Travel agent no longer accepting debit or credit cards!

Lollina5881

The travel agent we've booked our holiday with for this year is now only accepting payments by bank transfer and cheque since the nee card payment law came into force. We paid our deposit by debit card and were planning on paying a small amount off the balance by credit card for added section 75 protection but won't be able to do that now. They are are registered with both ABTA and ATOL but our booking is for accommodation only (Disney hotel and tickets). Now nervous about paying the circa £4k balance by bank transfer with no added protection. We do have our travel insurance arranged, would this cover us if the agent went bust?

daveyjp

If you paid the deposit before the date of the change they are still within their rights to charge a fee for credit card payments if ths was a condition when you booked.

Check your paperwork and advise them of their rights, possibly suggesting a discount equivalent to the fee for your advice!

Lollina5881

Thanks will give that a try!

eDicky

Charges for payment by card are allowed for contracts entered into before 18 July 2017, even if you are making payment now.

So if your booking was made prior to that date the fee is allowed, but whether they would be willing and able to make an exception and allow you to pay by card for that reason is rather doubtful.

PeacefulWaters

Insurance won't cover you for falling for a fraud.

Send them £1, check they've received it a few days later by calling a number you can verify as there's, then send the rest. Then you won't be sending the significant money to a wrong account number.

My guess is this is either a very small operation or a business that simply won't be trading in a few months.

I certainly wouldn't use them again.

richardw

S75 doesn't apply to Travel Agent payments, only when booking with the supplier.

shaun_from_Africa

richardw wrote: »

S75 doesn't apply to Travel Agent payments, only when booking with the supplier.

If the travel agent is the supplier of a package holiday and the package was put together by that agent then S75 will apply.
It's only if the agent is supplying tickets or accommodation and is acting as a go-between for the consumer and the people providing that travel or accommodation that S75 will be invalidated.

sheramber

I would send a cheque to give the hassle of having to take it to the bank to pay it in and the bank will charge them for it.

unforeseen

I suppose there is nothing stopping them adding on an admin charge per cheque for processing it.

katejo

richardw wrote: »

S75 doesn't apply to Travel Agent payments, only when booking with the supplier.

All the more reason for not booking through a Travel Agent! I don't think I have ever done it.