CMC ferry booking.Is this fair?

[Camper634]

Last November booked our ferry through the CMC as usual.Paid £75 deposit,balance due 6 weeks before the crossing.What with the current situation I was surprised to find the balance had been taken from my bank this week,still some 7 weeks before the crossing date.I emailed them to ask what is the situation regarding refunds as we obviously won’t be going anywhere soon.I was told the because P and O are still running the service from Hull to Zeebrugge we would lose 10 per cent of the total crossing price if we cancelled now.I asked what about the fact we won’t be allowed to disembark at the other side and the answer was,more or less,hard luck!Please be ware anyone else who has booked with the CMC that this is the policy.They don’t seem to be bothered that the fact you can’t get off at the other side,if the ferry is still running and you cancel you will be charged.

 

[Gellyneck]

Last November booked our ferry through the CMC as usual.Paid £75 deposit,balance due 6 weeks before the crossing.What with the current situation I was surprised to find the balance had been taken from my bank this week,still some 7 weeks before the crossing date.I emailed them to ask what is the situation regarding refunds as we obviously won’t be going anywhere soon.I was told the because P and O are still running the service from Hull to Zeebrugge we would lose 10 per cent of the total crossing price if we cancelled now.I asked what about the fact we won’t be allowed to disembark at the other side and the answer was,more or less,hard luck!Please be ware anyone else who has booked with the CMC that this is the policy.They don’t seem to be bothered that the fact you can’t get off at the other side,if the ferry is still running and you cancel you will be charged.

You should be able to change date (up to 12 months) without penalty.
P&O are playing a bit of a game in that they say their services are an essential service, correctly so for freight travel, but for public travel????????

 

[wiljoy]

I contacted P&O regarding my return trip from Hull to Zeebrugge departing on May 9th. They gave me a full credit of £701 which is valid for 12 months. As my booking wasn't refundable I thought this was fair.

 

[Grianan]

It doesn’t sound fair. In fact, it sounds a very dubious approach.
If you have travel insurance I’d claim off that. If not, I’d do as @willjoy has ... surely to goodness 12 months will see us able to travel

 

[worky]

hya - l booked thru CMC to go Dover/Calais with DFDS on 26th April one way, got in touch with them about 4 weeks ago to cancel. Originally DFDS wanted to give me credit note which was fine but a couple of days later had phone call from CMC to say l could have full refund which has now been received. So l think rather than it being CMCs fault it could well be P and O policy.
cheers

Clyde

ps. but l do understand your frustration

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[irnbru]

I contacted P&O regarding my return trip from Hull to Zeebrugge departing on May 9th. They gave me a full credit of £701 which is valid for 12 months. As my booking wasn't refundable I thought this was fair.

HOW MUCH. £701 for a one way fare? How bigs your van and what were you getting for your money?

 

[2657]

Rather than cancel now why not wait until closer to the time and see what the situation is then.

 

[wiljoy]

HOW MUCH. £701 for a one way fare? How bigs your van and what were you getting for your money?

It's a return with total length of 12 mtrs. Returning mid July

 

[busby]

Last November booked our ferry through the CMC as usual.Paid £75 deposit,balance due 6 weeks before the crossing.What with the current situation I was surprised to find the balance had been taken from my bank this week,still some 7 weeks before the crossing date.I emailed them to ask what is the situation regarding refunds as we obviously won’t be going anywhere soon.I was told the because P and O are still running the service from Hull to Zeebrugge we would lose 10 per cent of the total crossing price if we cancelled now.I asked what about the fact we won’t be allowed to disembark at the other side and the answer was,more or less,hard luck!Please be ware anyone else who has booked with the CMC that this is the policy.They don’t seem to be bothered that the fact you can’t get off at the other side,if the ferry is still running and you cancel you will be charged.

Booked the same ferry with the club for April 22nd..Obviously i wont be travelling so rang the club and changed the date to sept..No charge..If travel restrictions are lifted earlier i will just bring the date forward.BUSBY.

 

[The Coops]

12 Mtrs freight rates ! Did you specify motorhome or van? Try rebooking with 12 mts van and you will get the lorry drivers meal, cabin and breakfast for a lot less! Used to use this all the time when going from Fleetwood to Larne 7 Mtr motorhome and two passengers £460 return, 7 Mtr van and two passengers return.£220 including meals!

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[Minxy]

As they appear to have taken the balance earlier than it was due without your permission I imagine you should at least be able to get the balance back and can then argue about the deposit, either rescheduling to a later date or get a refund.

