ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents)have announced that they will no longer compensate holiday-makers who fall victim to fraudulent travel agents. Should we worry? Check out our Q&A
11 February 2006
Q. What can I do to reduce problems?
A. ABTA suggest the following: Firstly ensure that the agent is ABTA registered. Then be sure to collect and keep all your receipts for the holiday and the flights to ensure that all bookings have been processed. Also check that the name of the ABTA travel agency is on the receipts and is the same name that your payment is made to. Any receipts should contain the name of the tour operator, airline, accommodation provider. Be sure and keep all receipts from all the companies involved in providing the services that make up your holiday. Confirmation from the ABTA travel agent should be given - original not photocopies.
Q. And if the travel agent I booked through goes bust?
A. A package holiday is defined as two or more elements of a holiday sold under one price. Under these circumstances ABTA will ensure you get the holiday or a refund. Any independently booked elements such as airfllights are not included as your contract is with the supplier and not the travel agent.
Q. What are my compensation rights if it is the airline or hotelier that I booked independently that goes bust,
A. Unless the hotelier or airline has its own system of financial protection in place, you may as well say goodbye to your money. Remember EUjet? Not only were passengers stranded, they also had to fork out ?400 per head to get home! The only glimmer of hope is in the instance where you paid by credit card. With the exception of Switch, you may find you can get a refund though it may be limited to purchases over ?100.
Even travel insurers will put up a brick wall in these circumstances.
Q. Any other precautions I can take?
A. You could get a Safi (Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance). It adds a few pounds onto the cost of a holiday but will protect you when an accommodation-only supplier or airline company goes bus.