My wife and I are accompanying our granddaughter and about 200 others for a trip arranged by VI to Europe, leaving June 18, 2020. Our Prepayments were made months ago, and are subject to an ambiguous cancellation/refund policy. After May 1, about 40 days from now, and 45 days before the trip leaves, there are no refunds.
Along comes the Corona Virus Pandemic, and you might expect that the cancellation clause in the contract would be modified to recognize the uncertainty this global crisis has created. You would be wrong. Instead, earlier this week I received a brief, unsigned, undated letter that said, in part, "Since we have 3-4 months before departure, we are hopeful that the situation will improve. It is your decision how much risk you wish to take, as VI must follow our cancellation policy."
Really? Really! Not only is VI intransigent regarding their Draconian refund policy (unlike almost every other company, including airlines, in the travel industry, but when one parent asked "what would they do if the children got quarantined somewhere ...(he) ...was told that it would be the parents responsibility to get them home."
I was able to reach a manager at VI a couple days ago. He said another letter would be going out soon. I found out it was dropped in the US mail on 3/17. I called their office on 3/19 to get clarification about the cancellation fee and got the most ironic electronic message. ""We cannot take your call. The entire staff has been sent home, due to the Corona Virus Pandemic."
You can't make this stuff up.
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