Mother taken advantage of and paying to much, can I cancel her holiday bookings?

Fatolddog

Hello,

I apologise if this is the wrong forum to ask in but I'm looking for advice on something.

My mother and her friend just booked a trip to New York yesterday for 4 days with Thomas Cook, and have been charged £2894.

I myself went to New York only a month ago with my partner and booking directly I paid £2004 for 7 days. They are getting similar flights and are staying at the exact same hotel I stayed at. Thus I know that somebody has taken complete advantage of them and they are being massively overcharged.

The ideal solution for me would be a complete cancellation of the holiday for a full refund and then I would help them book everything a lot cheaper.

Do they have any rights in this situation? It was purchased only yesterday (28th of June) and their departure date is the 7th September.

Thanks in advance,

Fatolddog.

Faith177

Flights and hotel prices always vary depending on demand, time of year ect it's like comparing chalk and cheese you just can't do it

Plus they are booking to fly just a few days after Labour Day which is a big holiday so it will be higher

malkie76

Booking direct will always save over booking with an agent. I don't understand why anyone would use a tour operator to a destination such as NYC, but they have to make a profit, which could easily explain the difference in price in addition to those provided by the above poster.

jackieblack

Fatolddog wrote: »

Do they have any rights in this situation?

They have the right to cancel in accordance with the terms and conditions they agreed to when they made the booking.

Pollycat

Just to point out that the OP has also posted this on the Consumer Rights board:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5486262

Alan_Bowen

There is no cooling off period for travel arrangements, they were offered a price and accepted it. That looks to me to be a valid contract, if they cancel they will almost certainly lose the full cost of the flights, but and this is important, just because someone booked and travelled at a different time for less, does not mean they have been overcharged. With respect, why didn't you book it in the first place, and have you in fact checked the prices today to book what has been booked for them?

jpsartre

Fatolddog wrote: »

My mother and her friend just booked a trip to New York yesterday for 4 days with Thomas Cook, and have been charged £2894.

I myself went to New York only a month ago with my partner and booking directly I paid £2004 for 7 days. They are getting similar flights and are staying at the exact same hotel I stayed at.

You can't compare flights like that, prices can differ hundreds of pounds depending on the exact day you travel.

bigadaj

The only way to check this is to try and do a similar booking independently and the compare.

If there is a big difference then you could try a complaint but I wouldn't expect much success.

Kernow666

hardly taken advantage of , was she forced at gunpoint to pay for it ?

Pollycat

Thomas Cook are apparently going to refund the £800 difference.

stephb34

Fatolddog wrote: »

Hello,

I apologise if this is the wrong forum to ask in but I'm looking for advice on something.

My mother and her friend just booked a trip to New York yesterday for 4 days with Thomas Cook, and have been charged £2894.

I myself went to New York only a month ago with my partner and booking directly I paid £2004 for 7 days. They are getting similar flights and are staying at the exact same hotel I stayed at. Thus I know that somebody has taken complete advantage of them and they are being massively overcharged.

The ideal solution for me would be a complete cancellation of the holiday for a full refund and then I would help them book everything a lot cheaper.

Do they have any rights in this situation? It was purchased only yesterday (28th of June) and their departure date is the 7th September.

Thanks in advance,

Fatolddog.

You can't compare the price of holidays in May with September. September is always dearer than May unless its whit week. A lot of the cost is the flights so doesn't matter if you go for 4 or 7 nights the flight is still the same price. If its a package using charter flights she may be able to cancel for loss of deposit if she's quick. If its put together and scheduled flights then its probably loss of everything. If your such an expert you'd think your mother would have asked you in the first place.