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The EU Commission has called on its member states to defend the right of consumers to reimburse for trips canceled in the crown crisis. The authority also announced plans to take action against countries that ignore it.
Vice President Margrethe Vestager said in Brussels that several countries had been contacted due to mandatory coupon solutions. Threatens to initiate infringement proceedings.
Originally, Germany wanted to compel consumers to accept coupons instead of reimbursement. However, after the Brussels resistance, the federal government refrained from doing so. However, several other countries override the EU rule.
“Unprecedented number of claims”
Vestager admitted that tour operators and airlines could face financial difficulties due to the obligation to reimburse. The EU Commission is also aware of an “unprecedented number of redemption requests”. The vouchers could help and should therefore be more attractive, said the commission’s vice president.
Therefore, the Commission has issued recommendations to the tourism industry on how to create incentives for affected travelers to voluntarily accept vouchers. Above all, consumers must “be protected from the bankruptcy of the exhibitor”. And to that end, Member States could establish funds. However, “the starting point is that European consumers are entitled to a refund. Period.”
Companies, in turn, could relax the bond or offer additional services. The Commission also recommends that the coupons “be redeemable after one year at the latest if they have not been redeemed.” And they should be usable for as many different services as possible and transferable to other people. Companies may also consider “using coupons for reservations with other companies that belong to the same group of companies.”
