Abta has issued a call to arms to holidaymakers to report holiday sickness claims firms touting for business this summer as it steps up its lobbying of government.
The association launched its Stop Sickness Scams campaign on Wednesday, three weeks after Travel Weekly started galvanising support for a change in the law with our Fight Fake Claims campaign.
Both campaigns are demanding the new government closes a loophole in the law that means legal costs are not limited for personal injury claims associated with an incident overseas.
Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive, said: “The public need to know the truth behind the highly misleading marketing tactics used by unscrupulous claims management companies whose activities are causing so much damage.”
It is feared claims management companies are poised to ramp up their marketing efforts ahead of the summer peak, and Abta is pressing the new secretary of state for justice, David Lidington MP, to act.
A letter sent to the MP, signed by Tanzer and the chief executives of Thomas Cook, Tui Group, Carnival UK, Flight Centre, Jet2holidays, among others, states:
“The industry believes the sharp rise in claims is the result of increased activity by claims management companies, many of whom have targeted the travel industry now that road traffic accidents fall within the fixed-costs regime.
“Because of the increase in claims witnessed across the UK travel industry, which is not evident across European competitor markets, UK tour operators are now beginning to experience serious problems with overseas suppliers [hoteliers] and insurance providers.”
Abta points out that 90% of all personal injury claims in the UK are now for alleged sickness, up from a historically stable 60%.
The association has called for an urgent meeting with the Ministry of Justice to discuss a change to the “Pre-Action Protocol” procedure claimants must go through.
Imposing a fixed-cost regime at this stage would, Abta believes, close the loophole being exploited by claims management companies.
Abta is urging members to support its campaign on social media using #StopSicknessScams, as Travel Weekly’s Fight Fake Claims campaign continues to build trade support for a law change.
Lucy Huxley, Travel Weekly editor-in-chief, said: “Over 130 businesses have now signed up to Fight Fake Claims, underlining just how important an issue this is.
“Abta’s considerable lobbying might and consumer reach, coming on the back of our campaign, raises hopes of a speedy solution to what is clearly a mass fraud being perpetrated on the travel industry.”
| Abta’s message to consumers • Report claims touts in resort to your hotel and/or operator • Warn other holidaymakers if you see touts and let your friends and family know • If you are cold-called and encouraged to make a fake holiday sickness claim, report the company to the Claims Management Regulator • If you are aware of a fake holiday sickness claim, report it to Action Fraud • If you have experienced food poisoning, contact your hotel or tour operator immediately. Claims companies will take a hefty slice of your compensation • If you aren’t happy with the response from your travel firm, you can pursue your case through Abta’s Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme or the small claims court |
