"On the Beach" hidden details BEWARE

comp1

I have recently booked a holiday with "On the beach" using their low deposit option£400 and was very pleased that the balance wasn't due until 14 days before went all brightly and clearly displayed , then next day received an e-mail asking for another £900 in 28 days how could that be I had read and read before booking no mention, called on the beach and was told there was a yellow box with low deposit written on it NOW here's the trick you have to click on the box which the contains the stinger of flight balance in 28 days why hide it I ask we don't you didn't look properly the reply(nice).
Now this box does nothing when you hover over it but has directly underneath the details of my £400 and balance 14 days before holiday and gives absolutely no indication that more details are available within I feel OTB have mislead me , and I worry if some one could not afford that extra amount they could loose both the deposit and the holiday.

murphy306

Oh dear, that does not sound good

jacques_chirac

Directly under the box where you select to pay the low deposit it says 'Important information about paying your deposit balance', and the above is detailed there. It seems you chose not to read the important information?

comp1

Yes how stupid am I , you have to open that and I wrongly thought it would be terms and not hidden information about payment , I was drawn in by what was visible believing that any important information would be clearly displayed , I know its my fault but I have to say OTB are not very helpful .
On the home page they call themselves an online travel agent, yet if you read the terms and conditions they are a Booking agent . below are yet more details from their terms which surprised me and leave you with few rights with OTB so any problems best sort them out yourself they have told you so in the terms
1.1.2 When OTB process your booking the contract for the travel services you choose will be between you and the Travel Supplier. The Travel Suppliers' Booking Conditions will apply to your booking and you must agree them before OTB can process your booking request.
1.1.3 OTB accept no responsibility or liability for the acts or omissions or services provided by Travel Suppliers. We advise you to read their Booking Conditions carefully as they do contain important information about your booking. Please ask us for copies of these if you do not have them.

psstoverere

Thanks for this post pointed it out to a colleague at work today who would not have had the additional money in time...it is very deceiving...i have booked with OTB before but only for late bookings when this hasn't applied to me

RealLancashire

I have fallen foul of this as well.

Its really not clear, they make a big show of a Low Deposit scheme which in reality is nothing of the sort.

Whatever anybody says the deposit details should be clear and in the same font and size as where it says Low Deposit.

RealLancashire

Just a thought about this thread, is it in the right forum? Would it not be more relevant and get more exposure in the holiday section?

How can it be moved?

Former_MSE_Wendy

Hi all. I've moved the thread to the holidays board.

RealLancashire

Seems looking on facebook & Twitter a lot of people have booked with OTB thinking they can pay a Low Deposit only to find its not.

Who to complain to ABTA are not interested.

comp1

I have spoken to trading standards but they have said they will review OTB terms and how they market the Low deposit and contact me if they decide to proceed and see if they get any other complaints ,have sent details to watch dog again waiting to see if they are interested , have voiced my opinion on twitter and all OTB ask is private message and we can explain they did reply to me that they are looking at how the information is displayed with their IT team but no changes as yet , facebook has also experienced my frustration for answerers as to why they hide important information but I have now been told to stop spamming them or they will take appropriate action . Does anyone else have a suggestion

RealLancashire

Was it your local Trading Standards you spoke to or Stockport?