Eurotunnel Frequent Traveller, how many will want to share?

[Riverbankannie]

Today I received an email from them with 2 options

Option A, we could use against one return trip sometime before next May 2021
Option B, requires us to open another frequent traveller account sometime before October 16 2020. However, we would need a new partner as our existing one has sold his MH due to ill health.

Is anyone likely to want to start up a share later this year ? So many unknowns. I think I am tempted for option A.

 

[violet]

Today I received an email from them with 2 options
View attachment 379140
Option A, we could use against one return trip sometime before next May 2021
Option B, requires us to open another frequent traveller account sometime before October 16 2020. However, we would need a new partner as our existing one has sold his MH due to ill health.

Is anyone likely to want to start up a share later this year ? So many unknowns. I think I am tempted for option A.

We have received one option of a 3 month extension. Eurotunnel is refusing to budge on this other than to say they might look at it again once the FT wallet has expired. They would then be entitled to answer 'the wallet has expired so nothing we can do'. We have six crossings left and cannot possibly use them. The extension will take us into the winter months which is useless. Even if it is extended further it takes us into Jan/Feb, which is useless as well. I shall try them again and send them your options.

 

[Dorwyn]

At this moment and for the forseable, FT does not stack up. Those who have some left should have had a better deal than this. It should be extended by the length of time that the lockdown of countries exists.

 

[Minxy]

Today I received an email from them with 2 options
View attachment 379140
Option A, we could use against one return trip sometime before next May 2021
Option B, requires us to open another frequent traveller account sometime before October 16 2020. However, we would need a new partner as our existing one has sold his MH due to ill health.

Is anyone likely to want to start up a share later this year ? So many unknowns. I think I am tempted for option A.

Reading option A you would have to pay the FULL price for any crossings, not the 'discounted' one you get with a FT account as you cannot use it against the basic FT account costs, only supplements. In the circumstances I don't think either of the options is that fair.

 

[Minxy]

At this moment and for the forseable, FT does not stack up. Those who have some left should have had a better deal than this. It should be extended by the length of time that the lockdown of countries exists.

No, it should be extended to the same date in the following year for whenever the lockdown is ended, eg if lockdown ends on 31st July 2020, then the existing account should be extended to 31st July 2021, this is because most people will use them during the better weather so extending by 3 months is totally useless to most.

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[MisterB]

i wonder if a payment for the wallet by credit card would assist in any way?

 

[emjaiuk]

Does anyone know why Eurotunnel are being so awkward? I can't see how they could suffer any monetary loss with either crediting unused crossings against a future wallet purchase, or extending the validity of existing wallets by 12 months. Unless some moron seriously thinks that if they can cause their customers to lose money on a FT purchase it will encourage them to spend more with Eurotunnel.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Reading option A you would have to pay the FULL price for any crossings, not the 'discounted' one you get with a FT account as you cannot use it against the basic FT account costs, only supplements. In the circumstances I don't think either of the options is that fair.

Yes, the credit would more or less pay for one return if we take cheaper crossings. I feel that better option as may not get a FT partner and then to get the refund I would have to purchase more crossings than I could use.

I am not unhappy with their response as if they just extended the expiry date of my current FT account by the period of the lockdown, (which would also be a fair response), we probably wouldn’t use them anyway as we cannot see ourselves going over this year. Unless the lockdown goes on all year !! But I doubt it.

 

[Wagoneer]

I'm not particularly concerned. Purchased a new FT wallet of 10 with my partner just before the lockdown, end of March. I'm confident (famous last words), ET will eventually sort once the full extent of the restrictions are known. If I lose a few crossings, so be it. FT is still comparatively cheap and flexible compared to other alternatives.

 

[martin2603]

I have received the same two option offer, mine expires in 2 weeks. I will open a new account towards the end of the six month window. Hopefully restrictions will be relaxed by then .

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[orridge]

Perhaps push back on the options we got refunded 184 for a wallet due to expire next month and another already open was extended by 2 months.

 

[Riverbankannie]

I have received the same two option offer, mine expires in 2 weeks. I will open a new account towards the end of the six month window. Hopefully restrictions will be relaxed by then .

