Onthebeach Nightmare - What is the point of ABTA

Babycakes

Onthebeach have got to be the worst company to deal with. They are out to make a profit without providing any form of service to their customers.

First of all I found out that the fees that we paid for hold luggage were almost double that charged by the airline. Unfortunately we took this on the chin.

Then our flights were cancelled and Onthebeach charged us a fee to cancel the hotel. They refused to discuss the matter, and said that they had incurred costs! How much did they really incur? They are just after our money!

The refund to our credit card did not return the credit card fee that they took. So they pocketed that too.

I called the credit card company and they also said that Onthebeach are a nasty company. They always fight chargebacks and there are a number of complaints about them.

Their website says that they are ABTA members and ABTA say that their members act fairly yet they refuse to help.

Really - what is the point of ABTA?

This is the last time I use Onthebeach and the last time I book a package deal through ABTA. Travel insurance, flights booked direct with the airline and hotels direct too is the safest way of organising future holidays.

I am absolutely disgusted.

Incapuppy

Babycakes wrote: »

This is the last time I use Onthebeach and the last time I book a package deal through ABTA.

Yes, OTB do not have a very good reputation for customer service, but by the sounds of it you didn't book a 'package' deal did you?

How much did they charge you for the hotel cancellation and how you do know that they didn't incur costs themselves?

I assume your insurers are refusing a claim?

r18rws

HI Babycakes, sorry to hear youur problems.

Few points on your post though...

1 Its probably all covered in their T&C's
2 Credit card fee was an optional add on - you coudl have paid without using credit card and the cost of the charge (or some of it) woudl be a charge the company also has from their bank for accepting cards. Fairly standard practice.
3 They will fight charge backs as likely that many are fraudulent (ie the terms state one thing but client doesnt agree with it)
4 ABTA make sure they have terms that are clear, its down to the cusotmers to read them and decide if they prefer the OTB terms or another companies. Cost is usually the major factor in deciding who to buy from.
5 You didnt book through ABTA
6 Booking direct with the hotel and airline is certianly not the safest way as many have learned recently.