Big Four face court threat over charges

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.