I am writing to say that I am very disappointed with the TripADeal refund process for a trip to Japan to be undertaken in Feb 2025. I should also say that my comments below are based purely on the refund process, the trip looked great.
My wife and I booked and immediately paid in full for a 15 day ‘Grand Japan’ trip in late March 2024, with the trip departing Sydney on 25 February 2025. Due to a life threatening medical issue we had to cancel the trip on 06 January 2025. On 20 January TripADeal advised their estimated amount that I would receive as a refund, however; it would be up to 60 days before a refund would be provided. On 27 February I thought I would send an email stating “hey, we are close to 60 days, any chance of a refund ’soon’, we could use the funds". I was promptly advised by reply email that my refund due date is 07 March 2025. Nothing from TripADeal on 07 March 2025; however, on 11 March 2025 they requested our bank details, and advised once received, payment would be made within 10-15 business days. We finally received our refund from TripADeal on 19 March 2025.
This was such a drawn out process to me, in as much as, it is my opinion that the sole aim of TripADeal was to retain our funds for the maximum amount of time possible in obtaining ‘interest’ on those funds. I believe this is proven by the wording “your due date is 07 March 2025”. Then to ask for banking details after 07 March 25 with a further 10-15 business days for processing just smacks of greed to me in that TripADeal wants to maximise interest earned. TripADeal wants money upfront and then to put you through this greedy and time consuming refund process is poor and is a process desperately in need of improvement.
My final words to TripADeal were, “I’ve unsubscribed, not one more dollar”!
