Ripped off by dodgy travel agent - what to do
Discussion
We have booked a £2k flight via an online travel agent, and the flight (from London to Costa Rica) turns out not to exist. When querying this with the airline, they say we must deal with the travel agent.
Upon researching the travel agent, it appears they are a bunch of absolute shysters leaving a trail of extremely dissatisfied customers all over the internet. They are not responding to our queries. It appears this is their normal practice.
We feel very stupid for not doing more due diligence, and even more stupid for not booking with a credit card.
As it stands we have paid £4k (for us and another family) and we are going nowhere.
Does anyone have any tips? We do have travel insurance via HSBC premier, are they likely to cover this kind of scam?
Thanks in advance.
Upon researching the travel agent, it appears they are a bunch of absolute shysters leaving a trail of extremely dissatisfied customers all over the internet. They are not responding to our queries. It appears this is their normal practice.
We feel very stupid for not doing more due diligence, and even more stupid for not booking with a credit card.
As it stands we have paid £4k (for us and another family) and we are going nowhere.
Does anyone have any tips? We do have travel insurance via HSBC premier, are they likely to cover this kind of scam?
Thanks in advance.
Timsta said:
Chargeback on your Creditcard?
He didn't pay with a credit card or bank XferQED - never buy anything of any value over the Interweb with a debit card.
OP - don't suppose there is any sign of an ATOL or ABTA registration? Otherwise I would say you are in for some detective work & either employing the services of some legal bods or people with baseball bats.
QED2 - Never buy anything to do with travel from anyone that's not ATOL or ABTA bonded.
Wombat3 said:
Timsta said:
Chargeback on your Creditcard?
He didn't pay with a credit card or bank XferQED - never buy anything of any value over the Interweb with a debit card.
OP - don't suppose there is any sign of an ATOL or ABTA registration? Otherwise I would say you are in for some detective work & either employing the services of some legal bods or people with baseball bats.
QED2 - Never buy anything to do with travel from anyone that's not ATOL or ABTA bonded.
You should always check that companies claiming to be ATOL/ABTA are indeed paid up members; there are many cases of firms claiming membership when they don't have it.
I'd be surprised if travel insurance covered fraud like this but worth asking.
REALIST123 said:
Wombat3 said:
Timsta said:
Chargeback on your Creditcard?
He didn't pay with a credit card or bank XferQED - never buy anything of any value over the Interweb with a debit card.
OP - don't suppose there is any sign of an ATOL or ABTA registration? Otherwise I would say you are in for some detective work & either employing the services of some legal bods or people with baseball bats.
QED2 - Never buy anything to do with travel from anyone that's not ATOL or ABTA bonded.
You should always check that companies claiming to be ATOL/ABTA are indeed paid up members; there are many cases of firms claiming membership when they don't have it.
I'd be surprised if travel insurance covered fraud like this but worth asking.
visa debit
https://www.visa.co.uk/products/visa-card-payments...
'Wherever you use Visa debit, you are fully protected. If, for example, you're unfortunate enough to book a holiday with an airline or travel agent that becomes insolvent, you'll generally get your money back. Similarly, if you order something that is not delivered, not as described, or arrives faulty or damaged, you’ll receive a full refund'
worth a shot.
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/how...
https://www.visa.co.uk/products/visa-card-payments...
'Wherever you use Visa debit, you are fully protected. If, for example, you're unfortunate enough to book a holiday with an airline or travel agent that becomes insolvent, you'll generally get your money back. Similarly, if you order something that is not delivered, not as described, or arrives faulty or damaged, you’ll receive a full refund'
worth a shot.
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/how...
Edited by The Spruce goose on Saturday 6th February 01:52
The Spruce goose said:
visa debit
https://www.visa.co.uk/products/visa-card-payments...
'Wherever you use Visa debit, you are fully protected. If, for example, you're unfortunate enough to book a holiday with an airline or travel agent that becomes insolvent, you'll generally get your money back. Similarly, if you order something that is not delivered, not as described, or arrives faulty or damaged, you’ll receive a full refund'
worth a shot.
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/how...
Absolutely, if he paid by visa debit. But he hasn't yet said how he paid, has he?https://www.visa.co.uk/products/visa-card-payments...
'Wherever you use Visa debit, you are fully protected. If, for example, you're unfortunate enough to book a holiday with an airline or travel agent that becomes insolvent, you'll generally get your money back. Similarly, if you order something that is not delivered, not as described, or arrives faulty or damaged, you’ll receive a full refund'
worth a shot.
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/problem/how...
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 6th February 01:52
Thanks very much guys. It was a Visa Debit card that was used.I will investigate that pending my conversaton with the travel agents today.
As others have said, when buying flights or holidays, always book with a reputable company (do your research), make sure they are ABTA / ATOL registered and always but always use a credit card.
As others have said, when buying flights or holidays, always book with a reputable company (do your research), make sure they are ABTA / ATOL registered and always but always use a credit card.
I did a chargeback on a VISA debit card issued by Halifax a few years ago. I initially called them and they said it was impossible, I therefore wrote setting out the terms quoted above and the money was back in my account with 48 hours. They did say that it was possible it would be reclaimed but it wasn't.
barchetta_boy said:
Thanks very much guys. It was a Visa Debit card that was used.I will investigate that pending my conversaton with the travel agents today.
As others have said, when buying flights or holidays, always book with a reputable company (do your research), make sure they are ABTA / ATOL registered and always but always use a credit card.
I would not bother with the travel agent - go straight to bank you hold the credit card with and supply them the evidence, in the majority of cases they will deal with it (minus a bit of paper work on your side). Most people think debit cards are not covered like credit cards, however since most debit cards are now visa and mastercard they are similarly treated - but depends on the contract in place.As others have said, when buying flights or holidays, always book with a reputable company (do your research), make sure they are ABTA / ATOL registered and always but always use a credit card.
Good luck OP.
Start with Visa, if no joy check out https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome
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