Comments on: Confusion on ABTA bonding for Consumers http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/02/08/confusion-on-abta-bonding-for-consumers/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:52:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jennifer Daussaut http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/02/08/confusion-on-abta-bonding-for-consumers/#comment-162916 Jennifer Daussaut Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:55:53 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/02/08/confusion-on-abta-bonding-for-consumers/#comment-162916 This is all on top of the role it plays as a trade association for members. In my opinion it is not the best way of doing things but as the travel business changes and more people book unprotected trips each year things change with them. This is all on top of the role it plays as a trade association for members.

In my opinion it is not the best way of doing things but as the travel business changes and more people book unprotected trips each year things change with them.

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]]> By: Michael http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/02/08/confusion-on-abta-bonding-for-consumers/#comment-16345 Michael Sun, 11 Feb 2007 23:51:29 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/02/08/confusion-on-abta-bonding-for-consumers/#comment-16345 Nicholas, no matter how you put it, ABTAs role is near redundant nowadays and whilst I do agree that they need to change with the times, they should of done that a few years back. Too little, too late. Nicholas, no matter how you put it, ABTAs role is near redundant nowadays and whilst I do agree that they need to change with the times, they should of done that a few years back. Too little, too late.

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]]> By: Darren Cronian http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/02/08/confusion-on-abta-bonding-for-consumers/#comment-16343 Darren Cronian Sun, 11 Feb 2007 23:42:34 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/02/08/confusion-on-abta-bonding-for-consumers/#comment-16343 Thanks for the useful inormation Nicholas, it's good to get a better insight into ABTA. Thanks for the useful inormation Nicholas, it’s good to get a better insight into ABTA.

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]]> By: Nicholas Lee http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/02/08/confusion-on-abta-bonding-for-consumers/#comment-16261 Nicholas Lee Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:58:36 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/02/08/confusion-on-abta-bonding-for-consumers/#comment-16261 Darren ABTA was set up over 50 years ago and in this time it has changed several times. Since 1973 all air holidays including those book though ABTA members have been covered by an ATOL. Law changed ABTA financial protection in 1992 with the introduction of the Package Travel regulations. At this time ABTA said it members would work the same way in regards to bonding. After ABTA went though a series of frauds in the last few years it changed its mind. ABTA bonding is still there, but is now not unlimited in the same way as before. I already gave the link to explain this. All ABTA Travel agencies can at request of the customer protect anything booked though them, if it is not protected already for a small fee (normally £3-£5 per person) So what does ABTA do? It has a set of enforced rules, called the Code of Conduct. (It is worth noting that AITO has a smaller version of this) Did you know that every ABTA office must have trained staff (not all staff have to be but most are). This is a 2-year course to a degree level, also there are other ABTA qualifications such as any person selling travel insurance must pass its insurance exam. To give you an idea of other things ABTA does here’s a short list. Controls how members print there brochures including booking conditions. Set rules covering complaints. And helps customers against members. Tell members how long they must take to reply to letters from customers and each other. Set and controls emergency procedures. Runs consumer helpline. To name just a few. This is all on top of the role it plays as a trade association for members. In my opinion it is not the best way of doing things but as the travel business changes and more people book unprotected trips each year things change with them. Darren

ABTA was set up over 50 years ago and in this time it has changed several times.

Since 1973 all air holidays including those book though ABTA members have been covered by an ATOL.

Law changed ABTA financial protection in 1992 with the introduction of the Package Travel regulations. At this time ABTA said it members would work the same way in regards to bonding.

After ABTA went though a series of frauds in the last few years it changed its mind. ABTA bonding is still there, but is now not unlimited in the same way as before. I already gave the link to explain this. All ABTA Travel agencies can at request of the customer protect anything booked though them, if it is not protected already for a small fee (normally £3-£5 per person)

So what does ABTA do?
It has a set of enforced rules, called the Code of Conduct. (It is worth noting that AITO has a smaller version of this)

Did you know that every ABTA office must have trained staff (not all staff have to be but most are). This is a 2-year course to a degree level, also there are other ABTA qualifications such as any person selling travel insurance must pass its insurance exam.

To give you an idea of other things ABTA does here’s a short list.

Controls how members print there brochures including booking conditions.
Set rules covering complaints. And helps customers against members.
Tell members how long they must take to reply to letters from customers and each other.
Set and controls emergency procedures.
Runs consumer helpline.
To name just a few.

This is all on top of the role it plays as a trade association for members.

In my opinion it is not the best way of doing things but as the travel business changes and more people book unprotected trips each year things change with them.

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]]> By: Darren Cronian http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/02/08/confusion-on-abta-bonding-for-consumers/#comment-16254 Darren Cronian Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:30:15 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/2007/02/08/confusion-on-abta-bonding-for-consumers/#comment-16254 Thank you Lee for the very informative comments. I'm surprised why the media has been slow to actively inform consumers of these changes. Adding a webpage and creating a leaflet on the ABTA website is not actively informing consumers of these changes. I asked a few work colleagues who have all booked holidays through ABTA approved agencies, and not one of them was handed this leaflet or told about the changes when they booked their holiday in January. It seems that airlines and organisations like ABTA have a lack of customer service skills and its poor and makes my blood boil! Thank you Lee for the very informative comments.

I’m surprised why the media has been slow to actively inform consumers of these changes. Adding a webpage and creating a leaflet on the ABTA website is not actively informing consumers of these changes.

I asked a few work colleagues who have all booked holidays through ABTA approved agencies, and not one of them was handed this leaflet or told about the changes when they booked their holiday in January.

It seems that airlines and organisations like ABTA have a lack of customer service skills and its poor and makes my blood boil!

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