Brittany Ferries cheap 24h return

[Spider16240]

I purchased a 24 hour return on Brittany Ferries from Plymouth to Roscoff and didn't make the return crossing. I now have a letter from them asking for an additional £101 as the additional amount for a full one way trip. Their T&C state that if you do not make the return crossing your credit/debit card will be charged with the difference between the "special offer price" and the normal one way ticket.

 

Does that also mean that if you do not make either the outward or return journey they could still charge?

 

I wonder if they have any legal right to charge for a service (i.e. the return journey) which I did not use?

[MaxxPower]

So you didn't get on the Ferry at all? Did you take a later crossing using the same ticket? Or make no return crossing at all and return via alternative means?

 

If you didn't take any return trip on their ferries I'm not sure how they can charge you anything.

[reallymadwoman]

With respect, the previous poster may be wrong as you say it is in their terms and conditions, basically to stop people just booking cheap 24 hour crossings because it's cheaper than the standard one way fare.

 

Why didn't you use the return crossing and how long afterward did you return?

[Spider16240]

We didn't make the return crossing because of a problem with our car, we couldn't get back to the ferry port in time. We returned to the UK next day via Dover. It was not possible to take a later ferry using the same ticket as the ticket stipulates how long you are allowed to stay in France.

[reallymadwoman]

Since I have always found Brittany Ferries to be relatively helpful, I would be inclined to write back to them explaining why you were unable to take the return crossing. If you have evidence of the problem with your car, e.g. a receipt for the work or parts you bought, send them a copy as proof, and also include a copy of your actual ticket for the return crossing, or the credit card or bank statement showing the payment.

 

Because of the terms and conditions I think they probably could still charge you the excess fare, but they might take pity on you and waive some or all of it.

[reallymadwoman]

To help anyone with a similar problem, could you let us know what you do and what the outcome is please.

[Spider16240]

Thanks for the comments reallymadwoman, however in my original post I was asking for advice on the legal position of BF demanding money for a service they did not provide. I did, of course, write to them as soon as I received their demand outlining why I had not taken the return journey, as yet no reply. The money they are asking for is not that important, it's the principle of the thing.

 

The ferry on the way out was practically deserted, maybe they need to claw money back by whatever means they can! It's a real pity they have no competition sailing into the west country.

 

If it is legal for them to demand money for a return journey which was not made then surely they could also demand money for a journey which was not made at all, for instance if you booked a 24 hour return and didn't use it at all because of illness.

 

My inclination at the moment is to ignore the demand and see what happens next, I doubt they will follow through but it could be interesting.

[reallymadwoman]

In my opinion, what Brittany Ferries are doing is reasonable and within the terms and conditions of the ticket which you purchased.

 

You purchased a ticket for x amount instead of y, on condition that you used the return portion of the ticket. Brittany Ferries may well have offered this facility to attract customers on to a 'quiet' sailing since the boat is going across anyway so they might as well get something toward the costs, and of course most passengers will spend something onboard on top of their fare. Last minute holidays and air flights are sold on exactly the same basis. Empty seats cost money.

 

Additionally, Brittany Ferries do not want to sell special offer tickets to people who would have been going over to France anyway, since that is obviously going to cost them money. They are a business not a charity. They want people who have to travel to France to book and pay the normal price, not take advantage of offers which are supposed to attract new customers.

 

You breached the conditions of your ticket by not using the return portion, therefore Brittany Ferries have perhaps lost money and are entitled to enforce the terms and conditions of your ticket, namely that you pay the difference between your discounted ticket and the ordinary fare. They did provide the service you paid for since I'm presuming they didn't cancel the crossing because you didn't turn up.

 

In relation to them being able to charge the full fare if you don't turn up for either crossing, no they can't. It isn't in their terms and conditions and never will be because people not turning up for either crossing usually have a good reason which would have prevented them from travelling whatever ticket they'd bought.

 

Incidentally, is there some reason why you chose to drive right across Northern France to take a ferry to Dover rather than simply booking on to the next ferry from Roscoff?

Edited July 4, 2012 by reallymadwoman

[Spider16240]

So you didn't get on the Ferry at all? Did you take a later crossing using the same ticket? Or make no return crossing at all and return via alternative means?

 

If you didn't take any return trip on their ferries I'm not sure how they can charge you anything.

 

I suspect that legally BF cannot charge for a crossing you have not made even if it is in their T&C, any attempt at recovery action would be laughed out of court. I wrote to BF explaining that due to exceptional circumstances I could not make the return crossing and received a reply saying they would waive the charge on this occasion, perhaps they looked at how often I have used their service in the past. They didn't even ask me why I had returned via Dover - perhaps they thought it was not relevant or indeed any of their business!

[broxie]

Bumping this thread as I was specifically looking for the same answer.

 

I suspect that legally BF cannot charge for a crossing you have not made even if it is in their T&C

 

I think they are charging the full fare for the outbound sailing which was made, not trying to charge for the journey that wasn't undertaken. The £101 might be the difference between the full price of the one way sailing you did take and one half of the discounted day return ticket that was purchased.

 

Good news that you managed to bat them off so easily.