My Parents also booked an Allocation on Arrival holiday with Cosmos and ended up in a Dump!!!
They booked a 3* sorry '3D' allocation on arrival and ended up in a 1key accommodation.
As i work in a Travel Agency i contacted the Cosmos Duty Office who gave me the e-mail address for the Tenerife Resort Office. I e-mailed them to ask what rating they give the Comodoro Apartments as this is where they ended up. Cosmos replied '2D', when i demanded an explaination as to why me parents were placed there when they had boooked a 3D the reply was 'sorry there has been some confusion i have just checked with my supervisor and we
actually rate the apartments as 3D' - well how convenient!!
They offered my parents a move to other accommodations which were just as bad so they decided to stay where they were.
I for one will not be booking any of my future customers on a Cosmos late deal as they appear to be buying in cheap unbrochured accommodation and using this for their late deals - if you want my advice keep clear!!

It's not just Cosmos that use cheap unbrochured accommodation. I worked for Airtours for a couple of years and at busy times, when all the brochure accommodation was fully booked they'd literally book people into accommodation that nobody from the company had even seen. I remember people turning up to my welcome meeting on a couple of occasions and would be staying at a property i've never even heard of let alone seen! It can happen with any tour op.

Personally i would NEVER book allocation on arrival.

Some of the accommodation used features in continental subsidiary brochures only.

Some years ago we went to Gran Canaria and finished up in one.

Must admit it was first class. We tried the following year to book into it with no success as it was not available for UK holidaymakers.

People do sometimes forget they are booking with companies who operate on an international basis, it is a case of utilisation by the TOs of all properties they have contracted as a group.

fwh

I wrote to COSMOS again stating that I wasnt happy with their first reply and asked for an explanation.

They still havent offered a real explanation but did state that they hadnt understood the initial complaint fully and have now given me a £100 voucher to use with COSMOS.

I think Ill leave it there, its too much hard work talking to them, but atleast I have got some more out of them, nothing like I paid out, but its better than nothing, looks like I might have to try COSMOS again.

Thanks to everyone for help and advice.

BUt do you really want to be tied to Cosmos for another holiday? You might like to ring the HT travel lawyer Ros Fernihough for advice before you accept the voucher.

By offering you voucher they are admitting there was a problem. As Alsacienne suggests I'd give Ros a ring on 01922 621114 for free advice.

Already spoke to Ros's assistant who is sending out a pack!

in total have now recieved £260 and £100 voucher, for the initial £600 holiday!

If you do not wish to accept the offer/cheque sent to you by Cosmos - you should return it to them with a covering letter and request they investigate & reply further.

Keeping hold of the cheque will only delay matters and whatever you do, don't cash it - otherwise it is deemed as acceptance of settlement of your complaint.

CwB