Travel agent - taken money but not paid hotel.
Discussion
Evening,
This was relayed to me today by my mother:
Independent travel agent was paid £3k two months ago for a UK weekend break for 10 people (paid cash). Received phone call from hotel yesterday asking to pay for the rooms. Spoke to travel agent owner today who has stated that he has cash flow problems and cannot refund the payment, although he acknowledges receipt of payment.
Before I beat him to death with his own shoe for ripping off 10 OAP's, who should I contact regarding this? Would trading standards be interested?
Cheers.
This was relayed to me today by my mother:
Independent travel agent was paid £3k two months ago for a UK weekend break for 10 people (paid cash). Received phone call from hotel yesterday asking to pay for the rooms. Spoke to travel agent owner today who has stated that he has cash flow problems and cannot refund the payment, although he acknowledges receipt of payment.
Before I beat him to death with his own shoe for ripping off 10 OAP's, who should I contact regarding this? Would trading standards be interested?
Cheers.
JPJPJP said:
ABTA
ATOL
No use im afraid. They protect against trave companies/airlines going tits up. OP has paid the agent who hasnt then paid the hotel.ATOL
And he paid cash. Did alarm bells not ring?
Straight to court (i assume Op has reciepts at least). The agent will have 14 days to respond. If he doesn't, apply for summary judgement. If agent doesnt pay, as its over £600, apply for high court enforcement (60 odd quid)6 weeks from start to finish, if you dont mess around.
Moneyclaimonline.org
JPJPJP said:
ABTA
ATOL
No use im afraid. They protect against trave companies/airlines going tits up. OP has paid the agent who hasnt then paid the hotel.ATOL
And he paid cash. Did alarm bells not ring?
Straight to court (i assume Op has reciepts at least). The agent will have 14 days to respond. If he doesn't, apply for summary judgement. If agent doesnt pay, as its over £600, apply for high court enforcement (60 odd quid)6 weeks from start to finish, if you dont mess around.
Moneyclaimonline.org
TVR1 said:
JPJPJP said:
ABTA
ATOL
No use im afraid. They protect against trave companies/airlines going tits up. OP has paid the agent who hasnt then paid the hotel.ATOL
And he paid cash. Did alarm bells not ring?
Straight to court (i assume Op has reciepts at least). The agent will have 14 days to respond. If he doesn't, apply for summary judgement. If agent doesnt pay, as its over £600, apply for high court enforcement (60 odd quid)6 weeks from start to finish, if you dont mess around.
Moneyclaimonline.org
Morning,
Thanks for the replies. Travel agent has been used many times over a number of years without any problems. I can only assume that cash was used due to trust in the agent.
I've managed to find his home address and another business address, so I'll be talking to him later on today. He has another business that has just started up, so i'm assuming cash has gone there.
It does sound as if the legal route is the only option, but whether they ever see the money is another question.
Cheers.
Thanks for the replies. Travel agent has been used many times over a number of years without any problems. I can only assume that cash was used due to trust in the agent.
I've managed to find his home address and another business address, so I'll be talking to him later on today. He has another business that has just started up, so i'm assuming cash has gone there.
It does sound as if the legal route is the only option, but whether they ever see the money is another question.
Cheers.
In this situation I'd be doorstepping him. My personal experience of chasing bad debts is that those who shout loudest get paid first.
That's probably really bad advice from a legal point of view, but if he's about to wind the company up, suing him is unlikely to net any better result. Good luck.
That's probably really bad advice from a legal point of view, but if he's about to wind the company up, suing him is unlikely to net any better result. Good luck.
Nothing better than your local newspaper or local news tv program investigative consumer bods would love more than to doorstep this guy with a microphone and hopefully a camera. They hate it when a group of OAPs are ripped off.
As he's deceived your folks how about ringing him up and saying that you are a relative and that you happen to be such a reporter/investigative journalist and if the money isn't back in their hands or the Hotels TODAY he will get a TV crew in his face and he will be named and shamed on TV 'and that will do your new business the world of good, won't it?' If you can be convincing worth a try?
As he's deceived your folks how about ringing him up and saying that you are a relative and that you happen to be such a reporter/investigative journalist and if the money isn't back in their hands or the Hotels TODAY he will get a TV crew in his face and he will be named and shamed on TV 'and that will do your new business the world of good, won't it?' If you can be convincing worth a try?
But again, rather than trying to get cash back, why not look at the actual contract your mum and her friends have. If this guy was authorised to take a booking and payment from the hotel, then the fact he hasn't paid them is not necessarily an issue, the booking is still valid.
Take a look at the paperwork ask him and them what authority he had to act on their behalf.
If you take it a step closer, it may be not much different to them paying cash to a guy on reception, him taking the booking and confriming it, then him pocketing the Wonga. In that circumstance, the hotel would not be cancelling the booking I am pretty sure.
So if this Agent is deemed to be empowered to take booking and payment, like a "quasi employee" contract may still be enforceable.
Take a look at the paperwork ask him and them what authority he had to act on their behalf.
If you take it a step closer, it may be not much different to them paying cash to a guy on reception, him taking the booking and confriming it, then him pocketing the Wonga. In that circumstance, the hotel would not be cancelling the booking I am pretty sure.
So if this Agent is deemed to be empowered to take booking and payment, like a "quasi employee" contract may still be enforceable.
elanfan said:
Nothing better than your local newspaper or local news tv program investigative consumer bods would love more than to doorstep this guy with a microphone and hopefully a camera. They hate it when a group of OAPs are ripped off.
As he's deceived your folks how about ringing him up and saying that you are a relative and that you happen to be such a reporter/investigative journalist and if the money isn't back in their hands or the Hotels TODAY he will get a TV crew in his face and he will be named and shamed on TV 'and that will do your new business the world of good, won't it?' If you can be convincing worth a try?
This is probably the most effective method.As he's deceived your folks how about ringing him up and saying that you are a relative and that you happen to be such a reporter/investigative journalist and if the money isn't back in their hands or the Hotels TODAY he will get a TV crew in his face and he will be named and shamed on TV 'and that will do your new business the world of good, won't it?' If you can be convincing worth a try?
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