Thomas Cook taking a donation for charity

Horace

I recently booked a trip (partly business/partly pleasure) with Thomas Cook and today I received their confirmation (I paid in full as I am going fairly soon) and noticed that they were thanking me for my £2 donation to their favourite charity:mad: It may only be £2 but I would rather donate to a charity of my choice rather than being hoodwinked into donating without my knowledge.

I am going to the travel agent tomorrow with the papers (they boobed with my name making a stupid typo and then had the nerve to blame the computer - I have to sign the papers and return them) and I shall be speaking to them about this £2 donation because I would rather that £2 be in my pocket than theirs.

Be careful when you book with Thomas Cook.

Mr_Lahey

Horace wrote: »

I recently booked a trip (partly business/partly pleasure) with Thomas Cook and today I received their confirmation (I paid in full as I am going fairly soon) and noticed that they were thanking me for my £2 donation to their favourite charity:mad: It may only be £2 but I would rather donate to a charity of my choice rather than being hoodwinked into donating without my knowledge.

I am going to the travel agent tomorrow with the papers (they boobed with my name making a stupid typo and then had the nerve to blame the computer - I have to sign the papers and return them) and I shall be speaking to them about this £2 donation because I would rather that £2 be in my pocket than theirs.

Be careful when you book with Thomas Cook.

Totally agree with you, its more than £2 it's the principal.

That and the legality of it. Assuming of course you wasn't pre advised of the 'donation'

Anihilator

Are you sure it isnt a case of Thomas Cook giving £2 to charity for every booking....

Storck

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

Totally agree with you, its more than £2 it's the principal.

That and the legality of it. Assuming of course you wasn't pre advised of the 'donation'

Or that the "donation" didn't come out of the price agreed. If they haven't charged you any more than you agreed then I can not see a problem.

jacktyler

from Thomas Cook's website:

"As a major UK travel company, we see 'Sustainable Tourism' as being a major factor in our future.

........

We're sure it’s an interest you share. That’s why many of our customers will be asked to make a small donation to help the Travel Foundation in their vital work. The vast majority of customers are already choosing to give. If you wish to make a donation direct, you can text ‘donate’ to 61199 and this will send a £2 donation to the Travel Foundation.

Since we started collecting, our customers have donated over £1,000,000 towards Travel Foundation projects in destination communities."

http://www.thomascook.com/sustainable-tourism/the-travel-foundation/#donations

Horace

I used a travel agent and I wasnt told about the 'donation' I was quoted a price for my holiday and thought that was for the flight and accommodation and airport taxes.

If I had been told about it beforehand and given a choice then that wouldnt be so bad but to just take it without warning, that is just plain wrong...I feel as though they have stolen my money.

jdturk

if a company says you can buy this for £10 and then gave £1 to charity from that £10 then whatever they say its actually the company giving the donation to the charity not you

The choice is then yours to whether you carry on with that purchase or find it elsewhere

jpwhittle

the donation is that just a donation and your allowed to remove it if you dont want to pay it. So Horace is right to be annoyed if she didnt want to pay that, you should be made aware of this payment rather than it just put on top of your holiday. It may seem a case of its only £2 but you imagine the amount of people who book a holiday every day who dont even realise they have been charged this its alot of money hence the reason they can brag sunch high fundraising.

biggoatyman

Hilton Hotels did this a while ago. I used to stay with them every week on business and every time I got the bill there would be £1-2ish extra charge for some charity or other. I used to always make them take the charge off and re-print the bill, but it made me feel self concious and awkward having to moan about it. Especially when there's a big queue at checkout in the mornings. Also a Conran restaurant I was in recently did the same. Again, I felt a bit of a pedant complaining in a crowded restaurant. It made me decide not to go back there.

solodanceparty

I agree with you. I know it's only £2, but if you want to give to a charity you will. They should have asked before taking it.

Horace

I have news - I had to go to the travel agent this morning to handover some paperwork (they had spelt my name wrong originally so more papers had to be sent out). The agent was on the phone to Thomas Cook for half an hour before they answered and agreed to refund my £2 - my holiday is now a bit cheaper.:j

£2 is going into the air ambulance tin next time I am in the butchers (yes, funnily enough they have a collection tin on the counter).