ABTA Avis 745

Brilliant company, stepped in and helped resolve a dispute with a Travel company who were being non compliant.
Great service, couldn’t have achieved this without them!

Travelled with TUI at the beginning of July and had possibly the worst experience of my life. Returned home and complained to ABTA. One minute I am getting replies which looks promising and then all of a sudden, nothing. I am chasing and chasing to get nothing. They protect TUI. TUI have accepted liability by offering compensation in the first place.

I am disgusted in the fact TUI think they can charge extortionate amounts for holidays that are full of cockroaches, dirty rooms, mouldy/stale food and false promises. Then to make matters worse the competition is insulting.

I have asked more than once for ABTA to step in and advise me on arbitration but get no response.

ABTA claim they “protect customers” if you book with one of their members. The truth? They don’t.

I complained to TUI through ABTA. All ABTA did was pass my complaint back to TUI, who refused to change their position. ABTA then told me if I want to take it further, I have to pay extra for arbitration or go to court. How is that customer protection? It isn’t.

ABTA membership is nothing more than a marketing badge that helps companies look trustworthy. When something goes wrong, ABTA are nowhere. They protect their members, not the customer.

Holidaymakers need to know this: if you book with an “ABTA member,” you are not protected. If things go wrong, you’re on your own.

Shameful setup.

I’m writing this whilst actually still on holiday to show how quickly this got resolved. We had an issue with our room on arrival - a room we’d paid to upgrade to. TUI said it was just a difference in expectations. I said they had miss-sold me an upgrade. They closed the case twice, told me to go and enjoy my holiday. Raised it with ABTA. 4 days later I get an email from TUI directors office saying they’ve reviewed my case and will be refunding me the cost of the upgrade (this is what I asked for). Really impressed. Thank you.

Impossible to raise a dispute with one of their members because their web form won't send the automated message or email code you need to proceed. You can't call them and their email query is unmanned and just sends you back around in the loop.

Update:
After posting the review above I had a 'phone call and an email from ABTA (so they must have received my details) saying they'd confirmed my registration manually. So I've now been able to raise my dispute. Shame it takes a 1* review on Trustpilot but at least ABTA did take notice and respond. No doubt I'll be updating here again on the outcome of the dispute.

ABTA helped get TUI to 're-assess' their response to me claiming back money they had overcharged me. This was AFTER TUI said their final decision was I was getting nothing and they wouldn't discuss it anymore!

So dissatisfied with the outcome had a bad experience with Tui they was useless in helping with the matter in hand I will not use again.., very disappointed.

There was only one option to accept

I used ABTA to mediate a dispute that I had with Ingham's. The process was simple enough, using their online system and little extra information was required, over and above what I had already provided to the company. ABTA quickly proposed a pragmatic solution which both parties accepted.

You have almost zero extra protection from ABTA they will defend the company and the company can almost do what they want the so called contracts that are in place once you receive confirmation and they take money mean nothing at all they can cancel when they want and ABTA will just refer you to the courts of you can afford it. Remember any rights are only there if you have money! I honestly would never ever worry about a holiday having ABTA protection just make sure you have insurance in case things go really wrong. (Although they probably won’t pay you out either)

ABTA help settle an holiday compensation issue with TUI very professionally.

Following holiday issues, made a complaint through the tour operator when I returned home. Received a derisory offer of compensation from the tour operator. Refused offer and took my dispute to Abta, excellent service and received much improved offer from the operator. From beginning to end it was resolved within 3 x days from contacting Abta. Highly recommended.

Swift help in resolving our issue with tour operator.

I went to ABTA after a clear issue with Jet2 following a misleading advert for a holiday we booked only to find out that ABTA have no real responsibility to you. They will ask for a response from the member, this will inevitably be the same one that you have already recieved and as they are not an ombudsman service will then want to charge you for an arbitration service. I thought that they were regulators that took holiday descriptions and mis-selling seriously but I was wrong. Check your holiday details before you go as you will end up dissapointed once you get back.

Helped me resolve an issues with a small refund.
Timely communication throughout.

Appalling.
I have made a complaint against ABTA member RIU Hotels & Resorts ABTA number: V5126 that carried out fraudulent transaction. After waiting over 3 months for response I finally received one stating this - " Unfortunately, the company you are in contract with, Hotel Riu Tikida Dunas., does not appear to be a member of ABTA, which means we’re unable to offer any assistance." Hotel Riu Tikida Dunas was booked from Riu Hotels and resorts website and all invoices are from Riu Hotels and resorts. Its just a joke, what a waste of space, Watchdog should definitely investigate

Unfortunately, I had to make a claim for compensation under ABTA/Travel Arbitration Hunt ADR, concerning a spoiled holiday that I had booked with Jet2 Holidays. My claim was successful, and Jet 2 was informed that they have to compensate me. They were given 21 days to comply, but the time has well exceeded 21 days, and Jet2 have not complied.
I have tried to make contact with Hunt ADR, to inform them about the situation, through email, and telephone several times, and they don't answer the emails, or messages left on the phone, impossible to get this resolved.
Apparently, I have to get in touch with ABTA, so they can chase Jet 2 for payment. No updates as yet.

It was a very simple process to lodge my claim.it made tui actually acknowledge they had provided a poor holiday.instead of an insulting £90 offer,they quickly settled the full amount of the claim £364.it is a pity tui were not initially honourable,but involving your office made them listen .thankyou.

Had a dispute with TUI following an awful holiday. TUI customer service were unmovable on their stance, despite assurances from the representative on site. Raised the issue with ABTA, they contacted TUI and I received a telephone call within the week and the issue was fully resolved. Without ABTAs help i don’t think this would have been resolved without going down the legal route

Lovely mediator. Explained the process and was prompt on all the calls. Whilst the resolution was not perfect the ABTA component was excellent

ABTA really helped us out over a dispute with a travel agent, who had booked a single sofa bed with a pull out cot for two people who had mobility issues . We thought the issue was so obvious as we had booked in store , visible with walking aids , and we’re so surprised when they didn’t refund us the extra that was charged for a room with two beds . Thanks to ABTA we received the amount that was charged to us to be moved to another room . Am so grateful for ABTA s help as money is so tight these days and their swiftness in dealing with the issue .
Many thanks
GManuel