Your TAROM compensation claim is rejected. What should you do now?
Experiencing claim rejection can be particularly annoying when you’re attempting to secure TAROM compensation on your own, and moreover, when you are uncertain about your eligibility for compensation to begin with. What should be your next step? Is it truly worth the effort? Firstly, it absolutely is. You could opt to give your claim to a flight compensation company to proceed on your behalf. However, that isn’t the only alternative.
You have the choice to continue to fight for your rights independently.
Your TAROM Compensation Claim Is Rejected. Now What?
What to do if your TAROM compensation claim is rejected?
There are additional ways to secure compensation from TAROM.
But initially, before escalating matters, take time to understand the legalities and familiarize yourself with your rights.
1. Working With Flight Compensation Companies
The simplest approach is to collaborate with a flight compensation company.
All that is required of you is completing an online form, supplying them with copies of your boarding pass and passport, and authorising the claim. Mostly, you don’t need to concern yourself with anything else. The company handles the rest. You no longer need to liaise with TAROM.
Should there be any additional queries, the compensation company will contact you. The only downside is the charges. Most flight compensation companies deduct around 25-45% of the compensation.
Our partners offer such services.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
How much does it cost?
Ordinarily, the cost equates to roughly 25 to 45 per cent of the compensation. The remainder is transferred to you. You won’t be charged if you don’t secure compensation.
Read more:
2. Contacting the NEB of the Country Your Flight Is From
Partnering with a flight compensation company isn’t the only option.
Reaching out to the NEB (National Enforcement Bodies) is the subsequent stage after you have tried liaising with the airline individually and received a denial or no response at all.
Working with NEB is free. But it’s not as simple as working with a flight compensation company, and it can be time-consuming. The usual wait time is around two months for the NEB to process your compensation claim.
The largest disadvantage — a positive response to your request doesn’t ensure you will receive compensation. TAROM can still dismiss the request.
A directory of the National Enforcement Bodies can be found here.
The National Enforcement Bodies assist passengers in the event of denied boarding, flight delay or cancellation, as well as enforce the regulation Regulation (EC) 261/2004 and make sure passengers are treated according to these rules.
3. Taking the Case to Court
Your TAROM compensation claim is rejected.
The next step is to escalate your case to court.
It’s strongly recommended to await a favourable ruling from the NEB initially. Because having such a ruling will significantly assist in your case against the airline (TAROM in this instance).
This is the most complex option, but also highly effective. Prior to taking your concern to court, ensure your claim is legitimate. Review your rights and form your argument. Only then can you confidently determine if it’s worth pursuing it in court. If you have a judgment from the NEB stating that you are eligible for compensation, include it with your court documents.
Remember, legal proceedings against your complaint will incur costs.
Extraordinary Circumstances
It’s not uncommon for airlines to offer vague reasoning when declining your compensation claim. They typically provide a broad, nondescript explanation and leave it at that. A favourite term they use is “extraordinary circumstances.”
The logic behind this is straightforward — settling compensation claims doesn’t lead to financial gain for them. Consequently, airlines look for ways to sidestep these payouts. It’s a strategy they can effectively employ because many passengers lack full knowledge of their rights. So, when you next come across the term “extraordinary circumstances,” remember to be sceptical.
As per EU regulation 261/2004, airlines are exempt from granting flight compensation when disruptions occur due to extraordinary circumstances. These extraordinary circumstances comprise severe weather conditions, civil or political instability, and hidden manufacturing defects. Strikes unrelated to the airline are also considered to be extraordinary circumstances.
When it comes to technical problems, keep in mind that only concealed manufacturing defects fall under the extraordinary circumstances category. The majority of technical issues are seen as an airline’s liability (airline’s responsibility).
Furthermore, bad weather doesn’t always qualify as an extraordinary circumstance. In instances where the weather is predictable, like snowfall during the winter months (unless the snow is unusual in that area), the airline should ideally make the necessary adjustments to ensure the flight departs as scheduled.
Determine the actual cause of the delay or cancellation. It matters.
When Can You Get Flight Compensation From TAROM?
There exist a few scenarios where you can legitimately request flight compensation.
These circumstances cover flight delays, cancellations, and instances of being denied boarding due to the flight being oversold (i.e., overbooked).
1. Flight Delays
Per EU regulation 261/2004, you are eligible for compensation if your flight reaches its final destination with a delay of 3 or more hours.
The compensation amount is determined by the length of the delay and the distance of the flight. For instance, if your flight from London to Paris, a journey less than 1,500km, is delayed by four hours, you are eligible to receive €250 in compensation.
Read more: TAROM Flight Delay Compensation
2. Flight Cancellations
If it’s a last-minute cancellation, you may be entitled to flight compensation.
Last-minute cancellation is when a flight is cancelled 0-14 days before departure.
The compensation amount varies based on the distance of the flight and the delay in reaching your final destination. For example, if your flight from Barcelona to New York, a lengthy distance of over 3,500km, is cancelled without sufficient notice and you reach your final destination more than four hours late with a substitute flight, you are entitled to €600 in compensation.
You may also opt for a full TAROM refund, instead of an alternative flight.
Read more: TAROM Flight Cancellation Compensation
3. Denied Boarding Due to Overbooking
Airlines occasionally oversell (overbook) flights anticipating that some passengers will not arrive for their flight. If you find yourself denied boarding due to overbooking and you don’t voluntarily give up your seat, you are eligible for compensation.
The compensation amount is dependent on the distance of the flight. Suppose you are flying from Bucharest to Paris, a medium distance between 1,500km and 3,500km, and you are denied boarding due to overbooking. If you reach your final destination more than three hours late, you are entitled to €400 in compensation.
Read more: TAROM Denied Boarding Compensation
Do you have more questions on what to do if your TAROM compensation claim is rejected? Ask in the comments. What is your experience with TAROM compensation claims?
Featured photo by Monstera Production from Pexels