snh01 Posted October 4, 2021 #1 Share Posted October 4, 2021 My UK based cruise TA has offered a discount on my already booked cruise if I pay in full this week - 6 months ahead of final payment due date. The discount is significantly more that I can earn in interest in that period. They advise that the amount is still covered by their ABTA/ATOL cover - the TA will be holding it and not passing to the cruise line until the payment date. Of course, it paid by credit card then there is also S75 cover also. I wondered if any others have recently been offered and accepted/declined such an offer and and pros/cons, thoughts or concerns I should have or consider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Peterson Posted October 4, 2021 #2 Share Posted October 4, 2021 (edited) I've not seen an offer like this, but my first thought would be to question whether the TA is in financial difficulties and looking for finance to prop it up. That said, if all the following conditions are met, it might be worth considering: 1 Payment or part-payment of more than £100 by credit card for the S75 protection. 2 That payment directly from the card to the TA, and not through a third party intermediary which might invalidate the S75 protection. 3 You're happy to lose the use of the money for an indefinite period of time if problems do arise and the TA does what so many have done - just delay indefinitely. S75 is useful of course, but that too can take quite some time. Edited October 4, 2021 by Harry Peterson Added 'use of the' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reina del Mar Posted October 4, 2021 #3 Share Posted October 4, 2021 Have never made a S75 claim but sure I have read somewhere on these boards that claim must be made within a certain time frame ! I would think TA is struggling and needs support after such a difficult 18 months. Obviously your decision, but personally, I would wait till final payment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billish Posted October 4, 2021 #4 Share Posted October 4, 2021 Seems highly suspect to me. I wouldn't pay it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dog Posted October 5, 2021 #5 Share Posted October 5, 2021 2 hours ago, Billish said: Seems highly suspect to me. I wouldn't pay it. Same Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodgem Posted October 5, 2021 #6 Share Posted October 5, 2021 I have to agree with @Reina del Mar, @Billish and @dog. I would not feel comfortable with the TA having my money for that long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snh01 Posted October 5, 2021 Author #7 Share Posted October 5, 2021 Thanks all. Several comments echo my thoughts but I was wondering whether this was becoming a more common practice (I have seen it on a couple of different company’s adverts recently). The offer is from a large well known cruise TA so I hope all is well but probably makes sense to be (over)cautious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flossie009 Posted October 5, 2021 #8 Share Posted October 5, 2021 On 10/4/2021 at 7:26 PM, Harry Peterson said: 2 That payment directly from the card to the TA, and not through a third party intermediary which might invalidate the S75 protection. Since the ultimate vendor is the cruise company, could the credit card company argue that the TA is a "third party intermediary"? Need to check with whom you are contracting; the TA or the cruise company? Personally I worry about TAs who hold onto money before passing it on to the cruise line. In the past two years some of them have been very very slow in returning money to their clients even though the TA has been refunded by the cruise line following cancellations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Peterson Posted October 5, 2021 #9 Share Posted October 5, 2021 33 minutes ago, flossie009 said: Since the ultimate vendor is the cruise company, could the credit card company argue that the TA is a "third party intermediary"? Need to check with whom you are contracting; the TA or the cruise company? Personally I worry about TAs who hold onto money before passing it on to the cruise line. In the past two years some of them have been very very slow in returning money to their clients even though the TA has been refunded by the cruise line following cancellations. You may well be right about the agency point: https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/section-75-of-the-consumer-credit-act-aZCUb9i8Kwfa#payments-through-an-agent-or-third-party Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBP&O2/O Posted October 10, 2021 #10 Share Posted October 10, 2021 “Since the ultimate vendor is the cruise company, could the credit card company argue that the TA is a "third party intermediary"? Need to check with whom you are contracting; the TA or the cruise company?” Under UK law, the TA is the vendor. I had a run in with a TA when claiming a refund. The TA claimed otherwise so I sent a polite email and asked for the company secretary's name so I could serve a small claims on them. The refund arrived within five days. Good job really as the S75 only covers six months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kristal Blade Posted October 11, 2021 #11 Share Posted October 11, 2021 We have had this offer from a non high street cruise agency and we did it! We had a cruise booked with this company which was cancelled due to Covid. They fully refunded the money we had spent so we felt confident in letting them hang onto our money. As snh01 said there is no way we could make up that money in interest in our bank. We are looking forward to getting on our future cruise, knowing we have nothing left to pay. But each to their own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare babs135 Posted October 18, 2021 #12 Share Posted October 18, 2021 Obviously you can't name the company but I would suggest that you check out their name on the other major social media website. Several groups there have set up forums advising people how to get their money back. There are 2 travel agencies in particular that are giving their customers a great deal of grief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kristal Blade Posted October 21, 2021 #13 Share Posted October 21, 2021 With a bit of Imagination you might be able to workout who we booked with. As I said, we previously had a 100% refund from them last year so confident that our money is safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare babs135 Posted October 22, 2021 #14 Share Posted October 22, 2021 On 10/21/2021 at 4:49 PM, Kristal Blade said: With a bit of Imagination you might be able to workout who we booked with. As I said, we previously had a 100% refund from them last year so confident that our money is safe. You were lucky. If I've worked it out correctly they were busy 'bumping' people off a cruise currently at sea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 2BACRUISER Posted October 22, 2021 #15 Share Posted October 22, 2021 35 minutes ago, babs135 said: You were lucky. If I've worked it out correctly they were busy 'bumping' people off a cruise currently at sea. I saw that too but I wouldn't worry about them going pop had a delve into their background and they're Arab funded so with oil at $85 a barrel at mo kerching they also own arsenal stadium lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Kristal Blade Posted October 24, 2021 #16 Share Posted October 24, 2021 Yes, Arab funded is right. My money is safe and my trip has various elements as well as a cruise. It’s not one of the cruise only trips they offer. Happy holidays! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbtablet Posted October 24, 2021 #17 Share Posted October 24, 2021 On 10/22/2021 at 8:57 PM, 2BACRUISER said: I saw that too but I wouldn't worry about them going pop had a delve into their background and they're Arab funded so with oil at $85 a barrel at mo kerching they also own arsenal stadium lol. Yes, the Stadium alone is worth multi millions - add on the value of the team and you get a whole load of trouble - some won't even take a jab! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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