It’s obvious that consumers are a little weary about booking holidays with unknown travel companies after last years’ holiday scams. As a keen traveller I want to make sure that my trip is hassle free, so if I am booking a holiday with the unknown I try and protect myself by carrying out various checks.
If the site mentions that they sell flights then they have to be registered with Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing [ATOL] so if you don’t see ATOL details on the site then visit this website and run a search on the company concerned.
One of the sites unveiled as a scam last year, Unbeatableholidays.com had its domain name registered in 2006 and consumers can find out when the web address was created by visiting DNS Stuff and using the domain search [scroll down - it's free!]
If the website mentions package holidays, then they should be bonded by either ABTA, Travel Trust Association etc. I would recommend paying for your holiday with a debit or credit card as this carry’s some protection if the losses are regarded as non-delivery of goods or services.
Google it – run a search, for the website address and business name, don’t look just at the first page of the search results – look through a few pages to see if you can find any bad press or comments on forums and social networking sites.
If the travel company is a registered UK company then you can find more information about the company on Companies House website. Run a search for the travel company, and you’ll find out when the company was registered, and when it started operating as a limited company.
They are travel companies created every week and a high percentage of these companies will be legit, but running a check on them will help you relieve any fears that you may have about booking with them.
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Lisa Hamilton | 2 February, 2007 at 3:39 pm
ABTA pulled out of consumer protection last year, so don’t automatically assume you’ll be protected if you book through a travel agent who has an ABTA sign on their door, in the event that they may go bust, or run off with your money without booking your holiday.
In addition, ABTA has limited the amount it will pay out if a tour operator goes bust (companies that put the package together), although if this does happen, you should still be protected through the operator’s ATOL.
Agents (and niche operators) who are members of the TTA (Travel Trust Association) offer some of the best, if not the best, protection around, so I would recommend going with them.
Debbie | 2 February, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Excellent information Darren.
My nephew was going to book a holiday in Ibiza with a local travel company, and I followed your advice in a previous article about using the search engines to our benefit, and found a lot of bad comments about this company from holidaymakers.
Lee Harrison(owner Select World Travel Malvern) | 2 February, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Excelent Advice from Darren and especially Lisa Hamilton.
As a long established ( nearly 12 years) member of the Travel Trust Association, ATOL Holders and also an AITO ( Association of Independent Tour Operators) specialist Travel Agency we have just the pedigree that Darren looked for when booking his holiday to Kos last Autumn.
Lisa made an extremely good Point with regards to ABTA, everybody has heard about ABTA, but not everybody understands how much cover is given.
Perhaps that could be your next piece of research Darren ?
Darren Cronian | 2 February, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Thanks Lee.
Is there a resource somewhere of all of the different travel associations in the UK?
Or are ATOL, ABTA, TTA, AITO the only ones for me to concentrate on?
Thanks Lisa, I wasn’t aware that ABTA pulled out of consumer protection last year, and that the agencies are limited to the amount they are covered for. Is there somewhere were consumers can find this information out?
Lisa Hamilton | 2 February, 2007 at 6:42 pm
Not surprisingly, ABTA has not publicised the fact that it is no longer involved in customer protection!
ABTA has been seen as travel’s ‘consumer champion’ for so long, and most people still think that they are covered.
While the story has been covered in the travel trade press, the consumer press has been slow to pick it up and when they have mentioned it, it is only briefly.
Sadly, it will take a disaster/crisis to make this headline news (in the same way as Farepack, the Christmas savings-plan company that went bust last year was splashed all over the newspapers).
Darren Cronian | 2 February, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Surely ABTA can’t get away with that?
You are correct that consumers see ABTA as the ‘consumer champion’ and as a consumer it’s been fed into our minds via the media that booking a holiday through an ABTA bonded company is a must.
Rohan | 2 February, 2007 at 8:22 pm
So, let me get this right.
