Ryanair (FR/RYR) has been accused of trying to force passengers into accepting vouchers instead of a cash refund by telling passengers it could be months before any cash refund is even processed.
The email, sent to customers who had sought a cash refund, included a voucher and warned the recipients that they would have to wait until after the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted before they could process refunds.
In the email, the airline said: “We highly recommend using the refund voucher as these are readily available and you can book flights on all Ryanair Group airlines in over 200 destinations in Europe and the Middle East.”
It added: “our customer care agents are required to work from home to limit the spread of COVID-19 virus, payment security restrictions prevent us from processing refunds as quickly as we would like to”
The email also contained a link that customers could click on if they still wanted to pursue a cash refund instead of accepting the voucher but many people have complained that the link didn’t work and when it did, the information kept talking about a voucher option or to move the flight with little information about a cash refund.
By law, if an airline cancels your flight they must refund you. Airlines prefer to issue credit vouchers as they effectively keep your money, especially at a time when airlines are trying keep as much cash in the bank as possible, but you are entitled to a cash refund and airlines.
If you paid for your ticket via a Credit Card you can also instruct your Card Company to claim the money back via a Chargeback on the basis that Ryanair have not refunded you in a reasonable time, this will cost Ryanair an additional £20 in costs.
