I am trying to ring First Choice to arrange a holiday but I am calling from Spain and the 0871 does not work from here. Does anyone have a geographical number?

..try these battlezone...

First Choice Holidays 0870 9016522 02476 282787

or these 0161 7452147........ 024 76282828

Thanks - the first number did not work from Spain and the second number had a recorded message saying that they were closed!

I'm waiting to book the Red Sea Holiday Village for next June and am wondering whether to go along to the preview evening or wait for the prices to come online.
Dos anyone know whether the prices are usually much cheaper either way?

Alex uk,
This is what happened with my preview evening with First Choice last year for this years holiday.
I went last night to First Choice local shop to their preview evening, they gave me a quote, looked on Thomson site today as they are selling their hols for Summer 2009 already, quote for same hol was cheaper, First Choice shop came back to me today to ask about their quote and I said Thomson on the internet was cheaper so they matched it. Then First Choice over the phone direct rang me this afternoon asking had I booked any hols for 2009, so told them my quote and they even beat the shop quote now.
Going to tell local shop tomorrow morning and see what happens probably will match telephone quote.

Guess what my quote from Fist Choice Direct over the phone was matched by my First Choice shop so we have now booked our holiday to the Caribbean for 2009. But will be flying with Thomsonfly.Also got the upgraded seats at a cheap price.

You have got to check both Thomson and Portland site then go and check First Choice site and then forward all info for price matching.

Angie.

What are these preview evenings? are they for the 2010 season? how can I go to one?

is there free drinks

no seriously haha!

Previews are for the forthcoming season releases of holidays. I get to go to the preview evenings by getting an invatation from the FC local high street shop, because of using it to book my holidays regularly.

And yes they do have a table laid out with drinkies on

But have you had a invite for the 2010 season.

No not yet but have to go and see them Monday about money exchange so will ask them then when their preview evening will be.

be intersting when they say it is because the debate are they selling 2010 holidays from this month or not until june.

Is there music??

oh i love a party

No but its a good idea because im looking to book for next July, are the prices cheaper at these 'parties' ?

Read my post to Alex uk above it was'nt but a bit of wheeling and dealing and you can get the price lower and lower. A good deal can be got though.

Angie.

That will be the last time I will be booking with First Choice holidays. What does it take to get to SPEAK to somebody on the phone for crying out loud

We made a payment for our holiday and requested a receipt which still hasn't arrived. Trying to get to speak to somebody to get this despatched is impossible.

So I sent an email via their website only to get this reply:

As a support function for our web site, we regret we are unable to assist with your enquiry, may we kindly ask that you contact after sales on 0844 871 0872 who will be able to assist you.

Kind Regards

First Choice Customer Support

Signed by the Customer Support team who you would have thought deals with customer (eg me) support (eg dealing with my query).

Travel agent next time for me. Let them deal with the stress dealing with First Choice.

Does anybody have a postal address for the CEO of First Choice so that I can send off a letter of complaints about their poor way they deal with after sales queries?

Mark

MarkJ HT Mod,

Where to send complaints is here. I doubt the CEO will get to see them even if you address it to them! I tried emailing a couple of times to sort our taking diving equipment (pre-booking the 10kg divers allowance as it was then), but you just get the automated email back that you've receieved asking you to call. I don't bother emailing now as it's easier to call than wait 2 weeks for the automated response!

Darren

MarkJ HT Mod,

Here is a link to the Board of Directors. Dont know if this is any use to you.

http://www.tuitravelplc.com/tui/pages/aboutus/management/groupmanagement

Angie.

After sales service has really gone down the pan the last few years with a lot of these companys. Goodness knows what you have to do to talk to a real person at most of these companys, probably sleep with the MD.

I do think that if travel agents keep price matching on-line quotes, or even take a small surcharge per person they will see a resurgance in business. Its easy to spend 50 quid on premium rate phone calls and shorten your life by a few years from stress once you do get through and they can't help you, or famoulsy you are on to the wrong department - or that other favorite where the line goes dead.

Good Luck with it Mark.

Mark, I found that First Choice used to be very good until that mob at TUI got a hold of them.

with your complaint

Yes I've found the new web site to be slow and they're getting rid of the late deals part after april 09 too it appears. Although there is still other sneaky ways on the web site of finding cheap lates, you no longer have the advantage of knowing how many rooms they still have to sell as before.
They stopped sending email receipts for bookings a good while back though. They just took the money and then sent your tickets. However they did have a manage your booking part of the web site which again is not available for holidays departing after end of april?
Bring back the old First Choice I say!