Monetary Matters (2 Issues)

BLW_Consumer

First Post - Could Not Find Suitable Locale for this type of post without having to double typing it

For Legal Reasons I am going to be entering Holiday Tour Operator as HTO and not naming them at this stage. The groups that govern the way these companies are going to be labelled Auth for legal reasons.

The Car Dealership I purchased a cqr from will be labelled CD. And the PPI company I used to fight the clain wil be labelled PPIC and the organisation who governs these areas will again be labelled as Auth alike to the Holiday Issue.

I booked a holiday with HTO as a surprise for my wife who I wanted to take her to Sharm El Sheihk in Egypt. From that moment to booking the holiday I thought it was going to be a very good place to go. Hot Sunny and lots of water. What more could you want. However days later I saw on the news Terrorist Attacks happened in Egypt and with that I went to the HTO and asked them over a chat dialogue as the phone lines were extraordianry busy. So I spoke to a HTO representative and informed them of my descision to cancel the holiday due to the Terror Attacks in Egypt. However they were unmoved and said I would lose any deposite paid. They said that as the FGO stated Sharm El Sheihk was not under the radar of Terror Attacks and yes after seeing it I saw the information was correct. However I did explain that I was not comfortable to be taking my wife to a place that may have an attack in the future and I was not happy to put my wife in any of the sutuations that the FGO stated in other places. This is what the guidance stated British Women have been Mugged - Attacked - Raped (Sexually Assulted) -Knifed - Gunshot - Murdered. So taking emotion out of it would anyone be happy taking their British Wife on Holiday to a place that could have these situtions. Well the HTO Rep was unmoved by this. They said I must send a complaints letter in. I did so. I did all this in The 14 Day Cooling Off Period This was returned Disatisfactory Reasons to cancel holiday. They told me I must pay the remaining ammount owing on Deposit as it is required. Otherwise I might be sanctioned. I duty bound paid the deposit as I did not want legal action taken against me in the future. So I sent my complaint to the Auth and they returned the complaint against the HTO as not satisfaftory reasons. However in November there was an incident involving a Russian Airliner as you may recal over Sharm El Sheihk (I would not wish this on anyone) and I then sent the Auth an appeal this however come back as disatisfactory reasons. So I have not been refunded my deposit to this date. And am almost £900 out of pocket due to The HTO not owing me what I think is rightfully mine.

My question on this is - should there be a law to make Tour Operators Airliners and Hotels alike to all other sources of Retail. As if you pay to go on holiday - if at any state within a certain period you can cancel a holiday and receive all Monies paid to fall in line with Retailers e.g 28 days after payment. I think it is obserd that Tour Operators can simply get away with taking money from cutomers alike to this. I can imagin the holiday was booked again by another customer who would have paid the company more or less the same as I did. So the Tour Operator has taken double money for one booking effectively, how is this legal?

Next Issue.

I join other Brits by complaining against unlawful selling of PPI. I bought a car on finance five to six years ago from the CD I saw a car that I liked and went along to buy it. My Wife and I went and viewed it nd thought this car will do us for a long time. However going through the purchase we were sat in thr office for a few hours going through the paperwork. After about two hours or so the CD dealer said "Have you heard of PPI?" We said "No Mate" the dealer stated after talkiblng about it that PPI was required due to acquiring the purchase of the vehicle so we agreed. Then he said have we considered getting a warrentee on the car as the finance company does like this to be put on the car deal to ensure that we are protected as without warrentee the deal with the finance company couod collapse before its begun. So we thought that it was required by the finance company, why not?

So after seeing adverts stating have you bought a loan finance mortgage with PPI on it and it being a condition of sale. We thought hang about lets contest this. We went to the PPIC and they organised everything. They went to the Finance company they returned with nothing to do with them. So we Re-Submitted against the CD, guess what it was refused. So tge company went to the Auth and they rejected the claim. I sentvan appeal and to this day a couple of years down the line no reply and no refund to having been miss sold to. So as its gone to the Auth and youll probably guess who that is, is there anywhere else I can go to, to seek a refund of the money I paid to the Finance Company for PPI and Warrentee. Or is it unlikely to yealled any results.

Is there anyone outthere who can answer my enquire and if one of Martibs team want any futher details of companies documentation please dont hesitate to ask. I can supply what I have to hold.

I so hope there is something I can do!

Thank you and kindest regards over your time and for reading this lengthly post. I apologise for it being in the wrong place if it is.

