Dont give up I got £600 (cheque not holiday vouchers)back last year. I have also completed a letter for my nephew and his new wife because their honeymoon was absolutely awful with FC. Will let you know the outcome. But no keep at them and dont give up.

Marion

Lat time I used a tour Op it was indeed `Last Choice` and found that they,like most of them are experts at smiling and batting you off.
If you have a good case,either contact Ros Fernihough Solicitor or go straight to the small claims court.
Best way to deal with these sort of people is never to use them again and take the plunge and go DIY....
best of luck

Hi, I too am waiting for a result from first choice. Wrote off a letter of complaint for my son and received acknowledgement after about 10 days. The letter stated that they'd need time to look at the complaint. I did state in the original complaint that I was giving them 28 days to come up with a result, that was 21 days ago. I'm going on holidays myself tomorrow, so if nothing's come in the post by the time I come back I shall be on to them again.

Just by way of help, we've discussed the aspect of complining and timescales for the T.O. to respond before. My view (and this may differ from others, or indeed from the legal position) is that the T.O. must respond with 28 days of receiving your complaint. However, if they write within that time stating that they need further time to formulate a proper response then they have a further 28 days.

The deadline is therefore 56 days by which time you must have received a considered response to your written complaint.

Of course, they may consider simply dismissing your claims acceptable, or even ask for further information to clarify some point. This serves the purpose of dragging-out the issue.

I firmly believe time is on the T.O.'s side. They have your money.

I'd follow Paully's advice after this first 28 or 56 day period, in fact, I'd look at the legal viability BEFORE writing to the T.O. In the past, I complained to a T.O. requesting what I considered to be fair recompense. My claim was, in the main, rejected. When I passed the matter to Ros she successfully claimed quoting legal precedence I'd no knowledge of. The T.O. immed. caved in and paid the much higher sum.

The lessen I'd learned here, the T.O. has greater knowledge than an average traveller; a lawyer has even more knowledge. The T.O. has no regard for it's (ex) customers - they've been paid. A lawyer has much regard for his (current) customer - he's yet to be paid.

Pretty logical really.

Good Luck

Thankyou for all your replies

I have phoned FC today because a family that we met on holiday have been told today 'theres a cheque in post'. I enquired to see what was happening with my complaint to be told they are looking into it. We shall wait in anticipation.... again

Oh yes, the cheque is travel vouchers..... she wouldn't tell me how much so I asked "is it more that 500".... reply "no" is it more than 100" reply yes.............i'll let you know when the family get them.

weemaz, did you have to hassle for the £600 or is that what they sent you?

Thanks, Liz

I wouldn't be happy with travel vouchers. I'd want the cash.

I agree.... cash not vouchers...wouldn't book ever again with FC, so what would be the point?!

We had to buy our brolly for the pool, eat out on a AI holiday and they wern't bought with vouchers !!

Took 2 different letters and also a threat to take legal advise. Think if I waited longer would have got more but just settled for that amount. I also sent via e-mail photos.

Hope you get on okay.

Marion

Weve received a letter from FC with a cheque for 10% of the cost of the holiday.

The question is do I settle for this or carry on fighting. To be honest weve booked now for next year and want to forget this years holiday. (have I just answered my own question?)

The letter from FC was obviously a standard letter and I'm just a small fish in a big sea.

I know from reading many of the posts in forums there are alot of you that are much wiser about this sort of thing and would appreciate your comments.

Do not bank the cheque until you have decided that you are not going any further with your complaint.

Should you do so then it will be considered that you have accepted the offer of compensation.

As you have said you want to move on so the decision is for you to make. We may offer our opinions only.

You need to consider if further action will produce a better offer. It may be that it does, but it could also be this time next year before you finally agree.

fwh

Dont accept, send them a letter telling them that you do not feel that this amount reflects the bad holiday experience that you had and also state that you will not be banking the cheque (do not send them it back). They will then send you another one for the same amount.

Marion

Won't they stop the other cheque? or at least realise that i will cash two?

My hubbies a bit reluctant

At the millennium I wasn't happy with our accommodation with FC. We had to move twice during our holiday.

On return I complained and FC originally offered me £50. I refused as I felt it was an insult. They sent me a cheque for more which I again refused. This went on until I eventually settled for £750 which was half the price of the holiday.

Tour Operators will take very small steps in the hope that you get fed up with it all and give in. Mine was finally settled in April after going on holiday in Dec/Jan.

In my circumstances I was bleeding annoyed that they dare to put us in accommodation that was disgraceful, when my husband works away from home all year and this was a family holiday. I think it was my quest for justice that kept me going.

I didn't know of Ros Fernihough then or HT and was completely on my own, but I kept on until I received an amount I found acceptable.

If you are unsure of what your level of compensation should be then call Ros on 01922 621114, she will give you free advice.

FC will know that you will be keeping the original cheque to be cashed along with any other cheques that they may send you. The second cheque that they hopefully will send you will be for another 10% thus giving you 20% of your holiday back. If you then feel that this is still not acceptable send them another letter not forgetting to state that you will not be cashing both cheques until you have been reasonably compensated.
You are not doing anything wrong holding on to the cheques and adding them together as you have stated this in your letters.

GoodLuck

Marion

We made a complaint last year to first choice they offered us 20% refund which was NOT good enough so we got Ros onto it and ended up with around 70% refund! So don't give up.

I wish you luck with First Choice.....you'll need it with that lot. I found them woefully pitiful when it came to customer services. I think they have got a very bad name in the travel industry. DON'T USE FIRST CHOICE EVER.

well, after much consideration we banked the cheque for £300.

I took everyones opinions into account and I have no doubt in my mind that if I'd have complained further I would have received more, but as pointed out it earlier in the thread it may have took a while and to be honest I really want to put this holiday at the back of my mind.

I do have some satisfaction knowing that FC payed up this amount without any quible, and that others who have stayed at this resort have the same opinion as us. (you should check out some of the reviews)

For anyone reading this who has stayed at this resort and made a complaint the money we have received was due to a six page letter, four page complaints form from the rep at resort and 5 pages of photographs. The letter we recieved back from FC had some laughable points that I'd like to share.

' There is a shortage of parasols on site as they are ordered from the mainland and do take time to arrive' (we had to buy our own)
'The complex is open 365 days a year and does receive an amount of wear and tear'
'The hotelier has his own security in place but cannot pre-empt crime'
'The hotel is a 2 star, but FC rate it as a 3'

So... was it a result? yes for me, and taught me a valuable lesson, First Choice, Last choice.