The ABTA Code of Conduct was updated in February 2008. The Code is designed to import a standard level of professional behaviour that you can expect from your travel agent or tour operator, if they are members of ABTA.

In the last couple of years, the Code has undergone several revisions. It is essential that you check the Code before making a complaint. If the Code published on the ABTA website is dated after your travel date, or the date on which you made your booking, then you should contact ABTA for a copy of the previous Code of Conduct.

In recent years ABTA has reformatted and updated their Code of Conduct. The New Code of Conduct deals with matters before booking, whilst making the booking, between booking and travel, after departure, communications between Members and Consumers and ABTA, general conduct and training, compliance with the Code of Conduct, Definition of Terms.

There is also a further document ‘Guidance on the Application of the Code of Conduct’ which should also be referred to.

ABTA requires that its members comply with the code of conduct of the association.

You should consider these rules when complaining about the actions of a tour operator, and how they apply to the circumstances of your complaint. The following is a summary of only some of the rules:

• Rule6A -requires that its members will provide a high standard of service.
• Rule 2A - that they should make every effort to ensure that Travel Arrangements sold to clients and compatible to their needs
• Rule 2F & 2G - requires that before a contract is made that the travel agent or tour operator will provide information on health requirements and draw their attention to Department of Health travel health advice, and that before a contract is made the travel agent or tour operator shall advise on passport and visa requirements where it is reasonably practicable for them to do so. In other cases they will provide reasonable assistance in obtaining such information.
• Rule 2H - requires that before a contract is made the travel agent or tour operator shall advise on the availability of advices issued by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• Rule 2J, 2K & 2L - requires that the travel agent or tour operator shall draw the client’s attention to the availability of insurance suitable to the client’s needs, and should ensure that the client is aware of their duty to disclose pre-existing conditions
• Rule 2I, 3I - imposes an obligation upon the tour operator where building works are taking place that could have a serious impact upon the ‘Travel Arrangements’. Where there is a problem, they must ‘ensure’ that they notify their clients – in such circumstances they must offer a transfer to alternative accommodation at the same price or to provide them with their rights under Regulation 12 or 13 of The Package Travel Regulations, where the building works amount to a significant change.

If you are having difficulty in getting a tour operator to respond to your complaint, you should use the following rule and complain about the lack of response. ABTA will investigate and cause the tour operator to respond and can take disciplinary action against the operator for breaching the rule:

• Rule 5A & 5B - imposes an obligation upon the tour operator to provide an acknowledgement to a letter of complaint with 14 days.This now applies to e mails. A detailed reply, or a letter explaining the reason for the delay in responding, shall be sent not later than 28 days from the date of receipt of the correspondence.

Full details of the ABTA Code of Conduct and how to complain can be found on their website.

Tags: ABTA, holiday claims, holiday complaints, Holiday Food Poisoning Claims, holiday illness, Holiday Sickness

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 7th, 2008 at 1:51 pm and is filed under Resolve, Travel Advice, Your Consumer Rights. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.