ATOL

[sunseeker2011]

I was having a discussion with JT before Christmas regarding ATOL protection and remember he said that the holiday I was thinking of booking would not be ATOL protected until the full and final payment is made (I booked with a £60 each deposit).

However, I have an ATOL certificate which is effective immediately and it even stipulates that I will receive a full refund of any amount paid (yes, even the deposit).

Has anyone ever had to use the ATOL scheme (i.e. holiday firm gone bust/bankrupt/liquidation etc) and if so, did you run into any complications?

Cheers,

Justin.

[JT]

Ah Justin

Maybe it has now changed as there were quite a few things changing with the CAA I believe

I will lock this post Justin as it will just drag up topics and things that have been discussed over many years about many firms going into liquidation and also losses, refunds consequentials etc

I would suggest you trawl back through the pages ( always good for knowledge ) and also use the search button top of page

One clue for dates is companies normalyy go bust just after they have collected ALL monies in from customers for season (strange isn't it) so about mid to end of June would be a good start

I just reread and ATOL covers the flight not the holiday as far as I am aware so if somone books a HOLIDAY as in flight accommodation and transfer as a package and the company goes bust with the customer paying say £1,000 off a £1,500 package, what is to stop the company saying that £950 of that money went to pay the accommodation and they only have £50 going back to you for your ATOL covered part of the deal.Strange it may be but you never know.I am in no way stating that any particular company could do this but stranger things have happened