Contiki Exploits customers' options to cancel trips

I emailed Contiki consultant Yanda Mongo on 05 March 2020 about what will be happening with the tour that I booked for 26 June 2020 with regards to COVID-19, they said that they are looking at it on a month to month basis and will get back to me. Yesterday consultant Leeanne Naidu sent an email giving us two options. To either travel in 2020/2021 or to get travel credit until 30 December 2022. I responded by explaining that in the second week of March via telephone the consultant told me that I can cancel and get my money back, just losing my deposit. Please keep in mind that I am a third year student planning on doing honours, masters and my articles in the next five years and I was planning that the only dates I have available would be June 2020 for travel. Therefore the dates they had given to me does not fit my calendar.

They responded by saying I have to choose one of the options they had given me yesterday. They have failed to understand that they gave me other options before their decision yesterday and completely disregard my rights and options as consumer.

I expect of them to give me the option of cancelling my trip, because I was able to do so before the pandemic and see no reason why I may not and cannot do so now.

I am also in contact with ASATA to take steps against them.