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Post by chowsey on Jun 6, 2010 20:51:52 GMT 2
just had to have a moan about this, 4 of us booked with olympic to stay at elenitsa appts in july, booked and paid for months ago. thought i would check prices now and guess what, if we had booked today we would have paid £716.00 LESS! im fuming got in touch with olympic and was told that i would not be getting a refund and the only thing i could do is to cancel and book again but they would charge me £900.00 for the privilage, were in a lose lose situation and there in a win win situation this is so unfair i feel ive been robbed.
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Post by artisans on Jun 6, 2010 22:37:07 GMT 2
I totally support your feelings, chowsey, the tour companies do play games with us and you are actually subsidising the people who get the cheap deals. To them it's a numbers game and it is hard to know when to book to get the best price. This year, there have been the added problems of dust clouds and scaremongering about the Greek economy - all opportunities to be cashed in on by the operators to push people to where they make more profit. Once again, Corfu 'IS FULL' and so, now, is Egypt. This is a blatant lie as anyone here will tell you. The staff who advise you are under orders and they earn more commission from getting customers to go to the destinations of their choice. ABTA do not want to know about this deceitful practice as their board is made up of representatives from all the major tour operators. With so much uncertainty, 2010 was always going to be a year of late bookings and one wonders what will happen if bookings are down in early July when schools begin to close. The only thing I can suggest now is to try not to let it spoil your holiday, but how do you guess what is best the next time?
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Post by alankeegan on Jun 6, 2010 22:39:12 GMT 2
Here's an excerpt from Olympic's T's & C's; Prices: All prices shown on this website are in pounds sterling per person. We reserve the right to change the prices shown at any time before you book. If we do you will be told of the revised price applicable to the arrangements you require before you commit yourself. Changes in transportation costs, including the cost of fuel, dues, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports and exchange rates mean that the price of your travel arrangements may change after you have booked. However there will be no change within 30 days of your departure.
We will absorb and you will not be charged for any increase equivalent to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements, which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges. You will be charged for the amount over and above that, plus an administration charge of £1.00 per person together with an amount to cover agents’ commission (if applicable). If this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your travel arrangements, you will have the option of accepting a change to another holiday if we are able to offer one (if this is of equivalent or higher quality you will not have to pay more but if it is of lower quality you will be refunded the difference in price), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid, except for any amendment charges.
We will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy. Should you decide to cancel for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 14 days from the issue date printed on your final invoice.
Should the price of your holiday go down due to the changes mentioned above, by more than 2% of your holiday cost, then any refund due will be paid to you. However, please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place.
The part that I've highlighted has to apply to you, if they still wont play ball I would email Watchdog or trading standards. Good luck.
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Post by chowsey on Jun 6, 2010 22:41:24 GMT 2
thanks artisans it wont spoil our holiday in roda this will be our fourth time, its just the fact that it wasnt a couple of pounds but a hell of a lot of money, see you in july x
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2010 0:16:38 GMT 2
When I am out and about, I frequently pop into Travel Agents and ask about Corfu, or other Greek destinations. Invariably I am fobbed off with talk of other places, and the fact that Greece is no longer worth it because of such things as the financial problems, the Euro, pull outs, and many other theories. I try and tell them that Corfu in particular is alive and kicking, and fully open for business, but it always seems to fall on deaf ears.
I think it is high time in this situation, and that of the poster above regarding prices to lobby the government ministers, ABTA, and whoever else to get this sort of thing to stop. It is wrong, it is diabolical.
Finally reading the highlighted section above, I too would get in touch with programmes such as Watchdog, and again lobby your MP or Government Ministers. The very people who supply us with holidays are ruining the business.
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Post by johnofish on Jun 7, 2010 0:41:43 GMT 2
I was wondering if there was an Ombudsman who would deal with this kind of situation ? I have a contact in low places (she works for a travel agent) so I'll try to wheedle some info from her. I don't think we ( Forumers) should let this mutt continue with it's kip !! Time to do a bit of stirring perhaps? I'm sure that with enough noise we might wake some-one up !!
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Post by artisans on Jun 7, 2010 7:45:46 GMT 2
It's worth a try, Alan, but I suspect they will wriggle off the hook by saying that the change in prices is not a product of fuel, dues, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes - it is a special offer and, as such, is outside their terms & conditions.
Steve
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Post by artisans on Jun 7, 2010 8:02:40 GMT 2
You may remember that exactly one year ago I tried to contact ABTA over this practice of telling would-be travellers that Corfu is full. They responded by saying that they 'would not get involveed in the commercial decisions of their members.' I responded by asking when dishonesty became a commercial decision?' They did not reply.
Under consumer affairs on their website you will find the following statement:
'The primary aims of the Code of Conduct are to ensure that the public receive the best possible service from Members, and to maintain and enhance the reputation, good name and standing of ABTA and its Members.'
This is a joke and should be challenged. If there are enough people willing to try again, then count me in.
Sorry, chowsey - this doesn't address your issue, but it is of great concern to visitors and residents alike.
Steve
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2010 12:40:50 GMT 2
I am happy to join rank and file against this issue. Perhaps a face book page can be set up, and/or a petition to the PM via the PM website.
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Post by jomike on Jun 7, 2010 19:57:22 GMT 2
we to got caught by olymic last year.we booked for 2009 has soon has we got back{early july} and was told we got early booking discount .on arrival at thoe's we meet a couple from same flight who had booked in feb and payed 248 pounds less and he had the bill to prove it.none of this makes sense .so any action to be taken please count us in.
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Post by johnofish on Jun 8, 2010 0:36:10 GMT 2
Hi team, I've been doing a bit of digging and so far I can't come up with any ray of sunshine. The latest bit of gloom is that if pushed on their Terms and Conditions they will claim that this was/is a ''Special Offer for a Limited Time Only''. This can obviously cover a multitude of sins with no recourse for us punters who get ripped off. I have had a dispute with Olympic in the past and got no joy whatsoever, not even an apology. I informed them at the time that I would never book with them again (no change to that decision) and received the reply ''That Sir,is your decision to make'' an answer guaranteed to raise the blood pressure !! With more and more apartment owners going 'Independant' and with the increasing availability of cheap flight only deals this may be one way to show these highwaymen of the skies that we are fed-up with their antics. This may not be of any help for this year but for later holidays......''This Sir, is your decision to make''.I'll keep the old beak to the ground to see if I can come up with anythind else. Nil desperandum. Roda awaits
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Post by fireman01 on Jun 8, 2010 21:54:49 GMT 2
Well I have got to say for the last two years we have booked our holiday to Roda in august before we went that year for the following year and have got really good prices, when we booked last august for this september we paid £640 for the two of us flying from local airport. Our daughter and a friend booked two weeks after us and paid £50 more than us. Checking holiday last night cost £920 quite a saving as you can see .
wally
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2010 0:01:18 GMT 2
I shall be doing the same Johnofish. Over the weekend, I will be thinking of setting up a Facebook page, to see if I can find others who go elsewhere in the same dilemma's. It is time these Skywaymen were taught a lesson, and stop ripping off the very people who pay their wages.
By the way Johnofish, I know you were in the RN, but were you a Communicator. You used the Latin, Nil Desperandum, the motto I have seen on many a Main Communications Office door on ships.
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