I think it’s only worth it for us if we can find a partner and then I assume can only get the refund if I am lead person on the account.

 

[gus-lopez]

Does anyone know why Eurotunnel are being so awkward?

They consider that as the trains are still running they do not have to do anything. The fact that they will let you travel on the train but the French won't let you get off is not their problem. + they don't really have any money . I'm sure they refinanced the shares a while back , like they did just after it was built 10 for 1 so losing 90% of everyones money. This recent lot was the only way that they then appeared to be making money afterwards. this is why they have also never invested in new rolling stock as they haven't the money.

 

[Riverbankannie]

They consider that as the trains are still running they do not have to do anything. The fact that they will let you travel on the train but the French won't let you get off is not their problem. + they don't really have any money . I'm sure they refinanced the shares a while back , like they did just after it was built 10 for 1 so losing 90% of everyones money. This recent lot was the only way that they then appeared to be making money afterwards. this is why they have also never invested in new rolling stock as they haven't the money.

Are they still paying back the construction costs? Otherwise I cannot see why they would be losing money, pretty much non-stop running of freight and cars, not a great deal of frippery to pay for only maintenance costs and one driver and one or two loaders and minimal checkin and office staff.

 

[gus-lopez]

Are they still paying back the construction costs? Otherwise I cannot see why they would be losing money, pretty much non-stop running of freight and cars, not a great deal of frippery to pay for only maintenance costs and one driver and one or two loaders and minimal checkin and office staff.

I believe they were up until the last share reshuffle. I think that was just smoke & mirrors to appear to be making money & pay a divi.

here is a bit about the last one. 2018.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/jessica-investigates/have-eurotunnel-shares-gone/

This was the situation prior to a previous shuffle in 2007 ,I believe ?
https://citywire.co.uk/funds-insider/news/eurotunnel-needs-help-out-of-a-hole/a254932

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[emjaiuk]

gus-lopez I'm sure you're right. Thinking about it when I used to use the shuttle several times a month there was almost never a time when everything on the trains worked, and it wasn't unknown for trains to go 'technical' after loading necessitating a drive round onto another train. Still don't see why I have to subsidise them over and above ticket purchase though.

 

[jongood]

Does anyone know why Eurotunnel are being so awkward? I can't see how they could suffer any monetary loss with either crediting unused crossings against a future wallet purchase, or extending the validity of existing wallets by 12 months. Unless some moron seriously thinks that if they can cause their customers to lose money on a FT purchase it will encourage them to spend more with Eurotunnel.

Even with the furlough scheme most companies will be losing money right now. ET will have huge overheads not least of which will be the cost of servicing borrowing.

One of the big flaws in the Furlough scheme is that companies will be finding it difficult to collect debts right now so many will go bust due to cashflow.

have they blocked access to FT accounts?

 

[Euromobil]

have they blocked access to FT accounts?

No, I checked mine, however my expiry date has extended by 3 months, what is not clear is the status of trips I booked but were unable to use because of lockdown, I could not find a way of putting them back in my 'wallet'. I suppose I could move the rest fwd three months, but then I would have 6 crossings in one week. What have others done ??

 

[Landy Andy]

We have just moved our crossings to later dates. Just random dates so they aren’t lost, and we will rearrange them at a later date when we know what is going on.

 

[Euromobil]

We have just moved our crossings to later dates. Just random dates so they aren’t lost, and we will rearrange them at a later date when we know what is going on.

good idea thanks, I'll try that

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[orridge]

No, I checked mine, however my expiry date has extended by 3 months, what is not clear is the status of trips I booked but were unable to use because of lockdown, I could not find a way of putting them back in my 'wallet'. I suppose I could move the rest fwd three months, but then I would have 6 crossings in one week. What have others done ??

We cancelled own wallet with 2 booked crossings and two unused crossings for May and got a refund on the 4 trips. The other wallet we share with another Funster was extended from Nov to Feb and we currently have July and September booked at the moment.

