Around 160 reports of non-reimbursement of travel have fallen through to the Swedish Enforcement Authority. SAS is the most sought after, but Norwegian, Ving, Apollo and TUI also have angry travelers after them. In some cases, seizure is threatened.
Hundreds of thousands of customers are still waiting for money.
In the wake of the corona crisis, SAS has so far paid back money for canceled trips to 1.7 million customers. But "hundreds of thousands" are still waiting for money, according to SAS press manager Freja Annamatz. At a rate of up to 20,000 per day, SAS is grazing off the pile, according to her.
”Right now we are doing everything we can to pay it back as quickly as possible,” she says.
She understands that many people are frustrated. But she doesn't want to answer whether it's faster to get the money back through the Swedish Enforcement Authority. That's hardly something SAS wants to encourage.
”"We follow the applicable laws and regulations, but we have not been able to live up to the seven-day rule," says SAS press manager Freja Annamatz.
Since last spring, the Swedish Enforcement Authority has received around 160 reports from dissatisfied customers, including SAS, Norwegian, Ving and Tui, who have grown tired of waiting and have sought other options.
In some cases, the claims involve hundreds of thousands of kronor. And they mainly concern cancelled trips from last spring that have not yet been reimbursed.
The payment notices are being served on the travel companies, which appear to be paying, at least in part, since the reports have been withdrawn in many cases. But far from all. And in five cases, the Swedish Enforcement Authority has investigations underway that could result in a seizure, where the authority can simply knock on doors and seize assets that correspond to the debt.
Both SAS and Norwegian are now subject to such investigations, with the highest value being SEK 27,100, according to the Swedish Enforcement Authority.
Recently, the Consumer Ombudsman decided to levy a penalty on SAS of one million kronor per month if the airline does not refund the money for canceled trips within seven days.
