A DEVASTATED bride has revealed fears she will lose thousands after struggling to get a refund despite buying a "Covid secure" hen do package.
Chloe Brattle, 29, has been forced to cancel her wedding four times after the wedding planner went bust.
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And now Chloe, from Sevenoaks, Kent, is struggling to get a refund after cancelling her hen do in Tenerife that was booked for May 2021.
The Government has made it illegal to go on holiday, including for hen dos under the current lockdown, and brought in a hotel quarantine measures.
Travellers returning from Spain do not currently have to quarantine in a hotel but the "red-list" of countries could be altered last minute meaning this could change at any time in response to new Covid variants.
In August last year, maid-of-honour Keely, decided to try arranging a hen do abroad for Chloe one last time and booked a luxury Tenerife hotel to coincide with the bride’s 30th in May 2021 – in the hope restrictions may have eased.
Now, with the wedding cancelled in June after the planners went bust, Keely has tried to change the hen do dates but was told by holiday firm Teletext that she would have to pay an amendment fee of £2,500.
If she cancels the holiday, she and the hens will lose the £2,000 they have already paid because Teletext's 'Covid-secure' policy only allows free cancellations if someone falls ill with coronavirus within 14 days of the start of the trip.
Maid-of-honour Keely explained: “I’ve got 13 ladies screaming for their money back and I'm piggy in the middle trying to put the pieces back.
“Poor Chloe is not a happy bunny, a bit of a bridezilla after four cancellations.”
The Teletext holidays website states they’ve removed all cancellation and amendment fees and will give a full refund if someone falls ill with coronavirus at least 14 days prior to the flight.
But the cancellation policy doesn't include other Covid-related unforeseen circumstances such as Chloe's where the wedding has been cancelled because the planners have gone bust.
What are the rules on travelling in lockdown?
You must not leave home or travel, including abroad, unless you have a legally permitted reason to do so.
People travelling to England must show proof of a negative Covid test before they will be let into the country.
Tests must be taken in the 72 hours before boarding a plane, train or ferry.
What test do I need?
All three main test types (PCR, LAMP and an antigen test, such as a lateral flow device) will be accepted.
Travellers are left to find a test, with strict rules on accuracy.
Holidaymakers must check with their test provider that the testing meets standards “greater than or equal to 97 per cent specificity, greater than or equal to 80 per cent sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml”.
What would happen if I tested positive?
Not only would you not be allowed to board your return flight home, you also face self-isolating in a foreign country for up to two weeks.
Destinations such as Spain, Italy and Dubai enforce a quarantine on anyone who tests positive for the virus.
How will rules be enforced?
Border Force officials will be carrying out spot-checks and handing out fines for a minimum of £500.
Airlines and train and ferry operators must check a passenger has proof of a negative test and they will be fined if caught transporting rule-breakers.
What are the quarantine rules?
All international passengers travelling to England must complete a passenger locator form before arrival and must then self-isolate for a full ten days.
Keely claims Teletext told her that the only way she could qualify for the full refund was if she informed airlines Ryanair and Easyjet that they couldn’t fly due to sickness.
Bride Chloe, a team leader, and Brad, a window fitter, both 29, have known each other since they were 11, and finally got together four years ago.
After Brad popped the question in 2019, the pair booked their wedding immediately but because of the coronavirus pandemic they are still no closer to their dream wedding.
Chloe said: "It's gutting. We've obviously had many hiccups and I finally thought that everything was set for June.
"So it's on to 2022 and pray nothing else goes wrong!"
Brad added: "It's been really difficult changing the date again, because not only have we lost money, we've had to pay an extra £500 to secure a new date.
"We weren't even given an option to choose our new date for 2022 with almost no dates left available – it was either that or wait until 2023!"
"We've also had to change our suppliers and losing more money of deposits,it's just been hassle from start to finish and it's ridiculous, I never thought that planning a wedding would be this much struggle."
It’s gutting. We’ve obviously had many hiccups and I finally thought that everything was set.
Chloe and Brad are not alone in having refund issues with Teletext. The company is currently under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for failing to refund customers.
It comes after hundreds of people filed complaints for not being refunded for their package holidays that were cancelled due to the pandemic.
A spokesperson from Truly Travel Ltd who operate the Teletext Holidays told The Sun earlier this month that they’re working with the CMA to sort things out.
They said: “Despite the conditions that the travel industry faces and the lack of support provided by the government, we continue to work hard to process refunds as quickly as possible.
"We will work closely with the CMA to reach a satisfactory outcome for all our customers.”
The CMA states that they are at the initial stage of its investigation, so it should not be assumed that any business under investigation has broken consumer protection law.
Teletext holidays have been approached for comment.
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