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Schools warned of bogus travel companies
Parents and teachers are being targeted by fraudsters offering bogus school trips, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.
In a new warning issued at the start of the new school year, the CAA is urging parents and teachers to check any overseas trips for students are ATOL protected.
The CAA’s head of ATOL Andy Cohen said: "We are aware of some companies operating in niche markets to sell educational trips without providing ATOL protection. At worst, these companies use this to illegally sell packages with the intention of disappearing with the money, leaving schools, teachers and parents out of pocket.
"Without ATOL protection, even if the travel company does successfully organise a package trip, students could be left in vulnerable positions. It is vital that schools ensure they are booking an ATOL protected package and that all aspects of their booking are protected."
The CAA said it was aware of cases where parents had lost up to £750 each because they’d booked a school trip with a company that didn’t offer ATOL protection.
The CAA website has a dedicated page for schools considering booking overseas trips for their students, with advice on choosing travel companies.
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Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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