While excitement is growing for a traditional school leaver celebration, interstate Year 12  students are being urged to carefully review their accommodation booking terms and  conditions (T&Cs). 

Commissioner for Fair Trading Victoria Thomson said schoolies should familiarise  themselves with the 70 and 80 per cent vaccination milestones for entering Queensland and  the impacts should further restrictions and border closures make attendance impossible.  

Ms Thomson said not everyone will be entitled to a refund.  

“The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is aware students from other states may have made  bookings in Queensland earlier in the year,” Ms Thomson said. 

“Last year, when the pandemic was new and unprecedented, people may have been  provided refunds under the accommodation providers’ T&Cs, even when they were under no  obligation to do so.  

“However, by early 2021, most accommodation providers had updated their booking T&Cs to  cover pandemic-related cancelations due to government-imposed restrictions. 

“Unfortunately, if the person making the booking didn’t read the T&Cs conditions properly  and accepted them by paying a deposit, they will be bound to those conditions which may  leave them out of pocket.” 

The Commissioner said that school leavers’ rights to refunds will depend on the individual  businesses’ T&Cs. 

“In many instances accommodation providers clearly state that the deposit is  non-refundable, but this will vary from business to business, particularly with regards to  COVID -19 restrictions,” she said. 

“At this time, Queensland school leavers are still able to freely travel to the Gold Coast and  other popular end of year celebration destinations across the state. 

“But they will need to keep in mind physical distancing and limits to the amount of people  allowed inside accommodation, as well as the potential for lockdowns and restrictions  impacting their plans. 

“If the situation changes and the Gold Coast was to go into a lockdown, the booking terms  and conditions will determine if they get their deposit back or not. 

“If schoolies find themselves in this situation, they should carefully check their T&Cs, and  any previous communications about the accommodation booking, and contact the provider directly.  

“While a business may be entitled to keep the deposit or payment due to their T&Cs, some  may offer a refund or credit note or voucher as a gesture of good will.

“However, if there was a right to a refund under the T&Cs at the time of booking, businesses  aren’t permitted to change the terms at a later time to deny a refund.” 

For more information about travel rights and refunds, visit the OFT website. 

If a school leaver believes they are entitled to a refund and they’ve been unable to resolve  the matter with the trader directly, they are encouraged to lodge a complaint with the  OFT. Complaints can be lodged online at: www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading. 

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