ABTA fights for agents to keep credit card charges
ABTA has written to the government opposing its proposals to prevent companies from profiting from debit and credit card charges.
The travel association has told the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) that the policy change, which the BIS wants to bring forward to next year, should not apply to package travel because it falls outside the scope of the Consumer Rights Directive.
If there is to be a ban on above cost credit and debit card charges, tour operators and travel agents will need more time to make the necessary IT and marketing changes, it said. "ABTA therefore argues it would not be appropriate for the ban on above cost credit/debit card charges to be implemented in the UK before the EU transposition deadline of June 2014."
It said that package travel is typically a low margin sector and is covered by the Package Travel Directive, which is currently under revision by the European Commission.
ABTA head of public affairs Luke Pollard said: "ABTA supports full transparency of pricing and has worked closely with the Office of Fair Trading to help guide policy in this area.
"The vast majority of our members offer the option to pay by debit card and absorb the costs themselves to allow consumers flexibility in how they pay.
"However, it is important that they can offer the option to pay by credit card and be able to recoup their associated costs. We believe that any changes to the policies governing package travel should be made via the forthcoming review of the Package Travel Directive, which specifically addresses the nuances of selling package travel rather than gold plating the Consumer Rights Directive."
The BIS consultation on above cost payment surcharges is part of a broader consultation on the European Consumer Rights Directive. As part of this, BIS is also running a consultation on the use of premium rate consumer helplines and opt out boxes, which will be ending shortly.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt