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Many agencies across the country, are applying for the Community Legal Service Quality Mark in one of three categories. One of the latest agencies to be audited and given the award is the Trading Standards Advice Service, based in the reception area of Crompton House, in Swinton. The award was in the General Help plus Casework category for consumer law.
The Quality Mark logo is displayed on the glass entrance doors to Crompton House and the doors to the reception area. The logo indicates to consumers that the service they are encountering has been audited against the Quality Mark Standard in the categories Information, General Help or Specialist Help.
Anyone needing to seek legal advice on a variety of topics should look out for the logo, whether it be at local council offices, solicitors or other advice agencies. Alternatively, you can contact the advice staff at Crompton House on 793 2022. They have a copy of the Community Legal Services Directory and access to their website and should be able to provide you with a list of local experts from whom to choose.
A travel company who is obliged to put protection arrangements in place can either place a financial bond with a licensed bonding agent or it can set up a trust fund to hold it’s customers money until they have taken their holidays. So how can you be sure if your money is protected? Look for these associations.
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ATOL. Run by the Civil .Aviation Authority the ATOL (Air Travel Organisers License) is the biggest bonding and licensing scheme. It is compulsory for all tour operators offering package holidays which include a flight to hold an ATOL. It also covers many flight only deals sold by travel agents who may hold an ATOL themselves or be acting for an ATOL holder.Any booking where you given an airline ticket instead of an ATOL receipt, or a booking direct with a scheduled airline will not be protected. Other airlines may help in cases of financial failures but buying insurance to protect you would be a wise precaution.
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ABTA. Any tour operator or travel agent may join ABTA but they must provide suitable security to protect their customers money. Many ABTA operators are bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
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AITO. The Association of Independent Tour Operators covers holidays which fall outside the ATOL scheme.
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PSA. The Passenger Shipping Association. Represents cruise and ferry operators and runs its own bonding scheme for package holidays where there is no flight. Note that the PSA logo does not necessarily mean the operator is bonded.
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TTA. The Travel Trust Association protects clients money through trust funds.
For added protection use a credit card when booking your holiday. Make sure the credit card slip is made out to the travel company and not the travel agent. Even if you only pay the deposit by credit card, provided the total cost is over £100, you have rights under the Consumer Credit Act and the credit card company should refund any losses.
According to European Law a travel company has to protect its customers from financial collapse if it offers them package holidays. That means that if a travel agent is booking tailor made holidays, perhaps just a flight or just accommodation, they do not by law have to protect your money.
