Holiday Hell Help

[MargoLivebetter]

Does anyone have any experience of complaining about a package holiday that was NOT an ABTA registered travel company?

I have been badly let down on a package holiday I took recently. I complained while I was away and have made written formal complaints since my return including requesting compensation. I've adapted letter templates given by Which, to make sure I've included all the right terminology etc.

However, the company are resisting giving compensation. So where do I go next? The internet says ABTA, but this company is not with ABTA, so that is not possible.

Has anyone complained to Trading Standards or gone via Small Claims Court for holiday issues and had success? Thank you.

Thank you @prh47bridgethose are really helpful posts. Appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge. Thank you.

Thank you @Ramblethroughthebrambles for your helpful post too. I really am grateful for the information.

@prh47bridge sorry to drag you back to this, but could I pick your brain a bit further please? I have had the company's "final" response to me. They have further apologised, spun me some yarn about how employment law in the country I visited prevents there being a UK rep present. First time they've mentioned this ever and I wasn't asking for a UK rep, just a rep as promised in their blurb. Would have been perfectly happy for the rep to be a local person!

Anyhow, they've upped their gesture of goodwill to £130 off my next holiday with them as their final offer. Obviously, to me this is a valueless gesture as I will never be travelling with them again.

So, given they are not with ABTA do you have any suggestion for my next route of pursuit? I do think I have a reasonable case for diminished value and loss of enjoyment.

Even if they are right about employment law in the destination, if they said there would be a rep, there should have been a rep.

Your next step is to send them a letter before action giving them 28 days to respond before you take them to court. Which? have a good template you can use at Letter before small claims court claim - Which?.

If they don't respond satisfactorily, you then go to MCOL - Money Claim Online - Welcome to start your claim against them. Assuming your claim is less than £10k, it will be dealt with as a small claim. You do not need a solicitor to take action. Indeed, if you are claiming less than £10k you should avoid using one as you will not be able to recover your legal costs from them. You can, however, claim your court fees and interest on the amount claimed.

Brilliant, thank you so much @prh47bridge .