I book a flight with Thomas Cook (like we have just done) and if the travel agent was to go bust, ABTA wouldn’t pay out? If they won’t who would?
Darren Cronian | 5 February, 2007 at 2:14 pm
From what Lee and Lisa are staying, that looks like the case Rohan. Alot of people book holidays with agents that are bonded with ABTA because of that reason alone, that they are ABTA bonded.
Lisa Hamilton | 5 February, 2007 at 4:02 pm
If you’ve booked a flight with a charter operator, then you will be protected under the Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL.
The whole issue of consumer protection with regards to holidays is very fragmented and very confusing.
ABTA’s protection was there to pay out, for example, when a dodgy agent took your money for the holiday, didn’t pass it on to the tour operator, then the agent went bust.
Darren Cronian | 5 February, 2007 at 5:36 pm
Thanks for all the explanations Lisa.
I’m wondering then what is the point of ABTA, what role do they play in the industry for consumers if the element of protection is being reduced or no longer exists?
Rohan | 6 February, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Nicholas Lee | 8 February, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Guys
ABTA has not pulled out of consumer protection. What it has said is if someone commits a fraud it won’t pay. This was manly due to the millions it suddenly found it self paying when companies pretend to be members. It is worth noting that to the best of my knowledge no organisation pays out if someone pretends to be a member and their not. For an easy guide see this link http://www.abta.com/whatyouneedtoknow.shtml.
It also now limits the amount it pays to tour operator member when a travel agent member goes bust. This does not affect consumers, just tour operator. If you for instance book a ferry and hotel with an ABTA member and they go bust, ABTA will refund you if the trip is not provided.
ABTA also has a set of rules that members must follow dealing with everything from staff to how long it takes to reply to a letter.
Hope this helps to clear it up a bit.
Darren Cronian | 8 February, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Thanks Nicholas! It’s amazing how communication can confuse!
Michael | 12 February, 2007 at 12:53 am
Holiday scams are a worry for everyone, let’s hope that the what happened last year doesn’t happen again and advise like this will help people identify scams so that they can reported.
Mrs M Allsop | 15 November, 2007 at 11:24 pm
Can you tell me if European Vacations is a ABAT Bonded regestered company
Darren Cronian | 16 November, 2007 at 12:17 am
Hi, can you let me know some more information.
i.e. an address, or if they have a website.
I did a search on http://www.abta.com for European vacations and nothing appeared but they could be registered under another name.
Lynne Meikle | 14 January, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Have just turned my thoughts to booking a trip to Orlando and have come across The Travel Designers Ltd. They seem to have the best deal on the hotel I want to go to but quite a long way – this makes me suspicious – almost too good to be true – have you heard of them or know anyone who has used them?
Catherine Doran | 18 January, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Has anybody booked apartments with Beach.es?
Jez | 24 February, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Darren, we have booked an accomodation only holiday through an ABTA bonded company that has gone into administration. Is this covered or does it have to be a package holiday?
Darren Cronian | 24 February, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I should check this post more often.
Apologies to those I haven’t responded to but Jez, which company is it? ABTA bonded should mean you do not loose out, but I am not convinced with some of the stories that I am hearing.
Mark | 10 July, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I just posted a similar comment on the “Trust and Brands are still important to travel consumers” article so forgive me for repeating myself. I travel a lot with work and book a lot of hotels. One thing to note ABTA, AITO etc. only work with travel agents, so small hotel booking agents (who I find often have better service and better deals) can’t join. One thing worth looking for is who they work with. If you find a site through Kayak or travel supermarket, they will not work with scam sites so trust the small brand working with the bigger brand. I’ve saved a lot of money that way.
Darren Cronian | 11 July, 2008 at 7:51 am
@ Mark
That’s a good point about using comparison / meta search sites as they are likely to be reputable companies, but you can find are cheaper than the large brands.
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22 responses to “Help protect yourself against Holiday Scams”