Halt ATOL reforms NOW, say Scottish agents
The Scottish Passenger Agents' Association has called for an immediate pause in the implementation by Government of its proposed ATOL reforms.
It has called for further discussions between all interested parties "to agree a more practical and coherent way forward for consumer financial protection".
The call, in a letter to Westminster MPs, comes in the wake of discussions with other travel bodies, such as ABTA, and a comprehensive survey of SPAA Members, which, it says, revealed a significant number of anomalies and practical difficulties in the reform proposals.
In the letter, SPAA president Brian Potter claimed that instead of improving financial protection, the reforms will actually introduce greater risks of financial loss and disruption for travellers; create even greater uncertainty as to when and in what circumstances they are protected, and impose unsustainable additional burdens on travel agents.
He claimed the reforms would cost agents an additional £8.50 per passenger in additional ATOL charges and insurance premiums, but pointed out that they would not cost airlines a penny as they will remain outside the financial protection scheme.
"Any new ATOL system must provide a level playing field, which means that airlines must be included in any reforms from the outset," he said
Potter also claimed the Government’s plan to introduce the reforms on January 1 was not practical as it would take longer for members to amend their office systems.
The SPAA is calling for a levy on every air-based holiday sold, which would be collected by all travel providers including airlines
The Association has, meanwhile, provided members with a template letter, addressing these issues, expressing support for the Association’s position, and calling for support from their local MPs.
SPAA political convenor Sandy MacPherson added: "As time progresses it's becoming clear that insufficient thought has gone into preparing the consultation document.
"Issue after issue is now coming to light, few or none of which appear to have been thought through by the DfT and/or the CAA.
"It seems that the process, so far, has been little better than slipshod, and the only sensible course of action would be for implementation to be delayed until the various issues raised by the travel community have been considered and taken into account.
By Linsey McNeill
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
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