Dodging Those Dodgy Holiday Deals

Tips for avoiding those dodgy holiday deals that are too good to be true

It’s easy to be caught out by those false last-minute holiday deals when swept away with the excitement of finding a bargain. But beware! There are plenty of scams out there, hiding among the real deals. Here are some handy tips for spotting them and avoiding losing money or, worse still, becoming victim to identity fraud.

1. Invoke your inner sceptic

With upfront payments being the norm in the travel industry,  it’s a magnet for con artists. There are some great deals floating around out there, but if you’re being offered a first class tour around the world for the price of a long weekend at Fawlty Towers, those alarm bells are probably worth listening to.

If you have any niggling doubts, make sure to do a little homework before dishing out your details.

2. Get in touch

Track the company down. Find their office address and verify it online. And why not give them a call? If they provide a landline number that directs you through to an anonymous call centre, that’s not the best sign.

As that inner sceptic of yours might be warning you, those crafty fraudsters can go to great lengths to maintain a front of legitimacy, so you can’t be entirely sure of a company’s reliability even if the person on the other end of the line does sound genuine. But you can at least get a better feel for whether they are indeed trustworthy.

3. Get it in writing

If you ask for the details of your holiday – name of the hotel, the airline, cancellation policies, etc. – to be sent to you in a written contract, any reputable travel company will happily oblige.  If they refuse, step away from the deal.

4. Check the register

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) is the top regulatory body for UK travel agents. Running a search for the company on the ABTA website will quickly tell you whether or not they’re registered. If not, exercise caution.

5. Online forums

The internet gives you access to communities of people who may have had experience with the travel company concerned. Simply googling the company’s name, adding the word “scam” at the end, could throw up some very useful results. In all likelihood, if someone has been scammed by them in the past, they will have reported it in an online forum.

6. Read the small print

Even if you are feeling confident that the agent is legitimate, it’s worth taking the time to read the small print. Watch out for any restrictions or complicated requirements that could make your trip difficult or even impossible. Also make sure there are no hidden add-ons that could bump up the price.

7. Call around

If you’ve been sent a travel itinerary, it’s worthwhile spending a few minutes calling the hotels and transport companies listed in order to confirm your bookings.

8. Be browser savvy

Prior to making any online payment, check that the URL in your browser begins with ‘https://’ and that the padlock symbol is displayed. Otherwise, the website could be fake and you may be about to give your bank details to a scammer.

9. Use your credit card

If you can, use your credit card when booking a holiday online. It will prevent swindlers from clearing out your bank account. Furthermore, if you spend over £100, you should be covered under the Consumer Credit Act, which entitles you to claim back your money if there are any issues.

10. Go with your gut

Ultimately, it’s often best to trust your instincts. So, even if you’ve done all the background checks, if you still have a bad feeling, you might be best to play it safe and look elsewhere for your bargain holiday. After all, a good deal isn’t worth the risk of fraud or identity theft. There’s always another, safer deal out there – so keep hunting!