Lufthansa won’t pay up?

[Jan M]

Last year August I flew with Lufthansa from Germany to Bilbao. Lufthansa cancelled at the last minute, rescheduled the flight for the next day (after long waits on hold), then proceeded to loose my luggage. Automated e-mails aside, they never replied to my e-mail for compensation. So late October I took the matter to their ADR, the SöP, which only communicates (because it is overstretched) in German. In February SöP informed that Lufthansa agreed to settle the claim for the amount I requested (about 550 euro, including the clothes I had to buy, etc.). The e-mail stated that Lufthansa would make contact with me for payment details and that if there were any issues I could come back to SöP after six weeks. After five/six weeks of crickets, I contacted SöP who sent Lufthansa a follow-up e-mail with both me and Lufthansa in the BCC…

It’s been another two weeks and still nothing. And I’m at a loss as what to do next? There is nothing connecting the flight to the UK, so I can’t take them to court here. But it’s infuriating that a major company – bailed out by tax payers for billions of euros – is behaving in this way. So if I could send some bailiffs to their Heathrow check in desk, I would.

Any advice?

[JDB]

Notwithstanding your comment re theoretically no UK angle, I would still write a Letter before Claim to LH’s UK registered office – Lufthansa German Airlines, World Business Centre 1 Newall Road, Hounslow, London Heathrow Airport, TW6 2FA. No need to address it to anyone in particular, but there is. Mr Heinrich Lange recorded at Companies House as authorised to receive service of documents.

Set out the background, LH case reference, together with a copy of the SöP decision, subsequent correspondence and of course (UK and international IBAN/Swift/BIC) details of your bank account to pay the debt owed within 14 days failing which you will issue court proceedings, seeking payment of the €550, plus interest since the SöP decision and court fees. I think you will find they pay quite quickly.