Anyone work for Thomas Cook?

duchy

That is disgusting -The manager is obviously on an incentive to flog their wretched cards. Talk about unethical. Doesn't really surprise me though-I worked for Cooks years ago when they were a decent company and again three years ago. My manager did that kind of thing amongst other stuff and I contacted head office and told them that THEY hadn't passed MY probation .

van22663

Cannot believe the travel agent would not give a 2 week extension especially if she is a regular client. As already pointed out, the tour op is not into cancellation charges till 10 weeks before departure, if the money is not paid by that deadline, then most travel agents would cancel the holiday if they have tried several times to contact the client. But that would be last resort, they are within their rights to do it though.

evie-mays-mum

Im appaled at the managers blatent choice to put commision over customer service...speak to admin rather than your local agent (the number should be on your invoice)
im sure thay will help, ask for notes to be put on your booking if they say its ok.

HXDave

Im appaled at the managers blatent choice to put commision over customer service

Unfortunately, after working for a multiple in the past (not TC's though), this is how a lot of them work. A lot of travel agents rely on commissions in order to boost their low wages. it's sometimes worse for a manager, as they do not always actively 'sell' holidays, thus not being able to make a commission of the sale. instead, they tend to get a bonus if the shop hit's their target. therefore, any opportunity to put a little bit towards an individual / store target is siezed upon. After all, look at the very nature of this site. most people on here are just concerned about making and saving money, and the shop manager is only doing the same.

on another point, each shop will periodically have an internal audit. now i cannot speak how TC's work, but when i was manager at my shop working for another multiple, when we had an audit we lost points off our total score if a balance was 'overdue', even if the amount collected covered cancellation charges and there was no financial threat to the company. whilst the number of points lost was only small, it could have been these few points lost whilst doing a customer a 'favour' that ultimately put you below a minimum score, in which case you then automatically had a diciplinary hearing, and effectively your own position was at risk.

hope this helps people understand a little more of the procedures in place, and why they are followed.

jillie1974

evie-mays-mum wrote: »

Im appaled at the managers blatent choice to put commision over customer service...speak to admin rather than your local agent (the number should be on your invoice)
im sure thay will help, ask for notes to be put on your booking if they say its ok.

admin will not be able to do this. Admin is for making a change to your booking not having a balance extension.

they will refer you back to the store where you made your booking.

tinkertaylor05

Thanks for all the comments, sorry I've not been back sooner to update.

In the end I went in on the morning and just laid it out saying what's my position, pretty much just said I can't afford to pay it all today, sorry I know it's my fault so I just need to know what happens now. Thankfully there was no more selling of credit cards and they approved my extension untill pay day .... phew!

It's all the same I guess nobody has much autonomy these day and no matter what we do we're subject to audits etc

The trip is to Disneyland Paris and apparently this is why the balance is due sooner.
So I'm all sorted, really do appreciate the support here :beer:
Now onto planning the next Disney trip I am thinking Disney Cruise Line shame Thomas Cook don't do them anymore

stephb34

tinkertaylor05 wrote: »

Thanks for all the comments, sorry I've not been back sooner to update.

In the end I went in on the morning and just laid it out saying what's my position, pretty much just said I can't afford to pay it all today, sorry I know it's my fault so I just need to know what happens now. Thankfully there was no more selling of credit cards and they approved my extension untill pay day .... phew!

It's all the same I guess nobody has much autonomy these day and no matter what we do we're subject to audits etc

The trip is to Disneyland Paris and apparently this is why the balance is due sooner.
So I'm all sorted, really do appreciate the support here :beer:
Now onto planning the next Disney trip I am thinking Disney Cruise Line shame Thomas Cook don't do them anymore

Hi don't let that one incident put you off Thomas Cook, as said by HXdave everyone is under pressure to meet targets, sales etc and if the holiday in future that you want is one of Thomas cooks own you really will get the best price dealing with a thomas cook backed shop etc. Are you sure Thomas cook dont sell the Disney cruise line, i thought i saw some literature about it yesterday but im not sure, as at the moment Thomas Cook have got excellent discounts on cruises 12% on some. If need be deal with the thomas cook in your next town, or when you go back to your original shop tell whoever deals with you that you've comeback to them out of loyalty because they let you pay 2 weeks late, they like that. Have a great time in disney

budgetflyer

Its that level of "non service" that contributed to me not buying from local travel shops.
If the law of Karma has its way, that manager deserves all due to her in a reccession ie the dole.

tinkertaylor05

stephb34 wrote: »

Hi don't let that one incident put you off Thomas Cook, as said by HXdave everyone is under pressure to meet targets, sales etc and if the holiday in future that you want is one of Thomas cooks own you really will get the best price dealing with a thomas cook backed shop etc. Are you sure Thomas cook dont sell the Disney cruise line, i thought i saw some literature about it yesterday but im not sure, as at the moment Thomas Cook have got excellent discounts on cruises 12% on some. If need be deal with the thomas cook in your next town, or when you go back to your original shop tell whoever deals with you that you've comeback to them out of loyalty because they let you pay 2 weeks late, they like that. Have a great time in disney

Thanks stephb34, I won't be put off by it, I have always had a good service.The person I usually deal with works so hard and has always 'rounded down' the price on all of our trips.

I will check if they do the cruise still, I may have dreamt it but sure someone told me they'd stopped.

HXDave

Budgetflyer

Its that level of "non service" that contributed to me not buying from local travel shops.
If the law of Karma has its way, that manager deserves all due to her in a reccession ie the dole.

Please don't tarr us all with the same brush. i have worked in both multiples and independants (currently in an independant shop) and i have seen both sides of the system. Yes, the multiples are usually cheaper on their own products and some of the other major products (like cruises etc) mainly due to their sheer size and buying power, however once you have booked, you are then generally just a booking reference to them. On the other hand, independants like myself and the probably hundreds if not thousands of other independant agents are different. whilst we cant always match on price, we make up for on quality of service. and once you book, you are still a person to us, not just a number. you will often find that independant agentys will go that extra mile for you, either before or after the booking, making contact with hoteliers, airlines etc to secure requests, seating etc etc etc.

At the end of the day, my only target in the office is hopefully to get enough money in commission to pay the bills so i can keep on trading. i have no targets to sell specific companies unlike the multiples who will always steer you toeards their own 'in house' products, so i will sell you the company that is best for you and your holiday needs, not for my shop and my target figures.