Section 75 consumer credit act

Endora_2

We are in the process of trying to get a good deal for a 7 night holiday to Antigua in Feb 09. Have approached the usual big names i.e. Thomas Cook, Virgin & Sandals for quotes but also a couple of on-line internet ones (of which I've not heard of before but seem to be recommended). One of the internet based companies (Jetset2) is coming back with a very good price for what we want but looking at them they state the following:
Jetset 2, Agency Number S4698. We act as The Global Travel Group plc in connection with the sale of travel products. Unless specified as the operator, The Global Travel Group plc is the agent of ATOL Protected Tours and other principals. We have access to the best rates for the finest luxury all inclusive holidays in the Caribbean, Mexico, Dubai and Indian Ocean.
VAT No: 819 4180 21 Company No: 4972709
They don't seem to be ABTA bonded, would this cause a problem if we were to book our holiday through them or is being with ATOL enough? Being unseasoned holiday makers we are unsure what to do. Do we go with one of the big well-known companies and pay that bit more or go with this one? Anyone got any comments, ideas, suggestions would be gratefully appreciated.

corsa57

Endora,
knowing what I know now I would not book with anyone who is not ABTA and Atol bonded, although I suspect you would need to be a lawyer to figure out if the individual part of the company you make your booking with has the necessary bonds in place and whether you have complied with all the terms required to make that booking eligible for cover.

I also will always take out Supplier Failure Insurance.

I have very little trust in the travel industry so a belt and braces approach is the one I will adopt in all future bookings as section 75, breach of contract etc. seems to be a bit of a lottery.

budgetflyer

If its just a flight and not a package, indeed there is clearly no benefit booking through a travel agent. Most airlines offer their best deals "direct" so really unless the TA can undercut the airline direct then its like a double kicking. - higher price and in some instances, no ATOL protection.
Financial protection is the main reason a customer would go to a TA instead of DIYing it, in fact our much loved:rolleyes: TRAVELMAN is always banging on about benifits of using a TA and the pitfalls of DIY.
Clearly, as I always knew anyway, the great lie has been exposed.
Moral
Book direct and alays use a CC. add on this airline going bust insurance for total peace of mind

flyaway

Altarf wrote: »

From reading the Financial Ombudsman page it would appear that you have contracted with the Travel Agent to provide the tickets and not the flights. If the airline has gone bust before you got your tickets, then Travel Agent has breached their contract and section 75 does kick in.

However if they have already provided the tickets and the airline has now gone bust, then tough luck.

It seems the moral of the story is, always use a credit card, but if you are just buying a flight never use a travel or ticket agent.

Interested to read your post above. I thought that if you paid a travel agent by credit card and they were providing the tickets then they were a third party and therefore not covered by section 75.

From what you say they are liable if the airline has gone bust BEFORE you get the tickets. And therefore, travel agent has breached their contract and section 75 does apply.

Please can you or somebody clarify this for me.