Furious about Credit Card fees on a Thomson Holiday Booking

jhe

Mr_Wang wrote: »

You have learnt a valuable lesson:

Travel Agents are con artists. They have been conning the public for years and you are pretty much 100% guaranteed to save money by booking travel independently.

i know in my own case, i can take the risk as friends have done and book independently, as my unfortunate friends found out the hard way when airlines, companies went bust, they lost their holiday its not worth the risk for me.
i always price holidays up on internet and print details off, then trawl the travel agents, playing one against another, i get offered a deal i am happy with, a little more than booking independent i know, but i can sit back and relax and not have to worry, if the likes of tui went bust the holiday industry would be in big trouble

thelawnet

Mr_Wang wrote: »

There are probably several levels of knowing what you are doing when it comes to booking travel/flights.
Imagine the Travel Agents are at the bottom end and the people who use them Number 1. Imagine your knowledge at number 3 and mine at number 10.
I simply do not have the time to prove this to you but believe it. I could beat your price for a holiday probably 99% of the time.

I could beat my price for a holiday 99% of a time, but sometimes it's not good use of my time to do so.

Unfortunately I do not have the time.

Indeed

ferf1223

thelawnet wrote: »

It seems you have grounds for complaint in not receiving the reminder letters for payment and I would suggest you complain, via email on their website, suggesting that the lack of notice made it hard for you to get funds to your debit card.

Lack of notice to pay by the originally expected due date?

I can see complaining about the change in policy (payment due earlier, not advised until the last minute) and lack of advance notice of that....but since the agent gave them an 'extension' to the original date....I'm not sure what the OP would have lost out on and what basis there would be for a complaint...maybe the stress of a final notice earlier than they were expecting...but that's about it...and that's not a lot.

jhe wrote:

know in my own case, i can take the risk as friends have done and book independently, as my unfortunate friends found out the hard way when airlines, companies went bust, they lost their holiday its not worth the risk for me.

We book DIY and have virtually no risk, we think...between booking on credit cards and the protection there if a company goes bust (had it happen with MaxJet - had the refund on our CC very quickly), and booking direct with hotels with flexible cancellation policies...and travel insurance...we're pretty much covered for most things. We prefer to be in control of things rather than handing it all over to someone else to manage for us...but I know some people take some comfort in using travel agents and that's fine...just not at all for us - especially all the sort of stories we read here (not like this one, I should add).

bagand96

It's all been said above, but yes a 2% credit card charge is the absolute norm for travel agents/tour operators. Has been for years. Its also pretty fair as it is about what it costs them to process the payment with Mastercard/Visa. It's hardly like the credit card fees some airlines charge, which are far more.

Also, you knew it was due to be paid on 22nd. Ok there was some c*ck up at Thomson's and you got a surprising final demand letter, but it doesn't change the fact it was always due to be paid on the 22nd at the latest and that's when you paid it.

Also, they kind of did do you a favour as they reduced your credit card payment from 2% to 1.3%! Ok, a £100 is a £100, but in the context of a £7,400 holiday, put it down to experience, chill out, and look forward to having a great holiday!

mikey72

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Andaman Islands or Lakshadweep?

In August.

Andaman Islands

Lakshadweep is far too touristy.

Incapuppy

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

That is a seriously uncanny likeness, I mean seriously....:eek::rotfl:

phatbear

That pics missing the dodgy 70's p0rn star ginger tache though, i would photoshop it but im faaaaar to busy with a decision which i have to make, jam or marmite on my toast hmmmmmmmm!

Mr_Wang

This is probably the best resemblance...

Murphy_The_Cat

Mr_Wang wrote: »

This is probably the best resemblance...

Have you met Mr Lahey yourself ? Perhaps in a building of ill repute in a far flung sceptred isle ?

d.ross_2

This thread is going very OFF TOPIC