Thomas Cook extends direct-debit payment option to high street
Thomas Cook is now offering high-street shop clients the option of making interest-free monthly instalments via direct debit.
The scheme is already available for bookings made online at thomascook.com and airtours.co.uk and has now been extended to include all Thomas Cook and Co-operative travel stores.
Direct-debit payment is available for bookings for winter 2016, summer 2017 and long-haul winter 2017-18 package holidays operated under the brand names Thomas Cook, Thomas Cook Signature, Thomas Cook City Escapes, Airtours, Manos or Club 18-30 when booked 22 weeks or more before departure.
Customers who opt to pay for their holiday by monthly instalments will pay a reduced deposit of £25 per person instead of £200 per person.
Both options are being widely promoted in Thomas Cook and Co-operative Travel store windows throughout September.
Thomas Cook UK & Ireland director of retail and customer experience Kathryn Darbandi said: "Our travel agent feedback showed that the online direct debit scheme would be a valuable tool in our stores also, to make budgeting for a holiday easier by spreading the cost across monthly installments."
Customers wishing to pay for their summer 2017 holiday by monthly instalments provide their travel agent with the bank account number and sort code for the lead name on the booking and specify which date of the month they would like each payment to be taken.
Eligibility is based on a minimum of two payments before the tour operator final balance due date, which is 14 weeks prior to the departure.
Payments are processed on behalf of Thomas Cook by UK online direct debit provider GoCardless.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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