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Thomson calls for crackdown on misleading brochure prices – 10 May 2007

Thomson has demanded that agencies withdraw the brochures of tour operators who charge fuel supplements as extras.

A three-month ABTA deadline for the trade to comply with its code of conduct and include all non-optional extras in brochures and online expired on Wednesday.

Thomson accused its rival Thomas Cook of flaunting the code through imposition of a range of charges, including fuel supplements and Air Passenger Duty.

Sales director Derek Jones said: “We want operators brought in line and non-optional extras included in the basic holiday price. There is no reason why APD and fuel supplements should not be included. As an industry we need to tidy up our act.”

Jones claimed: “Thomas Cook continues to levy fuel supplements on existing brochure prices. We have put it into the basic holiday price since Christmas. We expect the Office of Fair Trading and ABTA to take action.

“Brochures should be withdrawn, but at the very minimum, advertised prices on the web and through third-party agents should include everything.”

He also accused Thomas Cook of “flagrant” breach of the code by “introducing a £5 APD levy in February to recoup costs from customers who had already booked flights”.

The APD rate doubled in February, leaving tour operators to pick up the bill for customers who had booked at the old rate.

A Thomas Cook spokeswoman said: “We fully support ABTA’s position and will be complying with all its requirements.

“Customers should be presented with prices that are consistent across the industry. Thomas Cook pricing will fit the criteria by the deadline.”

She said latest-edition summer 2008 brochures, issued in March, did not fully comply because “there is not a level playing field in the industry and we were waiting for the moment of enforcement”.

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