Holidayextras free if guarantee

ChunMahi

Just wondering if anyone has had a successful claim from holidayextras 'free if' guarantee?
I've recently found a exact airport parking deal cheaper on skyparksecure.com but holidayextras refused the free if guarantee claim saying the competitor price included 13 % discount. Then they increased their 10% discount on parking to 15% to beat the competitor price (skyparksecure price still cheaper in total because of no credit card charge btw).
I intend to submit holidayextra free if guarantee for a review by Advertising Standards Authority based on the following observations:
Both holidayextras and skypark are selling a third party product (in this case Manchester airport terminal meet and greet parking). The original price (for the days I need it) is £59.99 if bought directly. Holidayextras is offering a discount of 10% if bought from them with a 'free if' guarantee BUT with a condition that if bought cheaper elsewhere it should not be discounted. Holidayextras is not able to honour their 'free if' promise because skypark is offering a higher discount of 13 % with a cheaper price. Free if guarantee exclusions, therefore, contradict the claim that it makes. I believe this is misleading advertisement and breaches advertising codes set by Advertising Standards Authority.
'Free if' specifically breaches the following codes:
3.1 Advertisements must not materially mislead or be likely to do so.
3.2 Advertisements must not mislead consumers by omitting material information. They must not mislead by hiding material information or presenting it in an unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely manner.
3.10 Advertisements must state significant limitations and qualifications. Qualifications may clarify but must not contradict the claims that they qualify.
3.32 Advertisements must not mislead consumers about market conditions or the possibility of finding the product or service elsewhere to induce consumers to buy the product or service at conditions less favourable than normal market conditions. ('Free if' guarantee is inducing consumers into buying on holidyaextras website, making them believe falsely that a better deal is not available).

Just wondering what others think?
Also it would be interesting to hear from people who have had their claims rejected or honoured by them.


Cheers

platterfish

There terms are:
The following exclusions apply to price comparisons that will be considered as part of any claim made under this guarantee in respect of airport parking, port parking, airport hotel, port hotel and lounge bookings:

3. Prices that are part of a staff discount scheme
4. Prices that are part of any other discount or special offer deal

Did you search for a discount/promo code to get a cheaper price. Or did you simply access there sites using no promo codes.

blindman

ChunMahi wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone has had a successful claim from holidayextras 'free if' guarantee?
I've recently found a exact airport parking deal cheaper on skyparksecure.com but holidayextras refused the free if guarantee claim saying the competitor price included 13 % discount. Then they increased their 10% discount on parking to 15% to beat the competitor price (skyparksecure price still cheaper in total because of no credit card charge btw).
I intend to submit holidayextra free if guarantee for a review by Advertising Standards Authority based on the following observations:
Both holidayextras and skypark are selling a third party product (in this case Manchester airport terminal meet and greet parking). The original price (for the days I need it) is £59.99 if bought directly. Holidayextras is offering a discount of 10% if bought from them with a 'free if' guarantee BUT with a condition that if bought cheaper elsewhere it should not be discounted. Holidayextras is not able to honour their 'free if' promise because skypark is offering a higher discount of 13 % with a cheaper price. Free if guarantee exclusions, therefore, contradict the claim that it makes. I believe this is misleading advertisement and breaches advertising codes set by Advertising Standards Authority.
'Free if' specifically breaches the following codes:
3.1 Advertisements must not materially mislead or be likely to do so.
3.2 Advertisements must not mislead consumers by omitting material information. They must not mislead by hiding material information or presenting it in an unclear, unintelligible, ambiguous or untimely manner.
3.10 Advertisements must state significant limitations and qualifications. Qualifications may clarify but must not contradict the claims that they qualify.
3.32 Advertisements must not mislead consumers about market conditions or the possibility of finding the product or service elsewhere to induce consumers to buy the product or service at conditions less favourable than normal market conditions. ('Free if' guarantee is inducing consumers into buying on holidyaextras website, making them believe falsely that a better deal is not available).

Just wondering what others think?
Also it would be interesting to hear from people who have had their claims rejected or honoured by them.


Cheers

A few of us did

ChunMahi

platterfish wrote: »

There terms are:
The following exclusions apply to price comparisons that will be considered as part of any claim made under this guarantee in respect of airport parking, port parking, airport hotel, port hotel and lounge bookings:

3. Prices that are part of a staff discount scheme
4. Prices that are part of any other discount or special offer deal

Did you search for a discount/promo code to get a cheaper price. Or did you simply access there sites using no promo codes.

I simply used the site without using any promo codes. I was actually emailed a promo code for extra 5 % discount after registering and before finalising the booking from skyparksecure but I did not use it thinking holidayextras may refuse my claim on basis of using the promo code. The confirmation email from skyparksecure stated that they had applied a discount on my booking though.
I have cancelled my booking with holidayextra and will be using the skyparksecure.

wazza99

Failure here, i'm afraid. 1 week meet n greet @ Manchester £43.99 via Holiday extras, £43.49 via Skypark secure.(booked 17/03/14)

For a 50p gamble thought we'd take a risk. Failed firstly on fact the number to claim is 0871...10p a minute...lady on phone was not very helpful and strung it out for a good 10 mins !....sent a pscreen of skyparks price to HE.....

Claim declined as we had used the link from this site thereby applying a discount. Saying that their price was also via same link...

They did however refund £1.....YUP £1 as they did admit Skypark was cheaper and they aim to always be the cheapest !........

So all in all not an unexpected outcome and cost me 50p..ish

Ps. i would have cancelled out of principle but that £9.50! to do so....

So i leave it up to yourselves to decide if they would ever pay out, the t+c's seem to cover all eventualities..

I shall vote with my feet and not use them again on principle, nor recommend them to me its just a marketing ploy.

budgetflyer

I did have a successful claim years ago, Days Inn, Luton ,but since have had other perfectly good claims rejected.
I have chosen not to waste my time or money with this company.if they can't do business honestly, then they don't deserve to be in business.

ChunMahi

Thanks for all replies, I'm definitely reporting it to the Advertising Standards Authority next week (working this weekend) and see what happens. Will keep updating here.

lea2012

Just a few pointers for future reference.
Both skypark secure and holiday extras offer cashback if you book via topcashback or quidco. I've used both before and always got cashback.

Skypark secure do not charge a credit card fee, but they do charge a £1.95 flat booking fee regardless of how you pay so would actually have worked out more expensive on this occasion I believe.