ABTA revamp ‘bad news for customers’ – Travel Counsellors
Customers losing protection against ABTA travel agency failure under changes being introduced by the association is “bad news”, according to the boss of Travel Counsellors.
The homeworking agency’s chairman David Speakman said: “This latest move by ABTA is extremely bad news for customers.
“Even if they book with an ABTA agent, if that agent fails the new rules means they will not get their money back.”
His company left ABTA and created a Financial Trust, independently administered by the Barclays Bank Trust Company, in September 2004 due to “loopholes in the financial protection” offered by the association and ATOL.
Speakman added: “There is no doubt that establishing the Travel Counsellors Trust was the right thing to do. It gives our customers a copper bottomed guarantee that their money is 100% protected.”
An example of when the company’s Trust came into effect was after the failure of low cost airline EUJet last year. Three Travel Counsellors’ customers who booked by debit card and so were not covered by their credit card company received full reimbursement.
If they had booked independently or through an ABTA agent they would have lost their money under the association’s new guidelines, according to Travel Counsellors.
Phil Davies
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 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports