Possible RedBalloon refund or compensation

Bit of back-story - got given a drive in a Lamborghini in the form of a Red Balloon gift card as a gift for my birthday.

Now, with this experience you have to book in advance, in my case 3 - 4 weeks. I was due to do this on the Friday that just passed.

Thursday night I got a text saying “your Lamborghini ride has been cancelled”. After I got hold of them they just let me know the drive was still going ahead, they had to get a different coloured car - all good, no worries.

Come Friday, I have driven 1.5 hours to Mornington. Had my ride booked for 3pm, but it advises to arrive 15 minutes prior to sort out paperwork. Come 2:30 I receive a text “the driving instructors personal car has broken down, are we able to reschedule to 4:30pm which was fine.

My phone died, but I drove to the place where you are asked to go and charge my phone while I’m there. 4:15 comes and no driver. My phone turns on to which I received a text a couple minutes prior saying that the driver is still running late, am I able to make it at 6pm which I wasn’t able to as I needed to be somewhere at home at 7, which was an hour and a half away.

They apologised and offered a voucher to do it another day or a refund, which was fine, except that I’m leaving Australia in a few weeks and given you need to book in advanced, I probably won’t be able to do it - likely solution is to go the refund, which sucks as I would’ve liked to do the ride.

Now what I’m wondering, is I spent the time and money in travel and petrol to travel 1.5 hours to Mornington and had to make the trip back, specifically for the experience I wasn’t able to do.

Do you think I’d have any luck in asking for compensation, maybe in the form of a voucher, for the inconvenience caused, not to mention the petrol cost and time spent?

Never been in this situation and hopefully won’t be in one again.

Much appreciate any advice

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Comments

  • Do you think I’d have any luck in asking for compensation, maybe in the form of a voucher, for the inconvenience caused,

    You should of course be compensated for your expenses. Issue the service provider an invoice.

    • Okay, I’ll get my accountant onto it. Add my call out fee too

  • -3

    What did they say when you asked them?

    • +2

      Typical response is typical.

      I’m asking for advice prior to asking the company, eh

      • Just ask them, what if they say no? you going to do a moon dance?

  • -1

    Technically you might be entitled to it, buy two points:

    1. The terms and conditions likely disclaim that kind of liability, and

    2. How much petrol did you really spend and given you were on holidays, how much is your time really worth?

    • "Cl 8.3 - Notwithstanding any other provision in this contract, the service provider agrees to adequately compensate the client with respect to any loss caused by a change in booking times."

      • Doesn't sound like a standard term and condition, does it?
  • When a company causes you inconvenience like that, generally speaking, there is no legal right to any compensation. However, most companies have a 'customer comes first' sort of policy so I would speak to them, explain the situation and see what best they can do for you.

  • You are willing to go through a lot of in inconvenience to seek compensation on past inconvenience.

    Are you then willing to be inconvenienced to seek compensation for the inconvenience of seeking compensation for the initial inconvenience?

  • Presumably in this circumstance you shouldn't need to wait the advanced booking period as you already did that & they cancelled the ride.
    I would call up to reschedule for a time convenient to you & see what they say.

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