Important changes to the Refund Credit Note Scheme for Customers and for Travel Agents & Tour Operators

Apr 21, 2023, 08:50 by User Not Found

Refund Credit Note - Guide for Licensed Tour Operators and Travel Agents

The publication of Statutory Instrument No. 644 of 2022 by the Commission for Aviation Regulation has put into effect important changes to the Scheme. It introduces a regulation that travel trade licensees may not, after 31 December 2022, ask a customer to voluntarily accept a Refund Credit Note (RCN) in place of a cash refund if either party seek to cancel a package holiday. After the 31 December 2022 all requests for a cancellation must be done by way of a cash refund subject to the relevant provisions of the Package Holidays and

Travel Trade Act 1995.

Statutory Instrument No. 644 of 2022 also introduces the regulation that an RCN held by a customer will no longer be guaranteed by the State after 31 December 2024 if the travel agent or tour operator goes out of business. This means that if a travel agent or tour operator goes out of business on or after 1 January 2025 any unused or uncashed RCNs will not be accepted as evidence of a claim for reimbursement from the Commission for Aviation Regulation or the State.