MPs urged to support cold calling ban to help stop holiday sickness scams
ABTA is putting renewed pressure on MPs to support a cold calling ban in the fight against false holiday sickness claims.
It is urging MPs to support an amendment to ban cold calling of customers in a bill which is due to have its second reading in the House of Commons today.
"MPs have a great opportunity to put an end to unscrupulous claims management companies cold calling members of the public and encouraging them to submit exaggerated or false claims,” said Alan Wardle, ABTA director of public affairs.
“Not only are these calls irritating, they can also encourage people to unwittingly break the law, risking a fine, criminal record or imprisonment. There is overwhelmingly public support for a cold calling ban and MPs should take this opportunity to listen to their constituents and ban this practice once and for all."
ABTA claims there has been a 565% increase in holiday sickness claims since 2013.
The association also wants the Financial Conduct Authority to commit to consulting on the full recommendations of the 2016 Brady review, particularly in relation to the need for greater transparency in the relationships between claims management companies and solicitors who pursue claims through the courts.
ABTA supports an obligation on the claims companies to inform consumers of Alternative Dispute Resolution schemes, which allow consumers to retain 100% of any award made. Claims companies typically retain 20-25%.
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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