Bank transfer payment

[Georgyporky]

We've found the holiday we want for Feb/March.
Just what we were looking for, & the price is better than some of the big-name companies are quoting - over £6k.

However, we are dealing with an independent travel agent - we're both in UK. They are ATOL protected, but not ABTA.
When we tried to book, they stated bank transfer only. I wanted the protection of a credit card, but was prepared to accept a debit card payment. They refused to budge, & DH & I are, erm, debating the matter.
What do you think, please?

YABU - make the booking, money & holiday are quite safe.
YANBU - It's potentially a dodgy deal & we could lose the money

If their margin is so tight they can't afford credit car fees, they are shaky. No ABTA means you lose your money if they go bust without paying the airline/hotel. Since you have no control over when they do this you are just trusting them - which I wouldn't.

I wouldn't.

Absolutely not

I wouldn't

I wouldn’t. There were a lot of scams last year where people paid to rent holiday properties by bank transfer and then found out that someone had let the same property to five other people at the same time and then scarpered with the money.

I wouldn't, given the last couple of year shenanigans!

Who is it with? I don't know any travel agents who would be this restrictive.
The MLM's like inteletravel maybe don't have proper payment processes in place? I wouldn't book with them if that's the case. The majority of them have no clue what they're doing.

Not a hope in hell !

Years ago we did a similar thing , with a booking to Greece , we got there ok and the hotel was alright ( not great for the money we paid ) but the flight home was cancelled and we ended up having to fork out for another flight a day later and had to stay the night at the airport .
I know this could happen with any holiday but we opted to pay cash as it was a far bit cheaper so we had no protection and couldn't claim the money back back

No!

I think given the current situation in the world, it'd be wiser to go with a better agent where you have more protection.

I should add that we travelled with them in 2014 & everything went smoothly - which is why DH thinks it's OK.

Not a cgance with the way travel has suddenly changed with little notice over the last couple of years. I'd want to book with a big company with full protection and credit card back up

You're effectively handing them cash, you'll have zero protection if there are any problems, it sounds really dubious practice - if they cant afford card / merchant services alarm bells should be ringing.

I used to work in travel margins are quite tight and it could have changed as usually the agent makes a commission of anywhere from 7 to 15% of the booking depending on the tour operator etc and different credit cards will carry different fees for the retailer sometimes less than 2% of the transaction but some like Amex can be up to 5 to 7 which would eat greatly into their commission. If they have saved you money and you value their service I'd say they are worth the commission. Can they offer you travel insurance so you have peace of mind? Or an atol certificate to show you have protection? Does your bank offer you protection if you pay by debit card?

I've booked a few holidays with independent travel agents and I have always paid with a credit card.

I would never pay by bank transfer. It is just not safe. You have no protection.

I can't believe you are even considering it.

Thanks for all your replies,
Your responses will help convince DH that I am right.

@Darkstar4855

I wouldn’t. There were a lot of scams last year where people paid to rent holiday properties by bank transfer and then found out that someone had let the same property to five other people at the same time and then scarpered with the money.

This - it features regularly on 'Rip of Britain - holidays'.

If it's massively cheaper than with the known and trusted companies, it's almost certainly too good to be true.

Do they take credit cards at all? If you pay even a small part of it on credit card and the rest by bank transfer you'll be covered by the credit card.

Not a chance.

Yanbu don't do it!

No way.

Not a chance run for the hills with your cash before you loose it,so many scam companies at the moment its not worth the risk.

Have they said why?

Please don't.

Although you get a minimal amount of protection if you put the reason for your payment as 'paying for a service'.

Honestly, I bet you I could find the holiday as cheap as this is what I do for fun. Tell us when and where and let the power of mumsnet find it for you.