 

[Camper634]

I’m surprised in these strange, unprecedented times ,the full amount wasn’t refunded.The fact you can’t get off at the other side should have been enough.I just feel it’s another example of the CMC putting business first and members second.After 23 years as a member, this will be my last.

 

[2657]

I’m surprised in these strange, unprecedented times ,the full amount wasn’t refunded.The fact you can’t get off at the other side should have been enough.I just feel it’s another example of the CMC putting business first and members second.After 23 years as a member, this will be my last.

Do you know with any certainty that in 6 weeks time you will not be able to disembark and travel to your intended destination?

As I said earlier, wait until nearer the time and see what the position is.

 

[Gellyneck]

I’m surprised in these strange, unprecedented times ,the full amount wasn’t refunded.The fact you can’t get off at the other side should have been enough.I just feel it’s another example of the CMC putting business first and members second.After 23 years as a member, this will be my last.

But is it the C&MC, who are acting as an agent on your behalf, or the service supplier, P&O, who are at fault? Given the T&C's on P&O website I would suggest the latter. C&MC T&C's seem to support this, as well.

 

[Manic]

I’m surprised in these strange, unprecedented times ,the full amount wasn’t refunded.The fact you can’t get off at the other side should have been enough.I just feel it’s another example of the CMC putting business first and members second.After 23 years as a member, this will be my last.

Not only the fact you can’t get off the other side, you shouldn’t even be going to the port anyway.

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[2657]

Not only the fact you can’t get off the other side, you shouldn’t even be going to the port anyway.

That is the position at this moment in time, in 6 weeks time the situation may have changed.

I have a booking from Santander to Portsmouth on the 4th May, Portsmouth to St Malo on the 11th May, St Malo to Portsmouth in July and Hull-Zeebrugge 3rd September, the latter booked through CMC.

I have done nothing about cancelling any of them until the situation becomes clear near to the time of departure, what's the point!

The OP's crossing is in 6 weeks time, mine for the same crossing is 5 months would anyone expect the CMC to give me a full refund if I cancelled now?

If the present situation is extended to the date of travel then the situation will have changed and I would expect a full refund.

CMC T&C's

"
Site, ferry and Eurotunnel cancellations

If any element of your booking is cancelled before the balance due date then the deposit for that element will be retained. If the cancellation is after the balance due date then the deposit will be retained together with any costs incurred by us, or charges imposed on us by the suppliers which are determined by number of days prior to start date.

Each of the ferry companies apply different charges and timescales as per their terms and conditions starting from 60 days prior to the departure date."

P&O T&C's

"

• Cancellation Charges for Hull - Rotterdam (Europoort)/Zeebrugge
  

  Cancellation period prior to outward journey	Saver	Standard	Premier	Premier Plus
  <15 days	100%	100%	0%	0%
  15-28 days	100%	50%	0%	0%
  29-56 days	100%	25%	0%	0%
  56 days	100%	15%	0%	0%

 

[CazPaul]

You would have thought a decent company would give you a full refund without quibble in this situation.

 

[Zains Pops]

We always book flexible fares on the ferry. Yes it’s more expensive but we usually need it. Recently we’ve missed ships due to family (MIL had a fall. ) illness (my knee giving gyp) late arrival (Mrs ZP not ready on time) and this year Covid19. Just cancelled Harwich Hook for June. Full money refund c.£350 less than 24 hrs.

 

[busby]

Not only the fact you can’t get off the other side, you shouldn’t even be going to the port anyway.

Today yes but in six weeks time ??? BUSBY.

 

[Camper634]

I honestly can’t see much changing in the next 6 weeks,if anything at all.Things will take months to get back to normal.What if we do somehow relax our stay at home procedure but Belgium and/or France don’t,then what?

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[Minxy]

I honestly can’t see much changing in the next 6 weeks,if anything at all.Things will take months to get back to normal.What if we do somehow relax our stay at home procedure but Belgium and/or France don’t,then what?

I would think that if you are NOT allowed to disembark then they haven't met the terms of the agreement when you purchased the tickets ...

 

[2657]

I honestly can’t see much changing in the next 6 weeks,if anything at all.Things will take months to get back to normal.What if we do somehow relax our stay at home procedure but Belgium and/or France don’t,then what?

Neither can I, but your last words more or less sum it up, then what, wait and see.

 

[Rds559]

I was booked on the train 31 March it was still running, the CMC gave a credit note for the full amount to be used in the next 12 months I took it as we do 3-4 return trips a year.
lots tell me I could have got a full refund but I know we will use it.