Friends Refuse Refund after โขTrip Cancellation, leavingโค Traveler โฃOut $800
A woman is seeking advice after โa group of friends refused to refund her money for a planned international trip she had toโ cancel due to โขillness.The traveler, โwhoโค identifies as โ”STAYING HOME IN โTHE โEAST,” shared her โsituation โคwith advice columnist Dear Abby, detailing โขa long-standing arrangement withinโฃ the travelโ group.
The group,comprised of women who have traveled internationallyโฃ together in โrecent years,operates โฃwith one member handling accommodation bookings. According to STAYING HOME IN THE EAST, this individual “loves to do” the accommodation search, than books the reservations adn collects funds from each traveler to cover their โshare. Flights, โhowever, are booked individually.
the issue arose when STAYING HOME IN โขTHE EAST was forced โขto cancel a recentโ trip due to illness,notifying the โฃgroup three months prior โขto the scheduled โฃdeparture. She requested a refund of approximately $800,representing โher contributions towards accommodations and โcar rental.
However, the group refused theโ refund, stating that theirโ expenses were now higher than anticipated and that her cancellation wasโข not their obligation. STAYING HOME IN THE EAST expressed frustration that theโค group struggled โto understandโฃ why she would want her โฃmoneyโ back, feeling she was being asked to โค”subsidize their vacation.”
Dear Abby responded emphatically, stating,โ “No, you are not beingโ greedy. You are being taken advantage of, which means you need to give serious consideration โฃto whether you ever want to โฃtravel with this bunch again.”
Abby suggested โaโค potential solution: finding a replacement traveler who could โtake her place and reimburse her for โthe $800, allowing the group to โขproceed with their vacation without incurring additional costs.