First Choice error's

[tattooed andy]

having booked our 2010 holiday (OGA) back in August, this morning we received a letter from FC stating that there was a genuine printing mistake in the 2010 brochure where air con & a safety deposit box were included in with the facilities / prices quoted....apparently these services, if required, are to be paid for locally & were never to have been included in the original package.

this subject has been touched on before here on the forum with mentions to problems last year when the same 'printing mistake' caused upset at the OGA when holiday makers arrived expecting A/C etc only to be then told of the error........i spent 15/20 mins this morning on the phone to FC customer services trying to explain that they need to take responsibility for their mistakes & honour the package they are selling only to be read the scripted T&C's.....i pointed out that having booked our holiday nigh on 5 months ago it was amazing that it had took them so long to spot the mistake & shocking that it was the exact SAME error as they made in last years brochure......i gave up in the end as the conversation was going round in circles & the end result was we'd have to pay the additional costs ourselves if we wanted these services.........i assume trade description act doesn't apply if T&C's give a get out clause !!!!..........pretty sad state of affairs for the guys at OGA who take flak for FC clowns repeated cock up's

[Stefos]

Originally Posted by tattooed andy

having booked our 2010 holiday (OGA) back in August, this morning we received a letter from FC stating that there was a genuine printing mistake in the 2010 brochure where air con & a safety deposit box were included in with the facilities / prices quoted....apparently these services, if required, are to be paid for locally & were never to have been included in the original package.

this subject has been touched on before here on the forum with mentions to problems last year when the same 'printing mistake' caused upset at the OGA when holiday makers arrived expecting A/C etc only to be then told of the error........i spent 15/20 mins this morning on the phone to FC customer services trying to explain that they need to take responsibility for their mistakes & honour the package they are selling only to be read the scripted T&C's.....i pointed out that having booked our holiday nigh on 5 months ago it was amazing that it had took them so long to spot the mistake & shocking that it was the exact SAME error as they made in last years brochure......i gave up in the end as the conversation was going round in circles & the end result was we'd have to pay the additional costs ourselves if we wanted these services.........i assume trade description act doesn't apply if T&C's give a get out clause !!!!..........pretty sad state of affairs for the guys at OGA who take flak for FC clowns repeated cock up's

I guess all brochures have to go through a check before they are printed and distributed .......I do not think this is a printing error, I think this is an error which was sent to the printers or publishers by the holiday company. A printing error would be a missed out word or something missed spelt. As you say they made the same error last year, how can the printer who only prints what has been sent to them be in error ?

No I think if it is an error it is the holiday company and not a printing error, I guess now you have booked it is best to leave things so you can at least have your holiday.

What I think you should do though is make sure that they have logged your complaint and when you get to Elounda make sure you fill in a complaints form from the rep make sure you tell her of your complaint, it is important that you fill this form in so it is in writing and by law should be logged.

Next year when booking, shop around and make sure that they confirm the services offered in writing. (read the small print about making amendments to your holiday booking)

Vote with your feet

Stefos

[Stefos]

Check this out for more information : http://travel.ciao.co.uk/Reviews/First_Choice__94990

[tattooed andy]

we've used FC for our holidays in Elounda for the last 3 years & ok there have been issues but i guess 'perfection' is a rare thing......all i wanted was for the company to acknowledge / make good their mistake. the guy on the phone even claimed that they could change their prices & bill me the difference even after i've paid in full ????

[DazandJust]

Sad but true.

Firstchoice knew about this error last year for the 09 season, it was the first year. There were complaints a-plenty to FC.

Now, even if the brochure had already been ordered for 10 season, I would expect the operators at FC or a travel Agent to tell you that a note on the record states that these items are not included and, like the vast majority of places of this kind, are extra and 'payable locally'. It's the same principal as when they (occasionally and hopefully) tell you there is building work going on etc.

I would persevere with FC and, if you booked via a TA, with them. Get hold of the brochure (it's available on line, is it wrong there and don't forget it would be much easier to amend an online version) and make one hell of a fuss.

I would.

Good luck

DA

[DazandJust]

Web version now states * payable locally. Just checked. Still do not see why the TA or FC operator would not have said anything though


DA