Kate Griffiths of Cable and Wireless, in her letter (Travel Weekly January 10)made some interesting and yet confusing comments.
I am sure most readers of my original letter would not have taken the view that I suggested that 0645 and 0845 numbers had been withdrawn.
The point was simply that tour operators had ceased to use them and had switched to the revenue-providing 0870 range of numbers which are now funded by us unlucky travel agents!
Why on earth travel agencies should wish to take advantage, as she puts it, of 0645 and 0845 numbers, alas, merely confirms the fact that she has completely missed the point.
My letter concerned the relationship between agents and operators and the expense that we agents bear by calling the operators.
How on earth agents could benefit by providing an 0645 or 0845 number for use in this scenario is beyond comprehension.
The paragraph relating to profit share was, of course, extremely amusing, especially the sentence beginning ‘In many situations etc..’ which in itself is surely a contender for a gobbledegook of the year award.
Having read it about three times I was still none the wiser.
My guess is that it intends to convey the impression that the tour operators are not making any money out of the callers because they are spending that money on new equipment.
They can therefore sleep soundly at nights with a clear conscience and safe in the knowledge that the free provision of new equipment in no way benefits them at the expense of their travel trade partners.
Dream on!
Mike Bellingham
Denbighshire Travel
Wrexham