Wowcher ‘mystery holiday’ branded a scam by customers as ‘it’s so overbooked there aren’t enough trips to go round’
A FURIOUS customer has accused Wowcher of running a "scam" after booking a £99 mystery holiday deal - only for the destinations to be sold out.
Twitter user Will, 20, warned others to avoid the bargain deal on the social media website after he was unable to use his booking for the holiday he had chosen.
The programmer originally paid £129 per person for a weekend break with his girlfriend.
Their holiday was set to be between July and August, with the deal costing slightly more than the normal £99 as it was peak time.
However, despite being told initially that they would be going to Venice, they were then told it had sold out, and would have to go another time of year.
: "We booked excited for July-August for £129 each and got told on Thursday after having to call them three times because no one would talk to us that we got Venice 100 per cent and would be booked the next day when someone calls me.
"Of course they didn't call me so I waited five days.
"After five days I called them and they said they ran out of Venice for July-Aug as they overbooked so can do between September-March for me, no compensation added.
"I couldn't do September-March which is exactly why we paid more to do July-Aug.
"The guy was rude on the phone and have had many people complain the same."
Will was then offered a hotel in an alternative city, which he said was miles from the centre.
He added: "He then said he can alternatively give me Brussels, so I asked what hotel and the hotel was two hours from the centre of Brussels with no transport from the airport to the hotel.
"They did offer us Venice in the end for three nights as they can't do the two originally promised, but that 3rd night would cost an extra £80 per person, no thank you mate, can shove it.
"I have now got to go harass for my money back, bye friends. But every time I talk to one of them they direct me to the other, #mysteryholiday goals."
";If you have any sanity in your life. Do not buy this mystery holiday. Save yourself the hassle a buy a nice holiday elsewhere."
He added: "Even if you get one of the lower ones they might not even be able to book your holiday again due to overbooking so will just tell you to go get a refund, which is an impossible task with Wowcher not wanting to claim responsibility for giving a refund.
"You can get drawn Dubai and still end up in Berlin or them saying get a refund and that is a scam."
Other social media users also complained of similar problems.
Elle, from Cambridge, : "Absolutely DISGUSTED with weekender breaks, booked the mystery holiday through @wowcher phoned to find out our destination and was told Brussels.
"Called them back half an hour later to be told it was no longer available, nor were ANY holidays in July/August which we had already paid EXTRA for (£129 instead of £99).
"Offered a holiday in SEPTEMBER instead (which should have been £99) but was then told we would NOT be refunded the extra we had paid and instead had to pay an EXTRA £25 each to book this break."
She was also told that they had oversold by 11,000 people and wouldn't be able to compensate anyone for different dates.
Tom Clasby : "Please can someone contact me from @Wowcher_Support @wowcher this mystery holiday is a scam the hotels we got offered aren’t even in the destinations we got offered! 2 hours away!"
The £99 Mystery Deal includes holidays to Europe as well as Dubai, Bali and Las Vegas with customers not told where they are going until they book the package.
The has already been bought by over 4,600 people.
A Wowcher spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: "Wowcher has worked closely with Weekender Breaks to offer this hugely popular and exciting Mystery Holiday deal, and will always work with our merchants to resolve any customer satisfaction issues.
"We are able to secure the preferred travel dates and flights for most customers who have purchased a Mystery Holiday, and continue to do so- meaning that thousands of customers are delighted with their trip.
"n a small number of instances, and as outlined in the deal’s terms and conditions, this is not possible due to flight availability - and we work hard to be able to offer the next best dates and times.
"We ask that customers are flexible in these instances, and we will always deliver them a quality holiday at great value.
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"At Wowcher we ensure a high level of customer service and are currently in contact with the customers mentioned in the article to resolve any issues."
Despite the complaints, one man was lucky enough to pay £99 for the mystery holiday - and ended up spending four nights in Dubai.
Liam, 21, bagged the holiday with his friend, Craig, and stayed at a three-star resort in the city.
Sun Online Travel has also contacted Weekender Breaks for comment.
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