Travelers will soon be able to get their money back for lost trips: 14 days to return in a month

Until now, tourists, without the agreement of the tour operator, must recover the money of the lost trip within 90 days after the expiration of the restrictions related to quarantine, such an amendment to the Civil Code was adopted by the Seimas in May of last year.

Delfi has announced that this procedure is outrageous for travelers: thousands of complaints have been filed with the State Service for the Protection of Consumer Rights (SCRPA).

The European Commission also warned Lithuania about the violation of travelers’ rights, EU law does not provide for exceptions and stipulates that travelers are entitled to a refund for canceled trips within 14 days.

In the Seimas, the proposal of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation to return the payment period of 14 days with the travelers was accepted. In Thursday’s session, 119 members of the Seimas approved it, there were no “against” and 1 abstained.

The decision was supported by representatives of most of the political groups.

“We knew the EU directive from the beginning, but we were looking for ways to satisfy the wolf and keep the sheep healthy. (…) Now we have to go back to the requirements of the EU directive and legalize it for 14 days, of course with a slight delay in its entry into force. Throughout this period, many organizers settled accounts with the travelers, ”Mykolas Majauskas, president of the Budget and Finance Committee, asked for support.

The farmer Lukas Savickas also asked for support, mentioning that the postponement improves the situation, but does not solve it completely: “I will take the opportunity to ask for solutions to be found in the tourism sector.”

Farmer Laima Nagienė said she believes that the law will improve consumer rights, there will be a chance to recover funds that residents spent, but did not take trips.

Social Democrat Zigmantas Balčytis called the amendment very useful.

“We also understand tourism companies, they are experiencing problems related to the pandemic, but it is clear that any economic entity must pay for services not provided,” said Z. Balčytis.

It will enter into force on February 15

The new term will come into force on February 15, although initially it was intended to set the entry into force together with the approved law. Andrius Bagdonas and Andrius Kupčinskas presented this proposal. The Minister of Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė called for support for the 14-day mandate to take effect on February 15.

“I am proposing to support peer review, it is a little, very little, but we still have time to review the terms of the loans that tour operators can apply for to help them overcome this pandemic. However, it also protects consumers, who are protected by this directive, ”said A. Armonaitė, adding that European procedures would not be violated in this way.

Stasys Šedbaras, president of the Law and Order Committee, reported that the issue was not supported by the committee.

The proposal was put to a vote and received three votes in favor, one against and three abstentions, so there was no majority. Those who spoke against or abstained were of the opinion that this was contrary to the directive for which the provision is intended to be implemented, and that it was necessary to protect the rights of consumers, who are the weakest party, ”said Mr. Shedbar.

After the vote in the Seimas, the majority of the parliamentarians agreed to postpone the entry into force for one month: 84 votes in favor, 10 against and 28 abstentions.

“This bill is very important for those people who are involved in the whole tourism field. The fact that we are adjusting the date is the best way out of the worst situation, ”said liberal Kęstutis Glaveckas.

The State Service for the Protection of Consumer Rights (SCRPA) reported that it received more than 1,000 complaints from consumers in the field of tourism services last year.

“Consumers have mainly requested canceled trips and non-refundable money from tour operators,” said Natalia Jarmulkovic, senior advisor to SCRPA’s International and Public Relations Division.