French ferry company fined for not reimbursing delayed passengers
Company says weather conditions meant refunds were not required
The fine related to three specific journeys
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A French ferry company has been fined €48,000 for not reimbursing passengers whose journeys were disrupted.
Corsica Ferries, headquartered in Bastia, received the fine from the French Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes (DGCCRF).
The authority cited three trips made by the company which were delayed but for which passengers were not offered the partial refund to which they were entitled.
“Contrary to the reasons put forward by the carrier, these delays were not justified by conditions that compromised the safe operation of the vessel,” the DGCCRF said.
‘First fine in 30 years’
“It is the first time in 30 years that we have received this type of fine, and it's never a pleasure,” said the company in response to the ruling.
The company manages routes between mainland France and Corsica, as well as the Balearic Islands, Sardinia, and Elba.
It argued that European regulations require compensation of 25% to 50% of the ticket price for passengers delayed on arrival, "except in cases of a force majeure [an unforeseen event beyond its control], such as weather conditions.”
The three journeys in question were delayed by heavy winds “of over 20 knots… and other difficult weather conditions”.
“That is why the company did not [reimburse passengers on the selected journeys];” it added.
However, both the DGCCRF and the local Haute-Corse prefecture rejected the claim.
The company has launched an investigation into the fine. It may contest it at European level.
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