FabSwingers.com forum: who to complain to

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Hi i did 3 month trip in April across America with a tour group.

Basically first 50 days felt more like a boot camp, the tour leader was just so strict, was skipping stuff, didnt inform us on some things and changed the itinerary.

Day 51 we had a new tour leader he wasnt informed of the problems we had with the previous leader as he wanted to assess it himself.

The last 30days were great, best time ever, felt like a holiday.

Tried complaining to the company about those first 50 days and they responded nothing wrong with their first trek leader, no further action will be taken.

Any advice on what i can do cuz this woman really ruined the trip for me, this was my biggest dream trip, i quit a secure job to do it (which i cant get work now) i spent almost 10g in total.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Hi i did 3 month trip in April across America with a tour group.

Basically first 50 days felt more like a boot camp, the tour leader was just so strict, was skipping stuff, didnt inform us on some things and changed the itinerary.

Day 51 we had a new tour leader he wasnt informed of the problems we had with the previous leader as he wanted to assess it himself.

The last 30days were great, best time ever, felt like a holiday.

Tried complaining to the company about those first 50 days and they responded nothing wrong with their first trek leader, no further action will be taken.

Any advice on what i can do cuz this woman really ruined the trip for me, this was my biggest dream trip, i quit a secure job to do it (which i cant get work now) i spent almost 10g in total."

So it was her fault you spent 10 grand, quit your job and can't find new employment ?

Sorry, but those were your decisions.

What are you seeking ?

Acknowledgement of your issue or monetary compensation ?

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

didnt mean it like that. There were 10 of us who went on the trip, all strangers. 7 of us complained and it wasnt til day 50 she was replaced though.

The difference between the trek leaders was huge. We paid for a holiday of a lifetime not a boot camp.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Complain to the tour operator?

The factors about cost is relevant however work not at all.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"didnt mean it like that. There were 10 of us who went on the trip, all strangers. 7 of us complained and it wasnt til day 50 she was replaced though.

The difference between the trek leaders was huge. We paid for a holiday of a lifetime not a boot camp. "

So what are you after ?

What is your ideal outcome ?

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

some sort of apology at the very least, its a lot of money and time to put into for something like this and for more than half the trip to feel like shit is not good at all

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By *rightonsteveMan
over a year ago

Brighton - even Hove!

Citizens Advice for not delivering what was promised? Small claims court?.....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"some sort of apology at the very least, its a lot of money and time to put into for something like this and for more than half the trip to feel like shit is not good at all"

10 grand IS a lot of money

That said, 10 grand for a 3 month holiday doesn't sound too much at all.

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple
over a year ago

in Lancashire

If it was in April and ended 3 months later, have you contacted the tour company before now?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Was the company you booked it with ABTA accredited ?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

check and see if tour was covered by abta the onbudsman scheme or however it's spelt

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Is the issue that it just didn't meet your expectations?

I've done overland/trekking type holidays and they can be relentless and exhausting

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There is also a travel ombudsman

So I would escalate :

Travel company

ABTA

Ombudsman

If you feel that aggrieved

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Company is trek America.

We did contact them several times and just told they won't be doing anything about it esp since that tour leader has never had anyone complain before.

They had only started this trip last year and did it with two tour leaders, this was the first time anyone had it on their own.

It started off ok, she gave us a sheet of what we were doing for the first 15days and was suppose to give us more and we basically didnt have a clue what we were doing each day til the day before. This gave us no time to prepare anything, like if we had a free day in city, we could look online what sorta stuff we can do and plan but we didnt have time for that. Me personally wanted to do movie tours in some cities, these need at least a week booking in advance so i didnt see any. Plus we were constantly told never ever go anywhere on your own on the free days, which meant if you cant find someone to go places you wanna go to, then someone will have to miss out, mainly me. Wasnt til we had the new trek leader he gave us the last 30 days of everything we were doing and we could go where we want on our own and i only got the chance to do that in L.A

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

You couldn't go places on your own?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've just looked at their website, the trips seem to have quite clear itineraries. How could you not know where you would be?

And looking at the itinery for the 80 day trip, the amount of travelling involved is likely why it was regimented

Again are you sure this was just a case of not being what you expected it to be?

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By *anchestercubMan
over a year ago

manchester & NI

If I had a genuine complaint that I thought was not adequately resolved I'd leave a very detailed review on travel websites.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"some sort of apology at the very least, its a lot of money and time to put into for something like this and for more than half the trip to feel like shit is not good at all"
we spent 3k on a week in Corfu and were bitten alive by fucking mossies...... squished a few fuckers but wont get my dosh back

shit happens

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

They are covered by abta so might be worth writing again a quote forceful letter of complaint, sent a time scale which they have to respond in writing back to you. Clearly bullet point the areas you were not happy.

Don't waffle in the letter make it clear concise.

Also stated you will take the matter up with abta should they not acknowledge the complaint your making.

It's also worth getting the others to complain too if they are not happy.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

For you to have any grounds for complaint you will have to show that the holiday varied materially from the information you were given at the point you signed the contract.

So far I can't see any evidence that it did, but you may be able to provide some.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

There are places we were going but trek leaders can change things along the way, like we spent two nights at her mums house, another night at her friends.

So dates were mixed up, we had an idea of where we maybe within a week but still not knowing which day we would arrive etc.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Citizens Advice for not delivering what was promised? Small claims court?....."

Agree. Weren't they registered with any regulatory body?

Or maybe feedback on their website or in the relevant media...

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

a. Just ignore the Trolls in this thread.

b. Don't give up with your complaint. Seek more advice, there's plenty of free, legal advice out there. Have you tried Trading Standards already? That is a good place to start, and if they can't help you directly they will know where to signpost you to.

Good luck with it, for yourself and for other people who shouldn't have their journey ruined by a person like the one you described.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"They are covered by abta so might be worth writing again a quote forceful letter of complaint, sent a time scale which they have to respond in writing back to you. Clearly bullet point the areas you were not happy.

Don't waffle in the letter make it clear concise.

Also stated you will take the matter up with abta should they not acknowledge the complaint your making.

It's also worth getting the others to complain too if they are not happy.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"a. Just ignore the Trolls in this thread.

Good luck with it, for yourself and for other people who shouldn't have their journey ruined by a person like the one you described."

If the 'troll' comment was aimed at me (or I was being included under that heading), I was expressing genuine questions that the OP will be asked and asked to provide details of.

We have all had negative holiday experiences I am sure.

The fact the OP spent a lot of money, quit his job and can't fine re-employment is not the concern of the travel company.

If he had genuine issues on the trip, he needs to address these as issues that stand on their own, not with the context of 'I gave my job up' cos that won't wash.

What will (or should) wash is a detailed day by day account of the trip stating clearly and concisely what happened.

Evidential proof of such will also help his case.

As I mentioned, contact the travel company, give them time to investigate and reply, open a dialogue if you are not happy with their initial response.

If you aren't getting anywhere take it to ABTA or The Ombudsman - but keep the emotion out of it.

Cold, hard facts and proof of such are what they will look at.

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