Posted by : Tom Doyle in (Internet & Computers, Rantings) 22nd Jan, 2007
Ryanair at it again… maybe it’s out of their control?
I booked flights to Manchester with Ryanair just before Christmas - I wrote an article about the experience here.
Today I received an email from Ryanair stating that they will be deducting GBP £20 from my credit card because the UK Chancellor, Mr Gordon Brown MP, announced his decision to DOUBLE “UK Air Passenger Duty”.
Surely there has to be some protection for people in this situation?
Here’s the email:
“Dear Customer,
In his budget speech on 6th December 2006, the UK Chancellor, Mr Gordon Brown MP, announced his decision to DOUBLE “UK Air Passenger Duty”. This tax grab which is applicable to every passenger departing from a UK airport will generate £1bn. in tax revenues for the UK Government, but will do nothing for the environment.
Unfortunately, as you booked your flight - confirmation number I2PEDG before the 7th December 2006 with a travel date after the 1st February 2007 (see the below flight details), we have no alternative, in this instance, but to act as the UK Chancellor’s tax collector.
In accordance, with Article 4.2.2 of Ryanair’s General Conditions of Carriage, the additional tax amount required by the UK government will automatically be charged to the credit card or debit card used to pay for this flight booking. These credit/debit card transactions will automatically take place over the next 2 weeks
UK Air Passenger Duty Rates – applicable per person for each departing flight from a UK airport which was booked before the 7th December 2006 for travel from the 1st February 2007 onwards.
£10*(GBP) per person for each UK domestic flight (£20 on a return UK domestic flight)
£10* (GBP) per person for flights from the UK to an EU/EEA airport
£40* (GBP) per person for flights from the UK to an airport outside the EU/EEA – e.g. Morocco
*or local currency equivalent
Ryanair condemns the UK Chancellor’s unfair and regressive tax on ordinary passengers. And we urge you to write to Gordon Brown MP at ministers@hm-treasury.gsi.gov.uk indicating your opposition to this tax grab which will generate £1bn. in tax revenues for the UK Government, but will not do nothing for the environment.”
I’m not sure if Ryanair are entirely at fault here. The government shouldn’t tax you for a purchase you made before this tax increase was made. Costs just get passed on to the consumer again!
It amazes me that they can get away with this. I would be livid. For a start, did they give you to option to pull out of the pruchase? After all, when you agreed to pay for this ticket, the price did no include that extra tax. Surely they should be giving people the option to cancel/confirm their seats rather than automatically billing people extra. Very dodgy!! But its what I have come to expect from Ryanair so it doesn’t surprise me.
Please tell me that’s not verbatim?
“but will not do nothing for the environment”
Ryanair really sent that beautifully scripted email to you just like that?
I would ring Aer Lingus and ask them are they doing the same. Tell them your aunty bought a ticket and a friend told her she would have to pay another £20 now. Ask them is this true.
Ryanair are notorious for passing on all and any costs to the consumer. That’s ‘no frills’ though so you cant really complain I suppose.
Yep! Verbatim!
That’s the exact email, I only removed the bits that include our flight details.
I’ll find out what Aerlingus are doing!
Mate - that is an absolute disgrace. I would be outraged. You should call up and say you’ll never travel Ryanair again if they pull this off and failing that start an email campaign against them like the one they’ve started against Gordon Brown. They are total hypocritical crooks.
I want to know why they’ve still got our credit card details. The card I used to book flights in November has expired since, so they won’t be getting anything out of that… surely they can’t recharge cards without our consent?
Thats a good point, why do they have our credit card info?
To answer your question about why they can charge our cards… it’s all in the terms and conditions.
“In accordance, with Article 4.2.2 of Ryanair’s General Conditions of Carriage, the additional tax amount required by the UK government will automatically be charged to the credit card or debit card used to pay for this flight booking.”
Ha ha well they’re gonna have to sing for it first. If they did charge my card I’d claim that it was a fraudulant charge, see what the bank says to that.
I’m off to see what other flights are available - You never know…
Just wondering if you had any luck with this? I received the same mail today and am not happy!!