MSE News: Package holiday protection to be extended from 2017

Former_MSE_Paloma

Travellers who book holidays online from the end of 2017 will be better protected, according to the Government...

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Package holiday protection to be extended from 2017




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richardw

Re "...Meanwhile other travel experts have raised concerns that if something goes wrong, consumers will need to contact the regulator in the country the company they bought from is based, rather than the regulator in the country where the consumer is based..."

Consumers already have this problem with operating air carriers that aren't UK based re EU regulation EC261/2004. They need to look at the weaknesses in current regulations, sort those out and don't bring in new regulations with inherent problems.

leylandsunaddict

The new bill was passed by the EP over a couple of weeks ago. The UK government have got 2 years to implement it, and a further 6 months for compliance so it could be mid 2018 before it's fully up and running.

If people took 5 mins to read the terms and conditions instead of just blindly ticking a box they would be aware of whether it was a package or not, and who their contract is with. If they haven't got the common sense to do just that then they shouldn't be allowed to buy anything unchaperoned. If it's not a package then the correct travel insurance will cover them for all elements for financial failure and cancellation.

It's not going to make anything any more straightforward. The shonkiest (and cheapest) OTAs are mostly based outside the UK so confusion will still reign about what to do and who to contact.

Alan_Bowen

Regrettably I think financial protection may get worse rather than better. Companies can move out of the UK and create an overseas operation, as Low Cost Holidays did some years ago but still have a co.uk website which unfortunately most people assume must be based in the UK. We all see the level of complaints against companies based in Spain and Italy already, hello Opodo, Bravo and E Dreams and it will only get worse. If you are sitting in the sun in Spain but your company is established in Latvia, who are you going to call when the hotel wants paying again, Ghostbusters? It is a disaster waiting to happen and people need to check and see whether they are protected by the ATOL scheme or not? Another UK operator appears to have moved to Spain in recent weeks but on its front page of the website it says 'fully bonded' but not how or where