Ben

tomtontom

When was your holiday to Sharm? Prior to recent events many thousands of travellers have visited there with no issues. If you want to limit your travels to those destinations not at risk of terror you would be best to stay at home.

BLW_Consumer

It was last October.

unholyangel

What 14 day cooling off period? If the tour operator provides one contractually then fair enough - if you think theres a statutory cooling off period for holidays, then I'm afraid you're mistaken.

Also, TO's will go by what the government say. If there is a risk to holidaymakers, they will issue guidance warning people not to fly there and start bringing home those who are over there already. If they haven't issued such guidance its because they don't believe there is a threat to UK holidaymakers.

Going by whats on the .gov.uk site at present - travel is not restricted to sharm el sheikh - surrounding areas are essential travel only but sharm el sheikh has no restrictions.

As for the PPI, if the regulator has reviewed it and rejected your claim, your only possible recourse is likely to be court action.

tomtontom

BLW_Consumer wrote: »

It was last October.

Before the airlines ceased flying to Sharm.

I see no grounds for you to have a refund. Next time you would be best to research your destination before booking.

tomtontom

This is what the guidance stated British Women have been Mugged - Attacked - Raped (Sexually Assulted) -Knifed - Gunshot - Murdered.

I can't see any reference to this on the FCO site. Do you have a link to your source?

BLW_Consumer

Terrorism

Terrorists continue to plan and conduct attacks in Egypt. Further attacks are likely. Since 2013, attacks have mainly targeted the security forces, their facilities and other government buildings. You should take great care near these places. Attacks could be indiscriminate and may occur without prior warning. Foreigners have also been targeted. There have been threats to western nationals, institutions, and businesses posted on websites and social media.

There is a threat of kidnapping, particularly in remote desert areas. On 22 July 2015, a foreign national was kidnapped in the western desert. He was murdered in August 2015. A terrorist group has claimed responsibility for his murder.

The FCO is constantly reviewing the threat to British nationals from international terrorism and will reflect any credible threats in this travel advice. See Terrorism

Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada

Enhanced security measures are in place to protect the Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada resort areas. Security forces are situated at the international airports, at check points around the perimeter of the towns and throughout the Governorates. Routine security checks are being performed on entry into the airport and the police are carrying out vehicle checks in the towns.

Protests and demonstrations

25 January 2016 marks the fifth anniversary of the start of the 2011 revolution. The period around the anniversary has seen demonstrations each year since 2011, some of which have turned violent. In 2014 there were terrorist attacks in Cairo and elsewhere in the country. There is a risk of violence again this year, and you should avoid all demonstrations.

Protests, marches and demonstrations can occur across Egypt, often on Fridays, but also at other times and with little prior notice. British and foreign nationals have been arrested during demonstrations. The atmosphere at demonstrations can change quickly and without warning. Police may use water cannon, tear gas, birdshot or live ammunition for crowd control.

If you become aware of any nearby protests, leave the area immediately. Make sure you keep valid photographic identification with you at all times. Westerners, including British Nationals, have been killed, raped and sexually assaulted at demonstrations. See Safety and security

From the Egypt Gov website, can not post links at the moment.

tomtontom

None of that information stops (stopped) many thousands of people having problem free holidays to Sharm. You have taken the guidance entirely out of context.

unholyangel

tomtontom wrote: »

I can't see any reference to this on the FCO site. Do you have a link to your source?

It very likely could be true. Haven't visited sharm personally but from what I've heard from people who have, its a compound destination like those you get in mexico etc.

Basically as long as you stay in the compound you're fine but it can be sketchy if you're outside the compound alone/not in a group.

BLW_Consumer

Ok so what happened to the Russian Airline was not of any significance.

tomtontom

unholyangel wrote: »

It very likely could be true. Haven't visited sharm personally but from what I've heard from people who have, its a compound destination like those you get in mexico etc.

Basically as long as you stay in the compound you're fine but it can be sketchy if you're outside the compound alone/not in a group.

I'm no fan of Egypt, but you don't go to Sharm to go out and about. If you're stupid enough to go off the beaten track then you're likely to hit problems, but that could apply equally to any big city - London, for instance

BLW_Consumer wrote: »

Ok so what happened to the Russian Airline was not of any significance.

Terror attacks happen all over the world. Do you think everyone booking trips to the US/ France/ the UK should be able to cancel?

Why did you not do any research on your destination before travelling?