.
I ordered two tickets in June 2006 for
my wife and I to travel to South Africa direct (return) over the
Christmas 2006-2007, good value at around £2100 + £78
insurance, I paid for the tickets on my debit card.
When I opened my bank statement in
November 2006, Virgin had erroneously removed a further £2222
plus £78 insurance from my bank account plunging it into
overdraught. Because Virgin Atlantic did not have a direct number for
customer services I had to draught and send a recorded letter begging
to them to refund me ASAP as I was going on holiday and needed MY money
to spend on holiday. My bank was no use at all, they said it was
between me and Virgin, even though Virgin had defrauded me. My money
was not refunded while we were away, as a result we had little spending
money and spent most of the time in my sister-in-laws flat in Jo'burg
because we couldn't afford to go anywhere or hire a car, this
dissapointed my nieces who I had promised some day trips to.
Meanwhile, our spending money was
sitting in Virgin's bank account gaining interest.
When we got home after Christmas, they
still had not refunded the money, I had to borrow £500 from my 85
year-old mother, In the end, I told a lady I work about it (an
ex-travel agent) who only by internal knowledge and insisting on the
phone to Virgin I managed to wangle my full refund in early 2007 (after
having to send another recorded letter), with a pathetic letter of
apology from them and NO refund for the bank charges while the
account was in overdraught, which I advised them of.
I was going to take out legal action
against Virgin Atlantic for damages (in taut) but was advised of the
complications and time involved, so that is why I have stuck my
complaint here.
WHY I WILL NEVER USE VIRGIN ATLANTIC
AGAIN:
BY INCOMPETENCE, THEY ERRONEOUSLY TOOK
OVER £2200 OUT OF MY BANK ACCOUNT
THEY HAD/HAVE NO DIRECT CUSTOMER SERVICE TELEPHONE NUMBER
THE OUTWARD FLIGHT WAS ATROCIOUS, THE FOOD INEDIBLE (WITNESSED), AND NO
COLD BEER/DRINKS
IT TOOK THREE MONTHS FOR MY MONEY TO BE REFUNDED
I HAD TO SEND TWO RECORDED LETTERS TO GET MY MONEY BACK
DUE TO THE ERROR I NEARLY MISSED TWO MORTGAGE REPAYMENTS DUE TO THE
AMOUNT OF OVERDRAUGHT
I WAS GIVEN NOTHING IN RECOMPENSE
Mr Branson, I hope that you read this,
everything I have written is completely true and I have full recorded
documentation to prove it.
If anybody ever asks me my opinion of
your airline I shall merely tell them of my experience with you, with
no elaboration or bias, you have my details.