Thomas Cook - under ocupancy charge

Hayleymarie_2

Hi
I booked a holiday for my family through co op travel for a Thomas cook holiday in July next year. We have used co op travel several times before with no problems so assumed this would be the same. Last week I was going through paperwork etc and noticed a £800 under occupancy charge! I went into store to challenge this as this was NEVER mentioned i would never agree to pay £800 for nothing. I admit i should of checked the paperwork sooner but when the holiday breakdown was explained this was not mentioned.
I have since tried for weeks to get contact details for their head office after great difficulty i managed to get a manger in Bristol. I have asked for a refund of deposit but i have been advised they will not cancel or refund me but have offered to change the holiday with no admin fee. Problem being as we can only travel in peak holiday time the prices have now gone up.
Any advise would be great...
Thanks x

hollydays

Has anyone else noticed how a certain ' style' of post always ends with " any advice would be great..."

elsien

Weren't you given the total price which you agreed to when you booked? So presumably you thought it was a fair price at that point.
So does it matter that part of it is an under occupancy charge, if the total bill is what you were happy to pay overall anyway?

Hayleymarie_2

I'm new to this forum so not sure what you mean by certain style?
I simply would appreciate any help.

Hayleymarie_2

I assumed the total price was inc a upgrade which has not ben applied - I admit I should of looked closer but when going to pay next amount of deposit seen £800 for under occupancy when there is 4 travelling in a 2 bedroom apartment.
The manager did not deny mis informing us.

wealdroam

Hayleymarie wrote: »

Hi
I booked a holiday for my family through co op travel for a Thomas cook holiday in July next year. We have used co op travel several times before with no problems so assumed this would be the same. Last week I was going through paperwork etc and noticed a £800 under occupancy charge! I went into store to challenge this as this was NEVER mentioned i would never agree to pay £800 for nothing. I admit i should of checked the paperwork sooner but when the holiday breakdown was explained this was not mentioned.
I have since tried for weeks to get contact details for their head office after great difficulty i managed to get a manger in Bristol. I have asked for a refund of deposit but i have been advised they will not cancel or refund me but have offered to change the holiday with no admin fee. Problem being as we can only travel in peak holiday time the prices have now gone up.
Any advise would be great...
Thanks x

Why have they made this charge?

Perhaps this thread would be better placed on The Overseas Holiday Board, or is The UK Holiday Board more appropriate?

Hayleymarie_2

ill move onto this thankyou like I say I'm still finding my way around x

elsien

wealdroam wrote: »

Why have they made this charge?

Perhaps this thread would be better placed on The Overseas Holiday Board, or is The UK Holiday Board more appropriate?

It's not unheard of for a two bedroom apartment to be for 6 people, with there being a bed settee in the lounge. Sounds like this is what's happened here.
I would still argue that if you thought what you paid was a fair price for 4 people, then that still stands. What upgrade were you expecting, and is that on the paperwork anywhere?

bris

Under occupancy charges are not new and are simply because the price you pay is based on x amount of people sharing. So if the holiday is based on 4 people and only 2 are going you pay the under occupancy charge to make up the difference.


They even write it all down for you, pity you didn't read it before you committed. There is no breach on their part so anything they offer is a goodwill gesture, just don't expect to change the holiday and find it's suddenly £800 cheaper.

neilmcl

hollydays wrote: »

Has anyone else noticed how a certain ' style' of post always ends with " any advice would be great..."

What "certain style" would that be?

Caz3121

Hayleymarie wrote: »

there is 4 travelling in a 2 bedroom apartment.

to avoid an under occupancy charge with 4 people staying in an apartment you should probably look at one bedroom apartments with sofa beds in the living room. - you need to find somewhere that cannot sleep more than 4 (as said, a 2 bed apartment can likely accommodate 6)
As soon as there are more available sleeping places than people you will find this