Can Thomsons do this? - Holiday Complaints, Holiday Forums

Can Thomsons do this?

silverpixie1uk

2008-07-19 23:57:54

I booked a holiday online on 9/7/08 to the Caribbean and paid the deposit of £300. Due to an error on their website the wrong room was booked so I had to pay an extra £168 on 10/7/08 for which I have received a receipt in the post. I've not yet had any other written confirmation as I did last year with details of resort and passengers etc.
Today I got two letters exactly the same saying that my final payment date was wrongly quoted on the site ('due to a blip with our administration system' )when I booked also on my confirmation e-mail and despite having written to me previously (if they did I haven't received it) my payment is now overdue and my holiday is to be cancelled if not paid by 4.00pm on 21st.

The problem is I'm waiting for some funds to transfer to pay the balance and they might not be in the bank until the 23rd, 10 working days after I requested them. I did realise it was going to be tight but having been assured by the building society that the money would be there by the 23rd I knew I would be able to pay the balance on the 24th as originally requested, I wouldn't have booked otherwise.

My confirmation e-mail says the balance is not due till 24/7/08 and it says:

This is a very important document as it is your proof of your contract with TUI UK Limited,

so surely they are in breach of their contract?

MarkJ

2008-07-20 05:54:55

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

How about sending a cheque on Monday and advising them of that. It will take about 5 days for it to clear by which time you have enough funds in the bank.

In my opinion they have no choice but to accept this considering the fact that they admitted making a mistake.

Worth a try.

Mrk

robbyw

2008-07-20 06:03:23

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

Send a cheque dated 24th with a copy of the email, you don't need to fully explain. The email shows you have the proof. Realistically it's only a few days different and their mistake.
Can you not pay by the 21st with a credit card, yours or someone elses??? This would give plenty of time to sort your funds.

Robby :wink:

fwh

2008-07-20 07:31:48

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

1 - There is a change in the system on clearing cheques. The old problem we had waiting has gone in most cases and they clear in 24 hours.

2 - There was an article in the press re post dating cheques where it would seem that banks often clear them without a check on the dates.

Perhaps a call to advise that you are in the process of transferring funds - bit of cap in hand type groveling might might do the trick. You should of course point out that it is their fault - admitted by them - and as you manage your money it takes time to transfer.

fwh

robbyw

2008-07-20 07:49:44

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

bit of cap in hand type groveling might might do the trick

I wouldn't grovel at all, it's their cock-up and they have admitted it.
Send the cheque dated 24th on/after 22nd by first class post or even signed for (£1.08) WITH a copy of the email.

Robby :wink:

robbyw

2008-07-20 07:51:45

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

In fact date the cheque 21st, but don't send until the 22nd with the email.

Robby :wink:

lynwestie

2008-07-20 09:55:21

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

Im sure they will be fine if you talk to them tomorrow Lynn.It is their mess up as everyone has said. I would just tell them you have arranged a transfer of money to coincide with the the original payment date and it possibly wont be in your account until then. They should just put an extension on your invoice as long as you speak to them .

You could send them a cheque but you would still need to ring them because of the monday deadline and I think you could be taking a bit of a chance with that . They would probably receive/bank it Tuesday and it could hit your bank within 1-4 days depending on the bank that Thomsons use.I pay both my monthly credit card bills in this way ,one of them hits my bank probably the day after they bank it , and the other 3 days. If you decide to send a cheque I would leave it till at least Tuesday as Robby has suggested

Im sure everything will be fine once you speak to them tomorrow :tup

lyn

lancslass53

2008-07-20 15:34:13

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

yes you definately need to ring them and explain, if they do cancel because you havent paid by tomorrow then you are left out of pocket and without a holiday booked

Acorncup

2008-07-20 16:40:56

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

It does seem a bit heavy-handed.
Sometimes we have booked a year in advance, and then have had to put on the calendar when we should pay by. We don't usually get a reminder! I mentioned this one year and asked what happened if we forgot the date? She said it didn't really matter if the payment was a few days late :shrug

I hope they willl understand if you explain the situation to them.
Good luck!

robbyw

2008-07-20 18:05:12

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

If the letters were not signed for there is no proof you received them if you don't acknowledge them.
You have the email as back up.

Good luck, but don't think you will need it.

Robby :wink:

silverpixie1uk

2008-07-20 20:50:50

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

Thanks everyone, I think I've managed to sort out some funds to pay our balance or at least the amount I am short that's being transferred.

I have to say though, that I'm sick of these TO's, if we make a mistake it costs us financially, if they make a mistake it still costs us, not only financially but in stress and it seems to have got worse since the major players jumped into bed with each other.

Just how much more incompetent can they get?

silverpixie1uk

2008-07-21 10:30:38

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

Wonderful, as from 2nd June they no longer accept personal cheques only Bankers Drafts or Building Society cheques.
Its now too late to get the last option as the money is half way to being transferred to the bank and too soon to get the former. Yet a third letter from Thomsons this morning threatening to cancel.

Why the hell are they doing this when its their error.

lynwestie

2008-07-21 10:43:29

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

I think its out of order Lynn . Have you spoke to them??? . It seems to me they are trying to force more and more people to pay by credit card so you have no option but to incure there 2-3% charge . Do you not have a bank card , whereby you can use that over the phone as soon as your money is available.

silverpixie1uk

2008-07-21 10:52:18

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

Lyn, I had intended to pay via my debit card this time having transferred funds from the building society for which I had to give 10 working days notice. I checked with them this morning and the funds have left them but the bank say they haven't yet arrived there.

I've just spoken to Roz's PA Pam to find out where I stand legally, she is going to get back to me.

I'm beginning to wonder if someone is trying to tell me that we shouldn't go on this holiday. :que

lynwestie

2008-07-21 11:07:26

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

Lynn . Have you asked the bank if they will honour your transaction until the funds come through .

NeilTheBeaver

2008-07-21 11:10:00

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

have you phoned thomson today to find out if they will wait, im sure they will give a couple of days since they would rather not lose the booking and it was their fault

robbyw

2008-07-21 11:36:49

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

They are messing about. Remind them strongly it is THEIR error and point out the email and the little time they have given in their letters.
They should be bending over backwards to help you.
I personally would contact them and tell them I want the credit card fee waived due to their incompetence, or to wait until it is sorted at your end.

Hope you get a result from Ros. You probably just need what to tell them from a legal aspect.

Robby :wink:

SMa

2008-07-21 15:46:45

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

I'm a bit confused by this - when exactly are you going? I ask because even if the original date of the 24th had been correct then it was always going to be tight booking something on Wednesday 9th July and having to pay the balance off a fortnight later. This sort of deadline was never going to give you much time for transferring funds and ensuring that the balance had cleared even for the 24th July.

SM

beccafcr

2008-07-21 17:09:12

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

have you managed to get this sorted?
if there still funny with you, explain its there fault, and can u pay a bit now and a bit when you get yor money?
just to try and stop them canx your holiday

keela1eva2

2008-07-21 17:58:13

Re: Can Thomsons do this?

With the deadline for this holiday I would have thought that total cost of holiday would have been due on actual booking. This is the normal for me I have always found. If they agreed to let you pay this at a later date then this may be why you are having these letters. Someone else is looking at the booking and checking the dates and in their mind the money if overdue.
Hopefully you can sort it out with them and they will allow you to pay when your money becomes available.

Sue

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