Travel Agent Bust! Is it Section 75??

IKON

Hi All, Havent posted on here for a bit so here goes. Have planned a birthday trip to Thailand for myself/girlfreind next month. Booked all the parts of the trip ourselves. All online using Nationwide Visa Card. All is well except for hotel. Booked online with Thai travel agent on 21/02/09, got instant confirmation that room was booked, full payment was taken, just over £300. This morning 25/02/09 recieved e mail from travel agent stating they had ceased trading from 21/02/09. Rang Nationwide straight away explained, and asked to claim under section 75, as the paid for service's are not going to be provided. They are going to send me the forms, however as he pointed out the Thai travel agent is a "Third Party"and not the actual hotel who was going to provide the room, and as such will not be covered by section 75. They are a bit suspicious that on the same day the travel agent took my money, that they went bust,they will look into it as possable fraud. A new card is going to be issued just in case. The Thai travel agent is a member of the Thai tourist authority as well as Atta (same as ABTA here in UK) Any ideas how I should proceed. Thank you in advance for any replys.

delwynshd

I would just proceed through your bank with the fraud side of things I wouldnt expect to get anything back from the travel agent. Always book through an english tour operator or travel agent, or even the hotel direct.

Thanks
Del

Alan_Bowen

Section 75 is your only hope I would think. Make it clear you paid for travel services which the agent has not actually booked, it seems they stopped trading the day they got your money! It might be worth just emailing the hotel to make sure there is no booking, that confirmation can then be used to show the Nationwide that you have paid for a service, to book a hotel, that has not been carried out!

IKON

delwynsholidaydeals wrote: »

I would just proceed through your bank with the fraud side of things I wouldnt expect to get anything back from the travel agent. Always book through an english tour operator or travel agent, or even the hotel direct.

Thanks
Del

I was looking for a little more constructive advice, but thanks anyway. There are a lot of people out there now who use the net to book holiday's. In fact now many travel agents split up the seperate sections of a holiday say into flights/hotels only,thus reducing the overall cost of a package. But any how have just spoke to Consumer Direct who tell me section 75 does apply to this purchase,and to proceed down that path.It seems that my contract was with the travel agent, and as they have confirmed that they are not going to supply the service I have paid for,this makes my bank jointly liable. Will post with further news when I get some. Thanks again for any advice offered.