My parents booked last August to go to Greece (tommorrow) and they booked to stay in the same apartments they always go to. They booked with Thomas Cook.
They got a phonecall 9am this morning from Thomas Cook saying there had been a computer error and they had overbooked, and there was no room for my parents in the apartments. They offered instead apartments of a same rating but miles away from the resort, and having been there before my parents knew they were not very nice so declined. My father had to take the morning off work to go back to the travel agent and find suitable accommodation but what was available was a star lower than they had booked and the travel agent refunded £70 price difference compared to their booking. The travel agent says they are not entitled to any compensation even though its 24hours before they are due to travel. I find this disgustig. Any advice? He is writing a letter to their head office....
Perhaps you need to call Ros Fernihough for advice. Contact details at the top of this forum.
luci
That's awful they can't do this!! Ring Ros in the morning.
Also there is no such thing s a "computer" error, maybe an error by the person operating the computer!!
Wonder if the person who posted the ITV email address further down would be interested on running a programme on all the nightmare stories of people having their hols canx at last minute.
I really feel for your parents and hope they get fully compensated for how they have been treated.
how do these companies get away with it
look at the hastles if the customwer tries to cancel or alter the booking
Thanks - i'll speak to them when they get back as they have now left - I just hope they have a good holiday thats all. Its no wonder more people are now making their own package holidays the shoddy service they have been getting from the big tour operators is awful. I mean, to book it nearly a year in advance and be told 24 hours before going that its overbooked is just incredible.
If you can contact them, tell them not to accept any "free" excursions offered because their accomodation was changed.
Also Gary if they are not happy with where they have been sent ie accommodation poor etc tell them to report it to the rep in resort asap and to fill in a complaints form. To Take photographs of any problems.
I really feel sorry for your parents, as the same thing happended to friends of ours (Only with libra holidays). They were flying sunday, and were told fri, that the accomodation they had originally booked in Roda had pulled out of the contract, and the only available accomodation on the island was the daskalos studios in Kavos! Couldnt even find any reviews on these apartments, and as for kavos - They wanted peace and quiet (That is why they chose Roda - They had been going here for last 10 years, and were looking forward to meeting up with their friends!)
Belly!
Just sent them a text telling them not to accept free excursions or compensation in resort and to take photos if they not happy. Told them to use a camcorder film JUST for complaints after reading that holiday companies can use it against you if they see you enjoying yourself on the tape. However, with digital cameras now - what happens if you take photos, they cant demand the rest of the film because there isnt one....
TOs have always overbooked. It appears now that they are giving cock and bull stories as excuses for this shoddy practice. What bugs me is that they don't cancel or move the last people to book, they seem to pull names out of a hat for it. This happened to me as far back as 1984 and they never tell you until last minute.
I went to Egypt with Thomas Cook and upon arrival in Egypt was told that my accommodation was no longer available. I have complained and had a letter saying althogh they appreciate I must be disappointed (understatement) overbookings happen and its regrettable.
In my hotel there where loads of people who hadnt booked that particular hotel and it was miles away from the resort centre so basically it appears if we all hadnt been moved there then this hotel would have had vacancies. I have taken further advice on this but am interested to hear that there are others who are affected and in booking holidays to different places to.
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