How to complain about holidays
If holidays from hell weren't bad enough, the battle for compensation can really cap it all.
Building sites on your hotel doorstep, nightclubs that keep you awake, cockroach-infested rooms - don't stand for it.
Follow this simple guide to winning compensation and protecting yourself.
Holiday paradise: But what can you do if the holiday goes wrong?
Complaining
If there is a problem when you arrive at your hotel, complain to the tour company representative in the resort straight away. The rep should provide you with a customer complaint form.
If they fail to do so, write your own and ask them to sign it. Don't leave it until the end of the trip or rely on the verbal assurance of the rep to report your complaint.
Take photographs or video footage to back you up. If the problem isn't solved in the resort, write to the company within 28 days of your return.
Include as much evidence and details about your complaint as possible - make sure you also include details of what you expect compensation for with any receipts from any extra costs incurred.
Send the letter by recorded delivery and keep a copy. If you can't resolve the problem satisfactorily with the operator, go to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).
If you are putting your own holiday together make sure you book accommodation with an ABTA travel agent or tour operator and flights with a flight provider which holds an Air Travel Organiser's Licence atol.org.uk - if either go bust your money will be refunded
It is important that you read the small print of your travel insurance policy carefully. Make sure you know exactly what is covered and what is not.
There are exceptions and limits in every policy and claiming you didn't know of them when you took the cover out will not make an iota of difference if you are caught out.
Taking extra precautions
When you book your holiday it is worth paying at least the deposit with a credit card.
This gives protection for the whole cost of the holiday, under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, so long as the payment exceeds £100.
The rule is that the card company is equally liable with the supplier - the tour operator in this case - for providing a refund if the goods or services are not satisfactory.
If you book a package holiday through a member of the Association of British Travel Agents you will get your money back if the tour operator goes bust.
Under the 1992 Package Travel, Package Holiday and Package Tour Regulations, operators have a contract with holidaymakers and must deliver what they promise.
Most watched Money videos
- BMW meets Swarovski and releases BMW i7 Crystal Headlights Iconic Glow
- Leapmotor T03 is set to become Britain's cheapest EV from 2025
- Tesla unveils new Model 3 Performance - it's the fastest ever!
- Mercedes has finally unveiled its new electric G-Class
- Mini celebrates the release of brand new all-electric car Mini Aceman
- Mini Cooper SE: The British icon gets an all-electric makeover
- 'Now even better': Nissan Qashqai gets a facelift for 2024 version
- Top Gear takes Jamiroquai's lead singer's Lamborghini for a spin
- Incredibly rare MG Metro 6R4 rally car sells for a record £425,500
- A look inside the new Ineos Quartermaster off-road pickup truck
- Kia's 372-mile compact electric SUV - and it could costs under £30k
- Introducing Britain's new sports car: The electric buggy Callum Skye
- Vodafone completes sale of its Spanish operations for £4.3bn
- MARKET REPORT: JD Sports drags its feet as few spend big...
- ALEX BRUMMER: Don't trash Britain's energy security
- Soho House rejects takeover bid that would have seen it...
- Flutter finance chief quits as gambling group lists in...
- INVESTING EXPLAINED: What you need to know about the...
- How to buy great British shares - at a discount
- SHARE OF THE WEEK: Boost for British American Tobacco as...
- Donald Trump sees more than £400m wiped off his fortune
- Eurozone inflation rose to higher-than-expected 2.6% last...
- The consumer champion's guide to getting what you want:...
- VW Passat is 50 Not Out: We test the new estate-only...
- Great British Energy: What would Labour plan mean for...
- Savers piled £11.7bn into cash Isas in April - the...
- SMALL CAP MOVERS: Quadrise blooms on client win
- Revolution Bars tells creditors to back restructuring or...
- JD Sports shares plummet as 'challenging market' puts a...
- House prices rose in May, says Nationwide as wage growth...