 

[Euromobil]

We cancelled own wallet with 2 booked crossings and two unused crossings for May and got a refund on the 4 trips. The other wallet we share with another Funster was extended from Nov to Feb and we currently have July and September booked at the moment.

Did you actually get a refund ? or as others have been offered, a voucher against a new wallet,

 

[orridge]

Did you actually get a refund ? or as others have been offered, a voucher against a new wallet,

Yes Offered a refund for the first wallet and extended the second wallet with money back on the card a few days ago. The email mentioned as we had a second wallet on the go we would get a refund so suspect if we had only one wallet they would have pushed us towards a credit on a new account. It seems to be a case by case basis so keep trying. From our perspective they have been reasonable and offered a good solution and not been a pain to deal with.

 

[Euromobil]

Yes Offered a refund for the first wallet and extended the second wallet with money back on the card a few days ago. The email mentioned as we had a second wallet on the go we would get a refund so suspect if we had only one wallet they would have pushed us towards a credit on a new account. It seems to be a case by case basis so keep trying. From our perspective they have been reasonable and offered a good solution and not been a pain to deal with.

Thanks orridge,
I'm torn I don't really want a refund, I just obviously do not want to loose six crossings, my preferred option would be to carry over until next year as I cannot see free travel this Summer or Autumn. Like you the person I dealt with was pleasant and stressed to contact them again in September. I've just been online and the system even let me extend a crossing I should have used last week which I assumed was a goner,

 

[Riverbankannie]

Did you actually get a refund ? or as others have been offered, a voucher against a new wallet,

I didn’t actually ask for a refund. I just filled in the online customer service form and explained that I was unable to use them.

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[orridge]

Thanks orridge,
I'm torn I don't really want a refund, I just obviously do not want to loose six crossings, my preferred option would be to carry over until next year as I cannot see free travel this Summer or Autumn. Like you the person I dealt with was pleasant and stressed to contact them again in September. I've just been online and the system even let me extend a crossing I should have used last week which I assumed was a goner,

One piece of advice I did see is to make sure you move any booked crossings that are due to happen shortly otherwise you may lose those. Suggest moving everything out as far as possible and see what happens later in the year.

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

Same here, 3 months derisory offer from Eurotunnel with 8 tickets left in my wallet and expiring September. It was only the frequent traveller scheme that attracted me to Eurotunnel and it will be ferries for us in the future and I guess I will write and say that. Ferries actually got to a useful variety of destinations.

I'm afraid we find out what organisations are really when there are problems and I'm very unimpressed by Eurotunnel. What do they think we're going to say, accept they're telling us our tickets are a write off and that we'll say we enjoyed that null experience so much that we'll give them even more money for nothing.

We have received one option of a 3 month extension. ... We have six crossings left and cannot possibly use them. The extension will take us into the winter months which is useless. Even if it is extended further it takes us into Jan/Feb, which is useless as well....

 

[Lenny HB]

I think more people are likely to use the tunnel in the future to avoid crowded ferries.

 

[Euromobil]

Same here, 3 months derisory offer from Eurotunnel with 8 tickets left in my wallet and expiring September. It was only the frequent traveller scheme that attracted me to Eurotunnel and it will be ferries for us in the future and I guess I will write and say that. Ferries actually got to a useful variety of destinations.

I'm afraid we find out what organisations are really when there are problems and I'm very unimpressed by Eurotunnel. What do they think we're going to say, accept they're telling us our tickets are a write off and that we'll say we enjoyed that null experience so much that we'll give them even more money for nothing.

Don't give up, I formed the impression that they will keep extending albeit three months at a time, certainly the person I dealt with stressed to get in touch in September. I have reduced our loss by changing bookings from motorhome to car and taking off pets. Does anybody know how the ferries are treating similar schemes ? they may be no better

 

[Clipgate]

I am in a similar position however it should be noted that P&O have asked for Dubai Ports (The major shareholder) and the UK Gov for a bail out of £150m each ,laid up three vessels. The whole cross channel business is in trouble, at least Euro Tunnel is part UK owned whereas P&O has it vessels registered in Cyprus (N) and control mainly off shore.

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