Posted on 18/03/2020 11:26
We booked through the CC to go in May with Brittany Ferries, and they have just taken the balance of payment.
How do we stand financially if the ferry is cancelled?
I would like to get a refund as I think this will go on longer than we envisage, and also, if any ferry companies cease trading, then a voucher to travel at a later date would be worthless.
Posted on 30/03/2020 15:03 by eurortravellerTo the best of my knowledge B/F are offering vouchers valid for two years not one. If they stay in business they will honour them. If they go belly up and cease trading you can try for a refund from the credit card company you used for your original payment. I can't see any other alternative.
But as 85% of the B/F customers are British, contributing a lot to tne French economy, it seems probable that the French government will support this French company.
Posted on 30/03/2020 15:48
Brittany Ferries will, I think, benefit from the EU Emergency Financial Package announced last week [the equivalent of the emergency package provided by the UK Chancellor]. EU has relaxed State Aid Rules and the French Government has a long track record of providing State Aid to French business by the simple expedient of declaring the business to be of strategic national importance.
EU knows that it has the same challenge as UK in keeping businesses viable to limit the damage to the European economy and to make it less costly to fund the eventual recovery.
Dealing with the Coronavirus is the current priority. The tweaking and implementation of the Financial Support Package, in UK and EU, will develop as the full effect of the damage to the various economies becomes clearer. There's a broad agreement amongst economists that the current support packages will not be enough.
Steve
Dr Nigel
Caravanner