Ryanair Trickery

[KARL]

....or maybe I should generously assume incompetence. The following is not a question but information for others in my position.

Like so many, I have a Ryanair refund pending for cancelled flights. I twice asked for the refund, ruling out a voucher or any other alternative, and on both occasions was promised it. On the first occasion I made the arrangement through the online chat facility, the second was using the Ryanair site application process. When I got tired of waiting way past the timescale Ryanair had promised, I turned to my credit card provider. Yesterday I received notification of my Ryanair voucher details - I assume because Ryanair received the credit card provider's approach on my behalf. I suspect the unwanted voucher issue was triggered by an intent to then report to the card provider that a voucher has been issued so a refund is impossible/refused.

On both occasions of requesting and being promised the refund Ryanair promised a confirmation e-mail - neither ever arrived (surprised ?). However, I have a transcript of the chat and a screenshot of the page where the request is confirmed - I wouldn't think Ryanair expected that. I have sent these to the card provider so now I await the outcome.

[Gromit]

Well done Karl.

Though I have a little sympathy for the airlines. To pay everyone back immediately would probably send them into bankruptcy. They are trying to survive.

[woofgang]

yeah, i screenshot EVERYTHING

[KARL]

Agreed, there is no question that the airlines (understandably) want to hold onto the free loan that these sums amount to. On the other hand Jet2 have proved way classier - I have received three separate refunds from them, all within about a month of asking for them and without any chasing at all. Ryanair are supposedly very cash rich, so what's up there you ask yourself ?

[Buenchico]

A relevant link:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53277921

However your card provider seems to be worse that Ryanair!

The rules are simple: BOTH the company you pay money to AND the credit card provider are EQUALLY liable if things go wrong. You could have ignored Ryanair altogether and gone DIRECTLY to the card company to demand a refund. You do NOT have to show that you've had problems getting anything from Ryanair.

You were perfectly entitled to say to the credit card provider "I've not had what I'd paid for from Ryanair but I've not contacted them about it and I've absolutely no intention of doing so either. YOU must now provide me with a refund WITHOUT DELAY".

It's your legal right, so HASSLE the card company to see that it's enforced!