What Can I Do - legally?

cheekymole

Just booked a holiday based on leaving Manchester at 1645 21/10/06 and returning from Rhodes on 29/10/06 at 2155.
Received the confirmation e-mail stating the above.
I have now received the full details via e-mail (1 hour later) but the return flight is now on 28/10/06 at 2155 leaving me 1 day less holiday.
Telephoned the company who say that it means we arrive back in the UK on 29/10/06 but it clearly states we depart Rhodes at 2155 on 29/10/06 and arrive Manchester at 0015
What can I do, what would you do?
I've paid £450 deposit based on a holiday I'm not getting

lily_the_pink

Try contacting trading standards - if they promised you a holiday with a particular date that is what you should be getting. If your email definately says leaving Rhodes on 29th then I cannot see it would be a problem. Possibly an email to the company saying you will be contacting trading standards unless they refund your deposit.

geo555

Holidays are usally for 1 week or multiples. An 8 day holiday is very unsual. It should say the holiday is for 1 week.

cheekymole

It was a holiday search where you can choose different flights based on what you want. I chose more expensive flights because of the dates and times and now I'm not getting what I thought I was paying for.

TRAVELMAN_2

If this was an ATOL deal you'd have far more rights. There are a plethora of companies that allow you to 'build' your own holiday (by selecting flight 1st then accom .2nd & booking them separately means the company does not have to bond it under ATOL as 2 separate things booked) who work on about a 2% margin (which no agent can survive on) PRECISELY BECAUSE it's all 'mechanised' & done by the consumer.

Cheeky-if you check their terms & conditions they WILL cover themselves for any system error. I've also check flights-there are NO flights back pm on 29/10-this is last flt of the season & charters are 'back-to-back'-ie they fly in drop off & turn round. The only way to get a flight back at this time is to go scheduled via athens (& I would not think they would fly sun pm either) with Olympic-cost would be huge & no Tour Op will pay this. On the margin they work on you won't get your deposit back-if you got a good price then leave it at that.

For not much more money you could have booked with an independant agent as a secure ATOL package-with more rights. Is moneysaving REALLY that important to save a tenner or so? I personally think that 'self-build' sites should have clear warnings BEFORE you book that you are NOT booking a secure, protected ATOL package.

cheekymole

TRAVELMAN, it is atol protected according to their website

TRAVELMAN_2

Cheeky-can you PM me the wed addy-will take a look. Is the error still showing when you search?

cheekymole

Yes, the error still shows when I search even this morning. I have printed everything off as proof.
I will PM you now and all I did was put in 2 ad 1 ch for 21 oct to Rhodes. It's the Thomas Cook flight at £308 each that I chose
TIA

TRAVELMAN_2

Lesley,

Ok....YES search shows up. What I think they've done is 'bulk-loaded' the return flight times & dates to all show the 29/10 return. The tcx56l leaves RHO at 2155 on 28/10 (very good time & unusual!).

Where you'll have the problem is that they'll see you selected SEVEN nights (system won't allow for an 8 night) & they could argue on this point.

I would make ONE phone call...(mention trading standards, etc-more calls is just a waste of money/emotion) & ask for refund back-besides their price ain't that good any way!Or-keep the deal-the flights are good times!

This company has not a good history on these things......also-yes-they hold ATOL but if you go to the conditions it starts mentioning 'single components' etc....which means that yes-the TCH flights are ATOL but the Hotel is not-meaning its a 'package' not a Tour Op ATOL protected package. Between you & me they've only paid £40/£50 pp deposit to cooks for the flights-ONE persistent phone call should pay off. If you DO cancel PM me/post on here-there are cheaper deals than they offer! Let us know how you go.