Agents step up fight against 0870 waiting

LLANDUDNO-BASED Spicer Travel Bureau has become the latest agency to join the backlash over high telephone charges by introducing an 0870 number to handle enquiries from tour operators.

The decision follows a campaign by Travel Weekly (June 4) to expose the worst offenders among tour operators who keep travel agents holding on the telephone.

Commercial manager Mike Sands said: “If tour operators were treated the same way agents are when they make an enquiry, they would soon change their ideas.”

However ABTA president Stephen Bath said there was a limit to what it could do about the problem.