Report by Louise Longman
TOUR operators have been given 14 days to provide vital
information on cancellation charges to the Office of Fair Trading or face legal
action.
Following a 15 month probe, the OFT has ruled cancellation
charges are too high and unfair. However, it says it has now reached “deadlock”
with Airtours, Thomson Holidays, JMC Holidays and First Choice which have all
refused to provide financial details justifying cancellation charges.
Operators are reluctant to give the information because they
say it is ‘commercially sensitive’.
The OFT will now go ahead with threats to take out a High
Court injunction if operators fail to comply (Travel Weekly February
14).
JMC Holidays said it was surprised at the OFT’s actions and
claimed the two sides are in “constructive dialogue.”
A First Choice spokeswoman said it believes its cancellation
charges are fair while Thomson and Airtours said they will follow advice from
the Federation of Tour Operators as to what to do.