Stung by Thomson's travel

HelenREMfan

Just a warning to anyone booking a holiday online with Thomsons. Maybe everyone isn't the innocent I am but when I got to the pay page for a holiday I recently booked with Thomsons, I did see that there was a charge for paying by credit card. Ever aware that one has a measure of protection if paying for holidays by credit card and presuming(and herein lies my mistake) I continued to pay by Mastercard as I thought I would be charged £1.50 or something. Not so! I was charged £33+ for paying by Mastercard and despite me writing to them about what I thought was sharp practice I have had no joy re this charge. The charge did not" show up on the payment page and it was only when I received confirmation email of the booking that I first saw this charge and was suitably horrified! If I had had any idea of the 21/2% charge I would have paid by debit card!
So beware....and.... be aware that that is the practice from Thomsons.

nomoneytoday

They do state there will be a credit card charge as Mastercard in turn charge the travel agent.

NekoZombie

I'm afraid this is standard - travel agents regularly charge a 2% fee. I recently booked with last minute and paid £22 in fees. For me, still worth paying to get S75 cover if anything goes wrong.

YorkshireBoy

HelenREMfan wrote: »

The charge did not" show up on the payment page and it was only when I received confirmation email of the booking that I first saw this charge and was suitably horrified!

Are you sure? I've just been on their website and selected a £1,450 holiday.

Just below where you enter your names etc is the message...

Your total holiday cost is £1,450.00*.

*If you pay by credit card the charges will be updated in the price panel once you have selected your method of payment.

I then selected "Mastercard credit card" from the drop down box and the payment amount section immediately updated to show...

Your total holiday cost is £1,486.25*.

*If you pay by credit card the charges will be updated in the price panel once you have selected your method of payment.

So there's your 2.5% fee added...and it's their emboldening, not mine!

A bit more diligence required next time?

realaledrinker

Thanks for that Sally. Now we know where to avoid next time we have a debt problem in Kilmarnock.

chattychappy

Thanks for that Steve.

Now we know where to avoid next time I have a flat tyre in Spain.

fozmcfc

Regardless of how it says it, it's still a hefty charge and I wonder how much it really does cost not just Thomson but others who charge.

I think there is a super complaint going in about it. I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't costs Thomson half of that at the most.

Even if the super complaint works, no doubt they will just raise their prices to make up for it.