Won a trip to Sydney but they want me to pay £1000+ in taxes? UPDATE - NOW RESOLVED!

mjm3346

velocity_girl wrote: »

This seems extremely unfair to me - that should definitely have been mentioned in the terms. It just so happens this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5146328 was beside yours on the forum - you'll see the ASA adjudication linked says promoters should not advertise competitions where the winner has to incur a cost to claim the prize. Of course that hasn't helped the winner, as all the promoter gets is a slap on the wrist. I do think the ASA would agree this is unfair so you could try making the promoter aware of rulings like this and threatening to complain to them... Whether it will make any difference though is another matter.

I think that was slightly misleading by the ASA, the winner would have to have paid to get to their local airport anyway but the company stopped flying from there, the alternative was some distance and would have incurred extra cost which was/is unfair

we were concerned that the winner would incur an additional cost in order to secure the prize. They would incur a cost to travel to Stansted, despite their prize including return flights from Birmingham to Billund

Normal costs can be charged for

In the Commission’s view, that does not mean that prize winners cannot be required to pay normal delivery or other normal costs needed to obtain or use the prize. For instance, the Act’s provisions do not, in the Commission’s view, prevent the organiser of a competition in which a camera is a prize requiring the winner to pay normal delivery costs which might be charged if that same camera was bought from a retailer. Nor, clearly, does it prevent the winner of a car being required to pay road tax. But there can be no additional payment over what it would normally cost to pay for delivery or use

mjm3346

sydroo wrote: »

Seeing as the T&Cs only state that "Holiday insurance and spending money are not included in the prize." you could, in my opinion, rightly assume that everything else with regard to flight and local hotel taxes would be included.

That's seems a reasonable assumption, they make no mention of taxes being the winners responsibility (which I have only seen very rarely anyway).

Chopstheduck

The thing is, the taxes are an additional cost, which might be considered reasonable (although highly unusual) to charge for. And we accepted that.


But then they charged the carrier fees - which make up around 40% of the Emirates charge for the ticket. It isn't any kind of additional expense, it is Emirates ticketing system which prevents people using air miles to pay for 100% of the ticket price - and I believe the money goes directly to Emirates.

I'm waiting for the company to get back to me, as initially they did say taxes only. If they don't back down I will go to the ASA.

eyeballpaul

I have won quite a few holidays and this has only happened once to me.

It was a holiday to the Cook Islands and I would have to pay the airline tax of £750 for two. It was mentioned in T&C but it didn't say how much it would be. After a lot of discussion with pomoter they refused to budge, so I declined the prize.
The holiday itself was worth £4k including taxes but I was moving home and funds were tight. In retrospect I wish I had paid the money and gone

amylou161202

Oh wow, congratulations on your win.

it is a shame all costs are not included but it will be a holiday of a lifetime if you can afford to go then go for it

IDeamOfFairies

Just had a look on Emirates website and found a flight breakdown for Manchester to Sydney

£1831.80 for 2 passenger(s)
Fare £770.00
Carrier-imposed charges £728.00
Taxes & Fees £333.80

So if they do insist you pay taxes, you should only have to pay around £333.80

dangerbadger

I had to pay flight taxes on a Lonely Planet win to Jordan a few years ago. It was very clearly mentioned in the t&c though, and worked out about £450 for both of us.

The carrier fees, however, seem to be a very different thing and worth taking up with the ASA.

Chopstheduck

A result!!!


A lovely lady has called me from Barrhead Travel. There was a mistake in the T&Cs and it neglected to say that taxes and charges were payable.


So they are now going to pay in full for the trip :D:D:D


WTG Barrhead travel!

purple45

Wow thats fantastic! You must be soooooo happy! Really nice to have a happy ending. Have a great holiday!

hoogervaaner

Oh that is brilliant news and great PR from Barrhead Travel - good on them and well done to you