but this might take time. In the meantime, they have made several recommendation regarding what those people who are stranded in a foreign country should do.

If someone has or believes they have coronavirus

The authorities of both the region and country in which the buyer is staying will provide advice and assistance on what to do if someone has, or thinks that they are infected by, coronavirus. Moreover, the citizen should seek medical assistance and self-quarantine.

The NHS have compiled a guide on signs that are normally shown when somebody has coronavirus. This is available at:

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

The embassy or consulate in the region where the UK citizen finds themselves can be used to contact the local authorities. For more information on embassies, or to find the nearest one to you, please call on 0207 008 1500, or simply visit:

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

If a visa is coming to an end soon

If a visa is coming to an end, the actions necessary will depend on the region that the UK citizen is located. If uncertain, look at the travel advice for that nation from the UK foreign and commonwealth office. This guide can be read by checking out:

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

Additionally, the local embassy or consulate can be used to contact the local authorities. For more details on embassies, or to locate the one in your vicinity, please contact 0207 008 1500, or instead check out:

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

If an affordable air flight home cannot be booked

The travel company must be contacted at teh first place for additional info on going back home. They may delay or reimburse payment for the trip home.

Those people having travel insurance should contact their provider as the cover will be extended by 2 months if those travelling are making every effort to return home. People who cannot afford travel could even check if their credit card insurance applies.

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

It is essential to contact family and friends to make sure they are aware that everybody in the party is safe. If possible, they may be able to transfer cash to those people trapped to pay for coming back home.

Employment & benefits / monetary assistance

There is also the option for those stranded to contact their employer and request for advance payment of their payment to pay for travel home. The UK government can also provide monetary aid in some circumstances. Additional information can be read on www.gov.uk

If money is over, or those trapped do not have somewhere to stay, or access to meals / water / medical supplies

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

If cash runs out whilst trapped abroad, The UK Government can as well offer financial aid in a few situations. Additional info can be accessed on www.gov.uk.

If the trapped passenger has to care for somebody in the UK

If the citizen is stranded in a foreign land, they must make sure that anyone they are a carer for is looked after. If someone else is looking after this person, they may be requested to carry on to do this until they fly back to the UK.

They could ask friends or family to take care of this person till they return.

If no option is available, the home local authority must be contacted for further support and advice.

If the trapped passenger has worries regarding their job or self-employment

If they are working, they should keep in contact with their boss wherever possible to keep them informed about their situation.

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

Perks or state pension whilst stuck in a foreign country

The trapped passenger will still receive Universal Credit, Housing Benefit and Pension Credit if they are abroad for up to one month.

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

The State Pension will be paid irrespective of how long the citizen stays in a foreign country.

Any questions or concerns about benefit payments whilst abroad 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