IT WOULD seem unusual for a travel agent to accept and confirm a booking with a tour operator no more than seven days before departure andcollect payment in the formof uncleared funds (Travel Weekly September 20).
The booking referred to in Mr Morgan’s letter was made on August 2 for the departure on the 7 and chased on the 9, paid on the 14. The other bookings made byCeltic Travel read: booked on July 27 for departure on July 30 and paid August 7.
Another was booked on July 21 for departure on July 25 and paid on July 30; booked on July 21 fordeparture on July 24 and paid on July 30; booked on July 2 for departure on July 3 and paid on July 13; booked on May 19 for departure on May 20 and paid on June 2; booked on May 17 for departure on May 24 and paid on June 2 and another booking was made on May 3 for departure on May 10 and settled in twopayments on May 18 andJune 18.
The facts speak forthemselves, all bookings are paid only after a number oftelephone calls from credit control.
All bookings should have been confirmed with full cleared funds at the time of booking and payment to the tour operator forwarded at the time or at least within three working days.
Credit control is not the easiest of tasks in any trading environment, the call made to Celtic Travel was on aprofessional basis only, not a personal attack.
The call seems to have been taken personally, and Iregret that Celtic Travel interpreted a call for due payment ashysteria.
To improve the service we offer our agents, Kosmar is introducing ABTA’s SinglePayment Scheme.
If you wish to use thisfacility with Kosmar please contact our agency sales department for details.
Abhi Dighe
Kosmar Holidays
London