Travel Up

LeanneB

Hi Everyone,

I'm in a bit of a panic. I have booked flights through skyscanner with a company called Travel Up. They have just contacted me from this number 01189556400 with a man claiming his name to be William Smith. (It sounds too commonplace for it to be true of a person with a foreign accent).

He said that the taxes have gone up on my flight and that I owe them another £100. (Which then he quickly reduced to £50 randomly).

When I picked from the list on skyscanner of companies to book through, 3 showed the price of £348 flying with KLM.

After stating on the phone that once I have purchased a product and have given them the money they cant then come back to me asking for more. He said he would have to check with his legal department or give me a refund. I said no - I want the product that I have paid for, he said this was OK and he would process the tickets immediately.

I then asked him what assurances can you give me to make sure that I have these tickets (as I obviously don't have them at present)

I am due to travel on the 19th March to Doha to visit some friends there.

I do not have my tickets, but the full amount has been taken from my account.

I have called the company back and keep getting back through to the same employee 'William' so clearly its not as large a broker as they show off to be.

What consumer rights do I have and how can I get my tickets from this random broker (although I can think of another word that starts with 3 different letters but ends in ker) in Reading!!!!

Thanks in advance

Leanne.

xx

Alan_Bowen

I have heard of no tax increase at all, APD from the UK does go up in April, but that has been factored in fares since they went on sale, so the story is a complete.... They do not appear to be a member of ABTA so you can't complain there and the CAA who issue ATOL licences which they do have, are not really geared up for complaints. Contact the airline and see if there is a reservation or better still a ticket that has already been issued. If there isn't even a reservation then probably time to contact your local Trading Standards Department and make a formal complaint. You should have an ATOL Certificate since the ticket was not issued to you immediately, if you haven't then they have broken the ATOL rules and that the CAA would investigate.

LeanneB

Thanks Alan.

The suspicious William Smith has just posted my e-ticket through and I have contacted KLM directly to see that it is real. IT IS - fortunately.

But KLM did also tell me that they did not increase the taxes on the flight so clearly Travel Up have been trying to pull a fast one and pocket extra cash illegitimately.

One for people to watch out for!!!

I will NEVER use them again. Whats bad though is that it does detract you from using any 3rd Party Provider. I know that I'll feel saver going directly to the company in future.

Alan_Bowen

Glad to hear everything is OK. Enjoy the trip.

tamiami

That's what the tin pot companies do, lure you in with a bargain and put the flight up.