Crack down on travel industry is just the Wokingham ticket
Trading standards officers at Wokingham District Council have welcomed steps taken by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to stop the travel industry from misleading its customers by not disclosing full details of ticket prices at the point of advertising.
The OFT has warned holiday and travel suppliers that their advertising must disclose the full price consumers have to pay. Some travellers have discovered that the price they have had to pay for an airline ticket is more than double the advertised cost because of undisclosed supplements and extras. The OFT has promised to take enforcement action if the practice continues.
The warning complements a move by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to remind its members that their Code of Conduct requires all fixed non-optional costs to be disclosed in holiday and ticket prices. It follows a concerted campaign mounted by Trading Standards in conjunction with consumer groups - the Consumers Association, Air Transport Users Association - and trade associations (Association of Independent Tour Operators), to outlaw the practice of misleading consumers as to the price of travel.
Executive member for Wokingham community safety Cllr Barrie Patman said: “It’s excellent news that this misleading and illegal cocktail of confusion is being stamped out. In future, travellers will know exactly what they have to pay and not be mislead by holidays and flights advertised at unrealistic prices.
“Can you imagine the outcry if a shop advertised an item at a specific price and then told the customer there was an additional charge for the packaging?”
In addition to welcoming the OFT’s crack down, the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) intends to play its part in ensuring it is enforced. Ron Gainsford, TSI chief executive, added: “Under the Enterprise Act 2002, the OFT can take action against any practices which are to the considerable detriment of consumers. Trading standards has been providing evidence and working with the OFT culminating with this promise of enforceable action.”
Although there are no recorded instances of this problem so far in Wokingham district, the council advises residents to be alert when booking a holiday wherever they may be buying it from.
Anyone who is concerned about this issue can seek advice from Consumer Direct on (0845) 4 04 05 06. Consumer Direct is a government-backed telephone and online consumer advice service which works in partnership with local authority trading standards. It provides advice and information to help consumers resolve problems and disagreements with suppliers of goods and services. Consumer Direct is available from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturday, excluding public holidays.
The OFT has warned holiday and travel suppliers that their advertising must disclose the full price consumers have to pay. Some travellers have discovered that the price they have had to pay for an airline ticket is more than double the advertised cost because of undisclosed supplements and extras. The OFT has promised to take enforcement action if the practice continues.
The warning complements a move by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to remind its members that their Code of Conduct requires all fixed non-optional costs to be disclosed in holiday and ticket prices. It follows a concerted campaign mounted by Trading Standards in conjunction with consumer groups - the Consumers Association, Air Transport Users Association - and trade associations (Association of Independent Tour Operators), to outlaw the practice of misleading consumers as to the price of travel.
Executive member for Wokingham community safety Cllr Barrie Patman said: “It’s excellent news that this misleading and illegal cocktail of confusion is being stamped out. In future, travellers will know exactly what they have to pay and not be mislead by holidays and flights advertised at unrealistic prices.
“Can you imagine the outcry if a shop advertised an item at a specific price and then told the customer there was an additional charge for the packaging?”
In addition to welcoming the OFT’s crack down, the Trading Standards Institute (TSI) intends to play its part in ensuring it is enforced. Ron Gainsford, TSI chief executive, added: “Under the Enterprise Act 2002, the OFT can take action against any practices which are to the considerable detriment of consumers. Trading standards has been providing evidence and working with the OFT culminating with this promise of enforceable action.”
Although there are no recorded instances of this problem so far in Wokingham district, the council advises residents to be alert when booking a holiday wherever they may be buying it from.
Anyone who is concerned about this issue can seek advice from Consumer Direct on (0845) 4 04 05 06. Consumer Direct is a government-backed telephone and online consumer advice service which works in partnership with local authority trading standards. It provides advice and information to help consumers resolve problems and disagreements with suppliers of goods and services. Consumer Direct is available from 8am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturday, excluding public holidays.
Wokingham Borough Council
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