Travel: Calder predicts 'more positive than negative' changes

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

A 520% rise between April and June 2021 compared to last year has been recorded stinging bargain hungry Brits, according to consumer advice body the UK International Consumer Centre. UK consumers informed the UKICC that they didn’t know they had entered into a subscription agreement until they saw a card payment. A total of 186 UK consumers brought a travel subscription service problem to the UKICC in the second quarter 2021 compared to 30 similar UK consumer cases in the second quarter 2020.

Andy Allen, the UK International Consumer Centre’s service director, said: “UK consumers have been travelling a lot less since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are still keen to store up what they see as a bargain for the future. 

“Unfortunately, this desire for a cheap deal can come back to bite them hard if they realise they’ve been caught in a subscription trap. We have noticed a truly gargantuan rise in the number of UK consumers approaching us with a problem.”

A subscription or membership is where a travel agent charges a consumer an annual/monthly fee for access to cheaper travel rates, usually the purchase of flight tickets but occasionally accommodation and/or holiday bookings too.  

The arrangement is determined by the individual company and is usually detailed in their terms and conditions. 

Subscription traps are one of the main areas which the UK Government wants to tackle in its proposals for Reforming Competition and Consumer Policy, issued recently (20 July 2021). 

Under the plans, which are out for consultation with consumers, businesses and consumer organisations until 11.45pm on 1 October, the Government wants to clamp down on subscription traps by requiring businesses to make it clear exactly what consumers are signing up for and letting them cancel easily. 

Allen added: “Consumers who come to us with problems about travel subscription services say that they do not always know that they have entered into a subscription contract until a payment is taken from their card. They sometimes then have trouble cancelling the subscription. 

“Consumers also report that the cheaper travel price which comes with the deal is more prominently displayed on the website and it isn’t clear that a membership needs to be purchased at an extra fee in order to get the cheaper rate. 

“We have only heard of this sort of subscription being bought online. We have not heard of this scenario with traditional (high street) travel agents.” 

Many consumers who contact the UKICC consumer advice body just want to cancel their membership. 

Allen recommended: “The best advice we can give in these cases is for consumers to make a claim under their UK bank’s ‘chargeback’ scheme. It’s their best chance of getting their money back. 

‘Chargeback’ can be used where a consumer has reason to believe a transaction was unauthorised. These schemes have time limits set by banks so it’s better for consumers to make their claim early rather than wait for us to get an answer from the trader, by which time they may be too late.

“If more than one payment has been taken from a card, this is known as a continuous payment authority, and consumers have the right to cancel any such authority with their bank or card provider.” 

Consumers contact the UK International Consumer Centre via the website – www.ukecc.net – or by phone on 01268 886690 Monday-Friday between 10am and 4pm.

Source: Read Full Article