An overseas telephone help service for holidaymakers which aims to overcome language problems in resort will be sold through the trade from next month.
CallUma will sell three types of annual membership when it launches on March 10 and will pay commission to travel agents.
Included in its basic scheme, which costs £19.50, is a telephone interpreter service in 140 languages, a 24-hour overseas information helpline, lost and stolen bank card service, language assistance calls to the emergency services, luggage tracking assistance and a call-back request service.
Other policies cost £35 and £95. The latter offers a repatriation service for holidaymakers who are hospitalised overseas, fall victim to a physical attack, or need to return home due to damage to their property or the death of a relative.
Non-executive director and shareholder Stephen Moss, founder of parking specialist BCP, said the company would target multiples first.
He said: “We are starting to work with agents and we have meetings lined up. The trade will be important to the business and agents can improve their bottom line by selling ancillary services.”
Additional services offered by CallUma include the ability to download a customer’s passport so that if it is stolen or lost the details can be sent through by the company to the holidaymaker in resort.
“If you lose your credit card in resort, CallUma will report it stolen for you. If you need to talk to the emergency services we can put you in touch with an interpreter who can speak to them for you,” added Moss.
It is the first travel business Moss has joined since his departure from BCP last summer.
Former BCP regional sales manager Darren Burr has become UK sales director for CallUma.