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| Travel agents' deals 'misleading' | Travel agents' deals 'misleading' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Cut-price travel companies have been accused of "misleading" customers with cheap internet prices by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI). | |
| The TSI has criticised firms for advertising holidays at prices that do not include must-have extras, such as taxes or fuel supplements. | The TSI has criticised firms for advertising holidays at prices that do not include must-have extras, such as taxes or fuel supplements. |
| The TSI has urged the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to halt the practice. | The TSI has urged the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to halt the practice. |
| Travel industry group ABTA said its code included rules not to mislead but some low-cost operators ignored them. | Travel industry group ABTA said its code included rules not to mislead but some low-cost operators ignored them. |
| 'Unrealistic prices' | 'Unrealistic prices' |
| We have a code of practice, which means charges must be included in the price Sean Tipton, ABTA | We have a code of practice, which means charges must be included in the price Sean Tipton, ABTA |
| A random check of online travel firms found several examples of vast differences between the advertised and actual price. | A random check of online travel firms found several examples of vast differences between the advertised and actual price. |
| For example, one firm advertised a seven-night holiday in Benidorm from £59 per person but after compulsory extra charges were included, such as fuel supplements, the cost of the holiday rose to £266 for two adults. | For example, one firm advertised a seven-night holiday in Benidorm from £59 per person but after compulsory extra charges were included, such as fuel supplements, the cost of the holiday rose to £266 for two adults. |
| "This misleading and illegal cocktail of confusion is being allowed to flourish and consumers are clearly being enticed to check out particular holidays and flights with unrealistic prices," Bruce Treloar, TSI lead officer on travel said. | "This misleading and illegal cocktail of confusion is being allowed to flourish and consumers are clearly being enticed to check out particular holidays and flights with unrealistic prices," Bruce Treloar, TSI lead officer on travel said. |
| "Travel firms are adding the word 'from' - as in 'Lanzarote, from £75' - and then think it is acceptable to fail to offer any holidays which even come close to that magical figure, once must-pay supplements are added in," he added. | "Travel firms are adding the word 'from' - as in 'Lanzarote, from £75' - and then think it is acceptable to fail to offer any holidays which even come close to that magical figure, once must-pay supplements are added in," he added. |
| The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) told BBC News that it supported the TSI's call for a clampdown on misleading adverts. | The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) told BBC News that it supported the TSI's call for a clampdown on misleading adverts. |
| "This has been an issue for a number of years, with no-frills companies advertising very low rates, attracting customers to their websites and then charging them more. | "This has been an issue for a number of years, with no-frills companies advertising very low rates, attracting customers to their websites and then charging them more. |
| "We have a code of practice, which means charges must be included in the price. Not everyone has signed-up to this code and we need to see some action," Sean Tipton, ABTA spokesman, said. | "We have a code of practice, which means charges must be included in the price. Not everyone has signed-up to this code and we need to see some action," Sean Tipton, ABTA spokesman, said. |