If you went on holiday and something went wrong, the company you booked the holiday with should compensate you. It is, however, imperative that you understand a few things before making any holiday claims. This is because your legal rights are by all means dependent on the type of holiday you went to.
If you went for a package holiday (a holiday with accommodation and transport included), you are legally entitled to get compensation in the following instances:
- If the holiday you went to was lower than the actual value of the holiday, you booked. A good example is when you get a standard room after booking a deluxe room. This is referred to as the ‘loss of value,’ and you are allowed to claim for compensation for the difference in value.
- If you had to spend extra money because the holiday had a problem, you also need to get compensated. For example, if you had to pay for another hotel room and yet you had booked because beds were fewer, you can claim for the ‘out of pocket’ expenses.
- If something went wrong and disappointed you when you were supposed to be enjoying your holiday, you are supposed to be compensated if it was related to the facilities you have booked. For instance, if after booking a hotel you find that the pool was closed and it was included in the package, you deserve to be compensated.
However, it is important to understand that not all situations warrant for compensation. For example, if you failed to enjoy the holiday and it really matched what you booked, you do not have to blame any one for it. On the other hand, if the problem was out of the facility’s control, for example, bad weather, no one again takes the blame. If the hotel has already compensated for a loss, you also do not need to claim compensation again.
How to Make Holiday Claims
As we are all aware, holidays can turn into nightmares and especially if the facility one has entrusted with providing the comfort fails to act professionally. In the year 2012 alone, more than 337,000 British travellers made claims for overseas medical treatment.
A big majority of the claims averaged 815 pounds although one person claimed 86,000 pounds after being flown home by an ambulance after a heart attack. A big number of the claims were related to food poisoning and generally, poor service from holiday facilities providers.
If the claim is related to getting ill, you should be in a position to medical treatment in Europe for free if you possess the European Health Insurance Card. If on the other hand you fell ill outside the EU and received private medical treatment, your travel insurance cover should be in a position to pay for you. For claims that are above 500 pounds, your insurance coverage company will demand that you provide them with evidence that you had sought assistance from an emergency assistance helpline.
If the illness or food poisoning was as a result of poor hygiene from the hotel you had booked, you are allowed to make a claim based on your pain and suffering, says The Guardian.
If you lost luggage and other valuables, you should be in a position to claim for theft or crime. However, if you fail to report a written police report, it is likely that your insurer will not pay.
If you had problems with your flights, you are also entitled to getting compensation under the EU Denied Boarding Regulation program that covers all flights in and out of the UK. The compensation you are supposed to receive is dependent on how far you wanted to fly.
When matters related to making claims that are holiday-related are concerned, you can now rest assured that you have all the important information that is needed when making a claim. You will always get the best value for your money while in holiday because you deserve it!
Did You Know?
Food poisoning on holiday is the biggest reason for claiming compensation. If this has happened to you in the last 2.5 years, you could claim up to £40,000 – get in touch today for a free consultation: 0330 133 0421 or fill out our holiday claims form.
More about Holiday Sickness Claims