one of our party cant go - holiday is fully paid but still having to pay more again?!

pompeyrich

I'm an avid holiday DIYer but can see the perceived benefits of the High Street travel agent. I could go out now walk to my local High Street, sit down, tell them I want 2 weeks in the sun on a set date in August, pick the hotel, pay a deposit and bingo the holiday is sorted. if there is a problem, I can walk down, sit down with someone who can, hopefully, sort it out.

I'm sure a very high %age of holiday makers enjoy this hassle free approach and although they probably will have paid more than booking it separately, they have the convenience and peace of mind and somewhere to go if it all goes wrong.

Cases like Savagirl's do highlight an anomaly and single supplements/under occupancy charges are a "hidden extra" that aren't always highlighted. We wanted to stay in a 3-4 bed villa in Florida, a 4 bed slept 8-10, as there were 2 adults, 3 kids didn't count, the per night per adult supplement was £60 or £1680 for the 2 of us, that was just an extra on top of the package price!

We got flights/villa and car hire for around £2,000 all in, rather than the £8,000 the tour operator wanted.

On the other hand we booked an AI to Mexico but eldest didn't want to come, had to have 2 rooms 2A+2C paid the deposit, then eldest changed mind, went to TA, who had priced matched internet price and the extra person meant 1 kid was free no supplement and only cost £100 to add another adult.

I've had agents who wouldn't even fire up their computer as they thought my internet pricing was too low and they couldn't get near it and others who have spent over an hour getting me a better deal so horses for courses IMO.

blindman

leylandsunaddict wrote: »

Well obviously all your years in travel have you left better informed than mine!

Some people really don't have a clue how part cancellations are dealt with by tour operators. It's a per person price. If one person cancels whether they get a refund or not has nothing to do with it. As far as costings go that person is out of the equation once cancelled. It's like they were never booked in the first place. The booking is repriced based on the new numbers.

I'd suggest you check out terms and conditions of Virgin Holidays, Thomson, Thomas Cook, Jet2Holidays.

40+ years of DIY travel actually

What a rip off and totally underhand if you ask me. :eek:

No I won't be checking the T&C's of any TA's as you have just proved what rip off they are.
Still amazed anyone uses them:cool:

blindman

duchy wrote: »

I occasionally mystery shop travel agents and the level of service and knowledge is dire.

The last one (a well known chain) I was sat with a very young agent who was clearly out of her depth whilst at the next desk the manager and a senior (middle aged) member of staff were chatting audibly about their boozy Saturday night plans and ignoring this lass keep trying to catch their eye for help. It was woeful.

Snap

I knew they were incompetent and soley there for their comission but was amazed at the level of ignorance about any location where I was supposed to be wanting to holiday.

Made the mistake of giving my real phone number as contact :eek:
Got plagued over the next week from them asking if I could come in and finalise the booking.

Savagirl

I get the whole underoccupancy thing. But essentially they have received payment for full occupancy and then want to charge on top of that to almost the full value for one persons accomodation and flight!
I think they need a horse and mask.
They are saying its the suppliers t&cs but I still cant see how it could possibly come to that sort of amount.

blindman

Savagirl wrote: »

I get the whole underoccupancy thing. But essentially they have received payment for full occupancy and then want to charge on top of that to almost the full value for one persons accomodation and flight!
I think they need a horse and mask.
They are saying its the suppliers t&cs but I still cant see how it could possibly come to that sort of amount.

That's the crux of the matter and leylandsunaddict thinks this is how to do business.

Could be worth taking it up with (Watchdog) or something similar to highliight this shady practise.

blindman

pompeyrich wrote: »

can see the perceived benefits of the High Street travel agent. I could go out now walk to my local High Street, sit down, tell them I want 2 weeks in the sun on a set date in August, pick the hotel, pay a deposit and bingo the holiday is sorted. if there is a problem, I can walk down, sit down with someone who can, hopefully, sort it out.

At a hugely inflated price and their commission.

And when there are problems do they actually care?

A few years back I was at a career change and considered working for Trailfinders who were advertsing at the tme.

I have been to most of their destinations and under varying budgets so was well suited to advise people on destinations, how to travel, what to see etc.

Looking further into the job the main criteria was:

Ability to sell and promote Traifinders add-ons (or words to that effect).
So in effect a glorified saleperson whos interest lie in how much comission thay can make.

And I though Trailfinders were on of the better TA's:(

Pollycat

blindman wrote: »

That's the crux of the matter and leylandsunaddict thinks this is how to do business.

Could be worth taking it up with (Watchdog) or something similar to highliight this shady practise.

I'm not sure that Leylandsunaddict does actually think that's how to do business.
I think it's just a case of pointing out that's how some companies do business.

Pollycat wrote: »

LSA, 'knowing' you from another forum, I don't doubt that you're right but I don't think it's a very fair way to do things.
Or am I looking at it the wrong way?

leylandsunaddict wrote: »

I'm not saying it is fair Pollycat, just that's how it works if you do a part cancellation through most tour operators.

I'm quite shocked by this revelation and think it's possibly something that should be highlighted.
I wonder if the MSE team would be interested?
I notice they've put something out about USA cancelling some ESTAs.

blindman

Pollycat wrote: »

I'm quite shocked by this revelation and think it's possibly something that should be highlighted.
I wonder if the MSE team would be interested?

I notice they've put something out about USA cancelling some ESTAs.

Which? link for Unfair T&c's and what to do

• Companies are free to use whatever contractual terms they consider reasonable, but these terms can't be unfair.
• Under these regulations, you're not bound by a term in a contract if that term is deemed unfair.
• Excessive cancellation fees, changing the goods or service, or changing the price are all considered unfair terms.

If it were me I would be pursuing this vigorously.

katejo

I think it is the single occupancy charge which I do dislike. However, without this extra charge imposed due to a cancellation, any single person could book the hotel separately from the flights for two people to avoid a single supplement and then just turn up alone. I did read a previous query on this forum from a lady who had booked a holiday with a friend with a twin bedded room. The friend became ill at the last moment and didn't go. On arrival at the hotel, the 1st lady was charged the extra supplement.

Pollycat

katejo wrote: »

I think it is the single occupancy charge which I do dislike. However, without this extra charge imposed due to a cancellation, any single person could book the hotel separately from the flights for two people to avoid a single supplement and then just turn up alone. I did read a previous query on this forum from a lady who had booked a holiday with a friend with a twin bedded room. The friend became ill at the last moment and didn't go. On arrival at the hotel, the 1st lady was charged the extra supplement.

Surely the single supplement for one person in a double room shouldn't be more than what 2 people sharing would pay.