Holidaymakers From Fraudsters And Failed Travel Firms

The Trading Standards Institute (TSI) today demands urgent action to protect holidaymakers from losing out when travel companies and airlines go bust or disappear.

Millions of people will book holidays abroad next year – and many will be unaware they have no financial protection if disaster strikes, the TSI warns during National Consumer Week (November 20-24).

‘The laws and regulations designed to protect holidaymakers are now outdated and woefully inadequate,’ said TSI’s lead officer for holidays and travel, Bruce Treloar.

‘The way people book their holidays these days has changed dramatically, particularly with the rise of the Internet and the use of budget airlines.

‘However, the laws have not kept pace with this change. They do not adequately protect consumers if they fall foul of disreputable companies or if companies go bust.

‘Nor are consumers clear about what risks they are taking with their money or about which companies they can trust.

‘The whole situation is a real mess and we urgently need the Government and the industry to sort it out before the big holiday booking season kicks in after Christmas.’

Ron Gainsford, the TSI’s chief executive, said: ‘The situation for consumers is confusing and getting worse.

‘We have always advised consumers to use reputable, ABTA member travel agents as their money would be guaranteed from the moment they handed over a deposit

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Reasons Why Cold Callers Should Think Twice.

Cambridgeshire County Council has launched its 50th ‘No Cold Calling’ zone – putting uninvited salesmen on notice that they will be wasting their time knocking on doors there.

Nationally, more and more such designated cold calling control zones – spearheaded by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) – are being set up with the help of £50,000 sponsorship from BT.

Cambridgeshire Trading Standards Service and the local police first came up with the idea for such zones three years ago, after a spate of doorstep crime in a cul de sac of elderly people’s bungalows.

When schemes are launched, Trading Standards professionals team up with police and community groups, such as Neighbourhood Watch, to visit each resident in the area.

The residents are given a pack, including ‘We’re not buying it’ door stickers, advice on home security and information about what to do if an unwanted trader calls. Signs, headed ‘Police Notice’ with the message ‘No uninvited salespeople’, are then erected on lampposts.

TSI promoted the scheme nationally at its Conference 2005 and the £50,000 sponsorship from BT has so far helped to fund the setting up of 23 ‘No Cold Calling’ zones around the country.

David Broughton, Head of Projects, Education and Information for Cambridgeshire Trading Standards Service, said: ‘The aim is to empower residents to have the confidence to say ‘no’ to uninvited salespeople – and to warn potential rogue traders and cold callers that they are visiting an area where people will not buy at the door.

‘Our original project worked so well in reducing the number of doorstep callers that the idea has now expanded throughout Cambridgeshire – and we have just launched our 50th zone, which is in the town of March.

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