Agents urged to follow ABTA’s word
ABTA has updated its Code of Conduct and its guidance for members in light of major changes in financial protection.
Following changes to the ATOL scheme, ABTA’s Code of Conduct now makes it mandatory for members to have properly worded agency agreements in place.
The association has produced a model agency agreement which satisfies all of the requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority to help members make sure they are within the law.
"Not having a properly worded agreement in place has potentially very serious implications as members of the public would not be able to claim from the CAA if an ATOL holder failed and they would be referred to their retailer for a refund," warned ABTA.
ABTA has also produced model booking conditions that incorporate a correctly worded statement about financial protection and model agency terms of business.
"With the CAA now cracking down on companies that are not following the new ATOL regulations, it is incredibly important that members get the whole process of incorporating the reforms into their working practices right," said Simon Bunce, head of member and legal services.
"If they do not, they could be breaking the law."
The ABTA Business Support Manual and model agreements are all available exclusively to ABTA members on the members’ section of www.abta.com
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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