Hi Mark,

I hope your credit card company come to their senses and become helpful, you've done nothing wrong and they should be protecting you.

I'd still urge a quick e-mail to:

consumer.affairs@abta.co.uk
Maybe cc in:
europe@PATA.org
checkacode@iata.org

(although I can't confirm that they are not PATA or IATA I would doubt it).

Hopefully they will take action if the company is fraudulently using their logos, and hopefully prevent anyone losing money.

Sorry, it's a bugbear of mine that anyone can set up an online accommodation company with no checks or balances, or consumer protection (compared to the incredible hoops you have to jump through to satisfy the CAA to get an ATOL). And there are a few fraudulent companies out there.

I got an e-mail today from a friend who runs a well known, very 5 star hotel in Bali after I checked what I said in a previous comment on this thread. Their hotel is on one of these websites on the link I provided, with exceptionally cheap prices (basically 'nett' rate with no mark-up), and even has 'customer' reviews. Yet the hotel refuses to accept any bookings from them (like many hotels as it seems Sunbear has seen as well), which this website realises. Yet they will still take your money, come back to you 24 hours later and say 'Sorry, Hotel Full, how about here instead'.

The hotel is probably not full, and people don't even check how competitive the prices are of the new hotel they are offered.

Yes I work in the trade, yes I hate dishonest, disreputable, and fraudulent companies as they take the tarnish the better companies

Just to keep you all updated.

Having written to my credit card provider, they have now written back and are asking me to complete a questionnaire which is to be returned back as soon as possible so that they can start claiming the monies back. Why they didn't send me the form out in the first place I donot understand

Although this does not apply to me, I was a little concerned about one paragraph of the what seems to me a standard letter by them:

If your dispute involves travel services booked with a company based in the UK, you will need to contact the relevant bonding authority, i.e. ABTA, ATOL or CAA, to seek reimbursement. If you have not already done so, I recommend you write to them as soon as possible

Does this mean that therefore credit card companies are not responsible for any such transactions despite them being over £ 100.00

Interesting to hear from somebody who has a little more knowledge about this as if this is true it could have implications for all members here on Holidaytruths.

Mark

Quote:
If your dispute involves travel services booked with a company based in the UK, you will need to contact the relevant bonding authority, i.e. ABTA, ATOL or CAA, to seek reimbursement. If you have not already done so, I recommend you write to them as soon as possible

OK, this is a complete fobbing off from your credit card company.

1) ABTA DOES NOT provide bonding
2) The CAA RUNS the ATOL scheme, so they are in effect one and the same.

So, they in effect have no idea what they are talking about from the off.

Secondly, if a company that is ATOL bonded goes bust, and you paid with a credit card, you are 'double protected'. In these cases the CAA will ALWAYS instruct you to claim back from your Credit Card Providers. They in turn, will not be happy (as they believe you should claim from the CAA) and will frequently send you to and fro between each of them. I've heard people complain about this frequently, however, as far as I'm aware, in every case, it is the Credit Card Company that ends up paying out.

It seems we are in an age that Credit Card Suppliers are making it more and more difficult for people to claim. I guess if they put enough people off from making small claims it adds up to quite a hefty sum.

By the sound of your reply, it does certainly look like it.

As I have stated, this particular para in the letter does not apply to my claim as it, for a starter, applies to a supplier not based in the UK.

Mark

You say you don't want to contact the company in Thailand which I don't understand. Direct contact might get the problem sorted out.

Sunbear,

After having contacted them via their "contact us" form at least 10 times without any reply, I don't want to go through the expense of having to call them in Thailand.

If they hadn't taken the money unauthorised in the first place, I wouldn't be in this situation.

Mark

Hi Mark, just in case you change your mind and want to phone Thailand, if you use the BESTMINUTES code 08448616262 the calls will only cost you 1p per minute. This applies to both mobiles ans landlines. All best - Jenny x

Update:

Although I have not heard back from the credit card provider, I checked my online account this evening and a credit of £ 123.00 was made against my account.

At least I'm not out of pocket now and I hope this topic will warn others to be careful before using this Company.

Forewarned is forearmed

Mark

Thanks for the update Mark. Glad you got your money back.

luci

Perhaps I spoke to soon, seeing as I received this rather non-committal letter from the credit card company:

Thank you for your enquiry regarding the transaction in respect of V-WWW.happy-discount.

Your enquiry has been submitted to the retailer's bank, in line with our membership of Mastercard/Visa International, who will assess your case and correspond with the merchant as appropriate.

A credit has been applied to your account, which will show on a future statement. However, it may be necessary to return to you at a later date should our actions be questioned or if further information is received.

The last paragraph does worry me as they could well take the money away from me if they can't get no sense from the merchant.

Will keep you posted.

Mark