Thanks Doe for kind words, I cannot divulge all events as it may have a detrimental effect on my case. As soon as I can I will inform this website of the outcome. What I will say is trading standards have opened a case, I have opened a complaint with ABTA and I am hoping BBC consumer programme will provide media coverage so consumers are better informed. I have e mailed Steve at TR but obviously it's the weekend so hopefully everyone is relaxing ( wish I was). TR taken to court in 2009 by CAA the case provides an interesting read, however, TR won. I'm sure all are wondering what case TR have to answer as soon as I can I will let you know. Hotel beds our accommodation provider only deals with the trade industry so effectively they are employed by TR to provide a service, my complaint lies with TR no hotelbeds.

Whilst I sympathise for the position you find yourself in, surely you were aware when booking, that if something went wrong with one element you would only be refunded for that one element? I can understand you feel that TR have not treated you fairly, but I'm not sure why? They haven't messed up your accommodation, hotelbeds might not have messed it up either. More or often than not, it's the hotel itself that does. TR are doing what their terms and conditions state, and what you agreed to.

Hotelbeds are trade only, but your contract is with them. You have no contract with TR.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but why agree to something, and then complain when they do what you've agreed to?

I've said it many times, it's about time people started to read booking conditions, and understand what they're booking, before ticking the box.

Rant over!

Oh dear this is beginning to sound expensive. The Terms & Conditions are very clear on this and you agreed them when you made the booking.
As has already been said your best bet here is to discuss with TR for a solution. BBC are only really interested in making programmes that knock various trades that actually comply with the rules. The fact that the rules may appear unfair is a separate issue. I have already said you have a "Dynamic Package" which means you have asked someone to book on your behalf flights and accommodation that you could have done yourself. If something goes wrong such as in your case then you have no comeback.
Elsewhere on HT people are complaining about problems over booked accommodation suddenly being withdrawn in the Canary Islands. No doubt TR and others will also be getting the blame for that in some cases but it is down to the authorities applying rules.
I do urge that you to try to resolve the problem direct with TR as others have already suggested.

fwh

Hi Angela

It would be good if you can come back to us when you have some answers. As its also difficult for us when we don't have the complete story, as you say there are matters you can't disclose.

I just hope that Trading Standards aren't giving you hope where none really exists and to be honest all Watchdog is interested in is making a TV programme that gets decent viewing figures and as a consequence sensationalises anything and everything. I'm not sure how they can force travel republic to alter tems and conditions you presumably signed up to and travel republic will be able to produce that documentation in their defence.

Good Luck whatever you decide to do, and please let us know the final outcome.

Hi doe and all,
I have not actually contacted watchdog, however I do dream of Ann Robinson challenging my case. TR continued to advertise the hotel I was told was not available on their website for a week after I was told it was closed. My conscience struggled with this as I knew others could be in my position, however the longer it was advertised strengthened my case against them. I informed TR last Thursday of this error, they apologised but up until yesterday the hotel according to their website was still available. I can tell the story now because I believe it has been removed. Can I say on a lighter note staff at TR have actually been helpful and to all those fighting their corner I did know the risks but we all think it won't happen to me but it did, twice out of three bookings. Of course TR want an amicable result for all and after all employees I speak to can put themselves in my position and are sympathetic. Thanks to Steve for his intervention a real asset to the company, he needs a pay rise. I am still looking for suitable accommodation and watchdog is not the only consumer programme on TV!!!

Angela
Thanks for the update. Also I am glad that Steve has been helpful. Sometimes folks don't come back to give positive news about a company they haven't been happy with to start with.So good for you- and you hope you get your holiday sorted.

Good to know you had a result, thanks

Well, actually no result as yet, still waiting for TR's response to yet another hotel suggestion.

I would check that expedia are not ABTA verified under another company name, I've had travel republic try and weasel out this way before.

What has Expedia got to do with this? Or am I missing something?

TR clearly state their Abta number on their website, and they are, and have been for a long as I can remember, registered with Abta under their own name, so not sure what you're referring to.

i am in a similar situation with on the beach,payed for flight and holiday over 5 months ago and was told my hotel(Sol Pelicanos Ocas) wasn`t available so offered me another hotel(Gala Placidia) but unlike you i only had 8 days before go.
I have since accepted the gala placidia hotel(ranked 114 out of 201)with trip advisor which is far below sol pelicanos (ranked 49 out of 201) ABTA`s guidelines codes of conduct wheather the hotel replacement was fair state "14 days minimum time required to change hotel" and replacement hotel has to be the same standard or better
I have contacted ABTA and will let you know of their findings

You didn't have to accept the offer. You could have had a refund and booked a different hotel through a different company, or direct.

When it comes to changes etc the Abta code of conduct refers to Tour Operators or Principals, of which On The Beach are neither. They are an 'interface' (in their own words), and act in the same way as an agent. Their suppliers for accommodation bookings don't fall into those categories either, and are very unlikely to be members of Abta themselves (even if they're UK based), so the Abta code of conduct won't apply to them.

As members of Abta, OTB are required to help their customers in sorting out problems, which usually means they offer you an alternative as offered to them, or a refund.

You wont get anywhere with ABTA as onthebeach discharged their duty by offering you an alternative hotel or you could have took a refund and booked elsewhere.

I wound't take too much notice of TA's rankings, they dont necessariliy mean that the alternative hotel you have been offered is a bad hotel. They use some complex algorithm to calculate the rankings so for example a new hotel with only 5 reviews all of which are excellent could shoot to the top of the leader board quickly leaving a well established hotel with 500 reviews which are mixed but mainly good, looking like it is a worse bet than the new one. The 5 new reviews could all have been 'stage managed' by the hotel to kickstart their career on TA, it's not a foolproof system.

I hope it works out for you and you have a good holiday.