CODE OF CONDUCT & APPEAL BOARD DECISIONS

The following cases were heard by the Code of Conduct Committee at its meeting held on 16 July 2008:

Great Rail Journeys Ltd (ABTA Member V2170 of 9 St Saviourgate, York, YO1 8NL) was reprimanded for breaching Code clauses 2B and 2L. 2B requires satisfactory booking procedures and the Member was found to have sent a confirmation 2 months after booking and to have failed to advise of itinerary changes. 2L refers to insurance and the Member was found to have not fully instructed a client to disclose a pre-existing condition.

Airborn Ltd (ABTA Member J1829/ Y0624 of 12 Bridge Close, Romford, RM7 0AU and trading as Airborn Direct) was found to be in breach of 3 clauses of the Code in relation to a consumer's booking. 2B- unsatisfactory booking procedures, 2E- failure to provide the client with a valid set of booking conditions and 2Q- failure to issue an ATOL receipt or act as a ticket provider. Three fines of £200 were imposed.

Travelsphere Ltd (ABTA Member V5874 of Compass House, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, LE16 7QD) received a fine of £400 in respect of a breach of clause 2B- booking procedures. The Member had sent an inaccurate letter to a client that resulted in confusion and neither party arranging the visas the client required to travel.  

Holidaymakers (ABTA Member C0950 of 63 Poulton Road, Fleetwood, FY7 6TF) was fined £1,000 for breaching clause 6H of the Code, as it had failed to pay an outstanding amount to a principal for a year.

Kosmar Villa Holidays Plc (ABTA member V610X of Mitre Court, Fleming Way, Crawley, RH10 9NJ and trading as Kosmar Holidays) was also fined in respect of clause 6H. Six cases of non-payment of debts were presented to the Committee and a fine of £5,000 was imposed.

Omega Travel Ltd (ABTA member J3326/W4939 of 2 Milburn Avenue, Milton Keynes, MK6 2WA and also trading as Budget Travel and Chinese Travel Shop) was found to have failed to advise a client of the cancellation of his flight, then to have ignored the client's complaint letter and letters from ABTA seeking to resolve the matter. The Committee decided upon fines of £1,000 (clause 3C), £500 (5B) and £500 (5C).

TUI UK Ltd (ABTA member V5126 of Wigmore House, Wigmore Lane, Luton, LU2 9TN trading as Thomson Holidays) was fined £1,500 for a breach of clause 3E, which requires Members to offer their clients an alternative, if available, or a refund if they make a significant alteration to their travel arrangements. The client's flight was delayed by 32 hours, however she wasn't offered the options in line with the Code.

One alleged breach was dismissed by the Committee. No decisions were appealed by the Members.