My parents always book through their local Thomsons store. My parents go abroad atleast 8 times a year and like their cruises. Needless to say they spend alot of money in the Thomsons store.
Back in May they booked a carribean cruise through the travel agents for november. We are from Scotland and the flights were from manchester. My parents said they would book a hotel themselves in manchester as they had an early departure time and thought a night over in a hotel close to manchester would be a good idea. The travel agents said they would do it for them. My parents then said that the hotel in manchester must have on site parking which was secure. Thomsons then sent my parents out a writen out voucher for a hotel and my parents paid the balance of the hotel and secure car parking to Thomsons.
My parents travelled to manchester and went to the hotel address thomsons had given them. When they got there the hotel said they had no reservations for them. After a 7 hour drive my parents werent happy. The hotel manager was called. He looked into the companies daatbase and found my parents did have a reservation but in another hotel 4 miles away! So my parents got back in the car and went to the other hotel. When they got to the hotel they booked in. That was fine. My father then asked where is your secure car park for my car? The hotel receptionist said they didnt have one. So again the manager was called who told my parents that the secure car park was 10 miles away and gave my parents a map. My parents got up early and drove to find this carpark. When they got there it was closed!!
In the end my parents (who by this time were lost) made there way back to the airport and paid to park the car at manchester airport!
My parents complained to thomsons travel agents when they returned. Thomsons blamed the hotel. So thomsons sent a letter to the hotel. All my parents wanted was to be reimbursed for what they paid at manchester airport baring in mind they had already paid Thomsons for the hotel and car parking!.
Today they recieved a letter from the hotel who blame Thomsons. The have included a £25 voucher as a good will gesture and included the description of the hotel and car park facilities which Thomson have.
The remainder of the balance is £32 so of course my parents arent going to take legal action for that. They are however going to give Thomsons one more chance to pay the money. If this does not happen they will be taking their holiday obession else where!
I am an agent for another of the 'big 4' and to be honest, it sounds like incompetence on Thomson's behalf; however then don't seem to want to be honest and say, 'yeah, where sorry, it was our fault etc...', instead they are choosing to point the finger of blame somewhere else and risk loosing your parent's business. They should have taken the time to look into the facilities rather then just presume what it had.
If your parents dont get any satisfaction from Thomson I would contact Ros Fernihough for advice.
What a shambles!! Surely your parents went to the hotel address which was given to them by the TA? Do they still have a copy of this as it will hopefully state who's at fault?
I cant see the point bothering a solicitor on this amount.
I would go back to the shop armed with all the holidays they have booked over the last 2 years. Speak to the manager, point out you are not interested if it is their fault, thomsons fault or the hotels fault you would recompense for the parking. If not all those lovely bookings including the much loved cruise bookings will be going to someone else.
If they are prepared to lose that kind of revenue then you would be better off booking elsewhere.
Kind Regards
Stewart
I would go back to the shop armed with all the holidays they have booked over the last 2 years. Speak to the manager, point out you are not interested if it is their fault, thomsons fault or the hotels fault you would recompense for the parking. If not all those lovely bookings including the much loved cruise bookings will be going to someone else.
If they are prepared to lose that kind of revenue then you would be better off booking elsewhere.
Kind Regards
Stewart
An afterthought.Are they planning their next holiday or 2 ? Go in with the enquiry as well see if they are prepared to actually lose this booking for this amount.
If your parents are the type that dont like confrontation go with them.
Kind Regards
Stewart
If your parents are the type that dont like confrontation go with them.
Kind Regards
Stewart
I cant see the point bothering a solicitor on this amount.
Maybe they are entitled to compensation as well as a full refund. What appears to have been sold was "Not as described".
If they don't get full satisfaction I would follow Jay Trips advice, even if just for advice.
Best of luck,
Robby
Looking at original posting it seems the travel agent was only asked to book an overnight hotel stay with parking. There is no mention of them being asked to book parking for the duration of the holiday.
Sorry don't know how the quote thing works
"My parents then said that the hotel in manchester must have on site parking which was secure"
Sorry don't know how the quote thing works
"My parents then said that the hotel in manchester must have on site parking which was secure"
To expand on my post, my parents asked Thomsons to find a hotel with secure parking for the duration of their holiday. Thomsons then informed my parents that they had found a suitable hotel, charged my parents for the night in the hotel and for the parking for 8 nights.
My parents went back to Thomsons and spoke to the manager. Thomsons wont budge on the matter. My parents have already booked two up coming cruises with them. My parents asked to cancel these holidays and as a good will gesture would Thomsons give them back their deposits as they had lost total faith in the competence of the company. Of course Thomsons said no
My parents went back to Thomsons and spoke to the manager. Thomsons wont budge on the matter. My parents have already booked two up coming cruises with them. My parents asked to cancel these holidays and as a good will gesture would Thomsons give them back their deposits as they had lost total faith in the competence of the company. Of course Thomsons said no
Phone Ros Fernihaughs office and speak to Pam her secretary.She will give you the correct advice.I had a problem with another holiday company last year and they offered me £40.After contacting Ros I got all my accomadation costs refunded.
Greenshoes,
First, I hope your parents enjoyed their cruise, if not the pre-departure overnight stay.
If you have documents stating that Thomson arranged one night's accomm. plus parking for 8 nights, if the voucher fails to mention that the parking is in fact "off-site" and not at the hotel, the inference must be that parking is provided at the hotel.
I'd class this as a breach of contract as they ordered, were charged for, but did not receive the agreed service/product. I betthey paid by credit card........if so, chase the card issuer under section 75 of the consumer credit act. This applies in the UK (both England and Scotland).
Next, contact "The Cruise Specialists" on 08700 851506. This is a Falkirk based company and my wife and I have just returned from a great cruise - everything having been booked through this company. I can recommend them for your parent's future cruises.
The Thomson shop should be ashamed of themselves. Perhaps a call to Thomson head office might solve matters - especially with the volume of business that company will loose.
First, I hope your parents enjoyed their cruise, if not the pre-departure overnight stay.
If you have documents stating that Thomson arranged one night's accomm. plus parking for 8 nights, if the voucher fails to mention that the parking is in fact "off-site" and not at the hotel, the inference must be that parking is provided at the hotel.
I'd class this as a breach of contract as they ordered, were charged for, but did not receive the agreed service/product. I betthey paid by credit card........if so, chase the card issuer under section 75 of the consumer credit act. This applies in the UK (both England and Scotland).
Next, contact "The Cruise Specialists" on 08700 851506. This is a Falkirk based company and my wife and I have just returned from a great cruise - everything having been booked through this company. I can recommend them for your parent's future cruises.
The Thomson shop should be ashamed of themselves. Perhaps a call to Thomson head office might solve matters - especially with the volume of business that company will loose.
Thanks for everyones help. 
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