Retailers urge operator to scrap TOD charges

Retailers urge operator to scrap TOD charges

Agents said JMC should ditch ticket-on-departure charges and improve its reps service in resort.

Retailers said their clients were angry at paying extra charges or having an unsatisfactory service while on holiday and were taking it out on them.

David Whitaker, Andrews Worldchoice, Camberwell, London, said: “I did a booking with JMC yesterday and the price started off at £580.

“When I got a print-out, there was a flight charge, an underoccupancy charge, a ticket-on-departure charge and then a reduction of £10. To me, that’s silly.”

John Wells, Travel Universal Worldchoice, London, added:”The system and the way it is designed is causing the problem. The costing comes up last and there’s a sting in the tail for customers.”

Peter Hawke, Travel Experience, Biggin Hill, Kent, said clients should not have to collect tickets on departure up to two weeks before theirholiday.

“That’s ridiculous, because we can get tickets to people in less than two weeks,” he said. “Also to charge £10 for one ticket on departure and £40 for four is unjustifiable as far as the public is concerned.”

JMC head of marketing Peter Curtis said he would take their views on board but explained the operator had to price competitively against its rivals.

Meanwhile, Rachel Bromley, of Thomas Cook in Monument, London, said she had received complaints from clients about overseas repswho had not sorted out their problems.

“As an example, there was a complaint about a cot being broken and it didn’t get sorted out for two weeks. There’s nothing you can do when they get home,” she said.

Wells said he had received similar complaints about poor JMC reps from his customers.

Rachel Bromley,

Thomas Cook