Duped by Holiday Discount Centre

GJ82

I have just booked a holiday with this company and they have been dishonest from the start. First of all I was given flights from one airport and a total holiday price which I was perfectly happy with. I was told I would receive a confirmation email and any changes could be made within 24hrs of receiving this. The following day I was phoned and told that these flights were not direct. I never would have booked the holiday if I had been informed of this. I asked to cancel the holiday and was told I would be charged £250 to do so (even though I had received no confirmation of the holiday and no money had left my account). I had to change the flights and airport at my expense, which I reluctantly agreed to and thought that would be an end to it. Later on that day my very shabby confirmation email arrived and I noticed I had been charged an extra £180 agency bonding fee. I had no idea what this was and phoned up to ask about it. On my 6th phone call, someone finally told me that I had agreed to this "fee" 8 minutes into my original booking call. When I disagreed, they said they would do an investigation which would take 2-3 days. After 3 days I called back to be told they had a recording of me agreeing to this "fee". I asked them to let me hear the recording and was told that they are under no obligation to let me hear anything!!! I just have to take their word for it that I'm a liar. Absolutely furious with the whole situation and will not let it drop like they obviously hope I will.

tomtontom

http://www.holidaydiscountcentre.co.uk

This one? If so they're a comparison site, which company did you book with?

GJ82

Good question! The company who emailed my confirmation are called Travel Service Group but the company who have charged me are called Harold Hill travel Ltd. The whole thing has been a shambles from the start. Will never use them again.

pogofish

So why are you telling us you got a bargain from them?

tamiami

I don't understand why people continue to use these cheap online companies to save a few quid, when in fact it probably ends up more expensive overall than a package holiday. At least with a package you are covered for most eventualities which is more important in this day and age.

leylandsunaddict

The title of your post is wrong and misleading. Holiday Discount Centre had nothing to do with your booking. If you've had a problem it's down to the company you chose to book with. If you must use a middleman you need to research the company before throwing money at them.

Better to cut out the shonky OTAs and book everything direct yourself.

Alan_Bowen

'Bonding fees' are £2.50 per person payable to the CAA ATOL scheme not £180 but there again, neither ABTA nor ATOL seem to know anything about Harold Hill Travel, not Harold Wood Travel is it?

leylandsunaddict

Harold Hill Travel do seem to exist. They're at Romford but I haven't find out anything else about them - yet

bigadaj

Harry hill travel?

There's only one way to sort this out. Fight, fight, fight......

pennylane99

Harold Hill is a district/estate in Romford

sheramber

Harold Hill Travel is a ravel agency

http://www.travelagentsfinder.co.uk/city-Romford/744792-travelagent-Harold-Hill-Travel.html