Video: Clients aren’t there to provide interest-free loans

Saturday, 20 Apr, 2020 0

Kane Pirie, founder of the It’s Right To Refund campaign, is warning that companies risk losing the trust of the general public over the way they are dealing with the issue of refunds for cancelled holidays.

Speaking to TravelMole this week, the managing director of VIVID Travel explained why he is advocating a grace period for refunds, rather than the idea favoured by ABTA to issue a credit note.

"ABTA, much as I respect them as an organisation, has gone down the wrong road. I urge them to reconsider," he said.

"I still believe a grace period is the best way. I empathise with travel companies trying to find a way through this. But customers are saying we don’t trust the travel industry. We don’t trust ATOL. We don’t trust the Package Travel Regs.

"Travel companies have thought: ‘I can get an interest free loan for 18 months with ABTA’s blessing’."

He claims 2021 will be a ‘bumper season’ for the holiday sector – as long as customers feel they can trust the travel industry.

Lisa

Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.

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