Warning About Agents when you book holidays on Credit Cards

sjp1957

We booked a holiday to Lisbon last September through Travel Republic. We booked a flight, then hotel and then taxi. On the day the flight was cancelled so we suffered Consequential Loss under Section 75 of the Credit Card Consumer Act (or not). Because Travel Republic only act as agents we do not have any recourse with our credit card company to get the money back from Travel Republic. I shall be booking package holidays in future!

hansi

It is a well known fact that only package holidays are covered.

shaun_from_Africa

Sect 75 was only designed to cover direct debtor-creditor-supplier agreements and not those paid through another party.
This is why purchases made via Paypal and similar companies are not included in the act.

PZH

hansi wrote: »

It is a well known fact that only package holidays are covered.

Did I hear something on the news the other day about this ( or was I dreaming )?

Are ABTA looking into changing the rules slightly so that people are covered - unless they book the different parts independantly ?

EDIT: Obviously this wouldn't effect the S75 rules

sjp1957

I think it was on the news as someone told me that they are trying to plug the loophole to protect consumers. I thought we were booking it all as a package as we booked it all through Travel Republic. It will teach me to read the small print next time! Thanks for your comments.

MrsManda

I know it won't help the OP but you can read the proposed new rules on the BBC NEWS website at the link below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12354373

Under the proposed new rules:

• Protection would be extended to "flight plus" holidays. These are trips including a flight where the various elements were bought within a specified short time period
• Holiday companies would make it clearer if they were working outside Atol protection
• Paperwork for holidaymakers would be standardised, including a recognisable certificate for Atol-protected holidays

As with now, the proposed new rules would not cover do-it-yourself holidays. For example, somebody who buys a flight from an airline and then books accommodation directly with a hotel would not be Atol covered.

PZH

MrsManda wrote: »

I know it won't help the OP but you can read the proposed new rules on the BBC NEWS website at the link below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12354373

Under the proposed new rules:

• Protection would be extended to "flight plus" holidays. These are trips including a flight where the various elements were bought within a specified short time period
• Holiday companies would make it clearer if they were working outside Atol protection
• Paperwork for holidaymakers would be standardised, including a recognisable certificate for Atol-protected holidays

As with now, the proposed new rules would not cover do-it-yourself holidays. For example, somebody who buys a flight from an airline and then books accommodation directly with a hotel would not be Atol covered.

No wonder I couldn't find it - it's ATOL not ABTA as I thought. :A

Thank you for the link :T