Montreal, April 29, 2021 - Option consommateurs deplores the fact that only a short period of time has been allowed for consumers to obtain refunds for travel cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic under the agreements reached between the federal government and the carriers Air Canada and now Air Transat.
For over a year, Option consommateurs has been receiving calls from consumers legitimately seeking refunds for cancelled flights, only to be refused. Now that agreements have finally been reached, the carriers are limiting the claim period. Air Canada customers have until June 12, 2021 to file their claims, and Air Transat customers must do so by August 26, 2021.
"Consumers have been waiting for over a year to legitimately recover their money, but only have two or four months to claim their due. This restriction is unacceptable to us. All consumers who have had their travel cancelled due to the pandemic should have more time to make their claim, and thus ensure that everyone is reimbursed," maintains Christian Corbeil, General Manager at Option consommateurs.
Option consommateurs also denounces the fact that consumers are required to pay a fee in order to obtain a refund.
"Unfortunately, we've received calls from consumers complaining about having to pay fees of up to $400 to get their own money back," says Sylvie De Bellefeuille, a lawyer and budget advisor at Option consommateurs.
Moreover, Option consommateurs still believes that in this case, the law already allowed consumers to obtain a refund, and that it should simply have been applied. Option consommateurs hopes that the mechanisms enabling laws to be applied quickly will be strengthened in the future, to avoid the same situation recurring in the next crisis.
About Option consommateurs
Option consommateurs is a non-profit association whose mission is to defend the rights and interests of consumers. It focuses on issues related to personal finance, business practices, financial services, privacy and energy.
-30-
For more information or an interview :
Marie-Ève Dumont, Communications Consultant
514-777-6133
