TRAVEL WORLDWIDE LTD

Important information for customers of Travel Worldwide Ltd (ABTA no K346X/W9059).

This company ceased trading on 21st July 2008. The company’s address was 3rd Floor, Woodland Point, Wooton Mount, Bournemouth BH1 1PJ.

For most customers this company will have been acting as a travel agent. This means the company made bookings on your behalf with a number of different travel suppliers. For example, they acted as agents for tour operators for flights, and with accommodation suppliers and hotels for accommodation bookings.

Now that the agent has ceased trading the following steps are designed to help you decide what you should do next. First, look at the documentation you received when you made your booking then consider the following question:

Does your documentation give the names of the suppliers that Travel Worldwide made your booking with?

For example the documents may say that Travel Worldwide acted as agent for…. and then give the name of an accommodation supplier and/or a tour operator.

If no (i.e. your documentation only names Travel Worldwide Ltd as the supplier)

contact the ABTA Claims enquiries office on tel: 01243 621 500.

If yes

your booking should be in place with those named suppliers. Please bear in mind that you may have separate arrangements in place for the flights with one supplier and for the accommodation with another.
where you have a booking with named suppliers you are entitled to continue with the holiday arrangements you've paid for. The supplier must in law honour your booking even if they haven't been paid by Travel Worldwide Ltd. The fact that the supplier's agent collected your money on its behalf is enough. You should now contact the flight or accommodation suppliers to honour the booking.

What if the supplier refuses to honour your payment?

You need to explain that you are entitled to your booked arrangements and the fact that their agent has failed to pass on your money has no effect on that right.
Seek assistance from Consumer Direct tel: 08454 04 05 06, or the trading standards department at your local council offices

What if they still refuse to honour?

In order to secure your booked arrangements you may feel forced by the supplier to pay again. Many of the accommodation suppliers used by Travel Worldwide are not members of ABTA. If paying again is your only option you must make it clear to the supplier (preferably by letter or email) that you are only paying under protest in order to secure your booked arrangements.
On return from holiday you should then pursue the non-ABTA company for a refund of your money.
You can take action through the small claims track of the County Court and can seek further help from Consumer Direct tel: 08454 04 05 06, or trading standards for help enforcing your rights against the non-ABTA company.

What if no booking was actually made by Travel Worldwide for the accommodation and/or flights?

While ABTA can't refund your money, you may have protection under an insurance policy or another voluntary scheme. Check any policy you hold for details.
If you made payment to Travel Worldwide using a credit card, then s.75 Consumer Credit Act makes the card provider liable for the company’s failure to book. You must register your claims with your credit card provider immediately.
If you made payment by debit card, check that the name of the failed agent appears on your bank statement. If a different name appears then you must contact your bank as this is an unauthorised debit (i.e. the money was taken by someone you did not authorise to debit your account). The bank should refund under the provisions of the Banking Code).
Contact Consumer Direct tel:08454 04 05 06, the police and/or trading standards to investigate further.