Holiday Cancellation - Deposit - Consumer Law?

[gb155]

Hey All

On the 24th of July this year I booked a 14 night stay in Orlando with a Thompson Travel Agent, the lady told us that as there will be 3 adults and 2 kids she would do everything to get us in a suite (With seperate bedrooms) at the Econo Lodge on I-Drive.

A few days passed and she said actually, she couldnt do that and we are all in one room, with 2 double beds and a fold away.

We asked about an extra room to be told it would be £550 extra (if we booked 2 rooms at the start it would have been £200, but because we were almost assured a suite, we didnt see the need)

We asked about the free shuttle to Disney and was told "Yes, you get a free shuttle to Disney World" so we went ahead and booked 5 x 14 day Daisney passes.

When we got the paperwork it stated that the shuttle was no longer free and would cost us $15 PP per day ($1050)

We spoke to the agent who assured us it was indeed free and would confirm it in writing (Although we booked with a Thompson Travel agent, it was booked with Jetsave) we have been chasing it every day (as the agent is local) and were told today by the manager that the shuttle to Disney WILL NOT be free to us as we are not booked with Thompson.

We paid a £400 Deposit - if we cancel the Holiday as rebook with Thompson direct, online, we get 2 rooms and as its Thompson, we get the FREE Shuttle too.

Does the consumer law of , you have a 14 day cooling off period apply to a Deposit for a Holiday ? because we have been told that dispite the holiday being booked just 7 days ago and not taking place for 14 months, that we will LOSE the Deposit, is this right ?

We could hire a car, but at £300 (for the insurance) and then £150 for parking at Disney its an added expence that we dont really need, added to the room issue, its left a bitter taste and I cant help but feel its been "Mis-Sold"

Is there any way I can get that Deposit back ?

Thanks in advace.

 

[Saluki]

I might try phoning the company, explaining the whole situation and appealing to their good nature.
I am not sure about the legal technicalities although I believe that there is no cooling off period for holiday booking unless otherwise stated in the company's Ts & Cs.

 

[funnymummy]

I have no idea Gaz, but I have a friend who is a Travel Agent, I can copy your post & send it to her for advice..?

 

[gb155]

I might try phoning the company, explaining the whole situation and appealing to their good nature.
I am not sure about the legal technicalities although I believe that there is no cooling off period for holiday booking unless otherwise stated in the company's Ts & Cs.

I did attempt that

Only to be told - no !

 

[gb155]

I have no idea Gaz, but I have a friend who is a Travel Agent, I can copy your post & send it to her for advice..?

I'd appreciate that, thanks

 

[XmisterIS]

Gaz, do you have a record of who you spoke to, when and what exactly they said?

If you do, then you can put it all, neatly laid out on a spreadsheet, and send it to head office. Also send a copy to Trading Standards because if you bought the holiday on the basis of a pack of lies, then I would suggest that falls into the category of mis-selling.

I have had dealing with jokers like that before (in my case it was the mortgage I had with Abbey National). They gave me the run-around, lied to me, and then tried to charge me £900 in penalties, so I did as I described - kept an accurate record of all telephone conversations, then I sent a letter to head office and CCed it to Trading Standards (I stated in the letter that I had CCed it to Trading Standards). I also threatened to go to the national newspapers with the story (I listed every single broadsheet). One thing I did stress was how much the staff at Abbey just didn't seem to give a toss (I named and shamed individual employees). The main thing was that I acted swiftly and precisely and I was well-armed with the facts.

Guess what? Within a week I had a groveling letter of apology and all charges against me were dropped! ('scuse the pun!)

Moral of the story - don't mess with XmisterIS!

 

[gb155]

Gaz, do you have a record of who you spoke to, when and what exactly they said?

If you do, then you can put it all, neatly laid out on a spreadsheet, and send it to head office. Also send a copy to Trading Standards because if you bought the holiday on the basis of a pack of lies, then I would suggest that falls into the category of mis-selling.

I have had dealing with jokers like that before (in my case it was the mortgage I had with Abbey National). They gave me the run-around, lied to me, and then tried to charge me £900 in penalties, so I did as I described - kept an accurate record of all telephone conversations, then I sent a letter to head office and CCed it to Trading Standards (I stated in the letter that I had CCed it to Trading Standards). I also threatened to go to the national newspapers with the story (I listed every single broadsheet). One thing I did stress was how much the staff at Abbey just didn't seem to give a toss (I named and shamed individual employees). The main thing was that I acted swiftly and precisely and I was well-armed with the facts.

Guess what? Within a week I had a groveling letter of apology and all charges against me were dropped! ('scuse the pun!)

Moral of the story - don't mess with XmisterIS!

This is gonna run n run

About to pull the trigger on an email to the MD of Thompson when I get a text saying they will honour the shuttle and we are just awaiting email confirmation

Let's see eh ?

 

[XmisterIS]

Good for you Gaz! sounds promising. Personally, I would send a typed letter to the MD as well as the email, and cc a copy to the people you are dealing with directly, just so they know what's going on. Also, check with the companies house website to find out who/where the MD really is. Often they just give you a "standard" address which isn't actually the MD's head office. You can also use Google creatively to find out the MD's personal address. I did that with Abbey.

 

[gb155]

Good for you Gaz! sounds promising. Personally, I would send a typed letter to the MD as well as the email, and cc a copy to the people you are dealing with directly, just so they know what's going on. Also, check with the companies house website to find out who/where the MD really is. Often they just give you a "standard" address which isn't actually the MD's head office. You can also use Google creatively to find out the MD's personal address. I did that with Abbey.

Thanks man

Had a call today to say they are chasing written confirmation but there is no update - that's much much better service than a few days ago

I mentioned I'd drafted an email to the MD but I would quite happily scrap it if things are sorted

Didn't want to make it sound like a threat tho !

We will see what happens next

 

[gb155]

Had verbal confirmation that we will get the Disney shuttle free

Just waiting for it in writing now

50% of the victory is won

 

[gb155]

Well well well

I now have an email confirming a free Disney shuttle

 

[Red Light]

On a tangent are you sure you need 14 day Disney passes? There are lots of other interesting things to do and see around there and I'm not sure I could keep myself amused for 14 days continuously in Disneyland.

 

[vernon]

The advice is a bit late. The complaint dates back to August last year. The resort is in America and Not France.

 

[srw]

The advice is a bit late. The complaint dates back to August last year. The resort is in America and Not France.

I think it's spam. And I've pushed the report button.

 

[srw]

..or I would have done if the report button hadn't hung on my browser. Off to report that.