Watchdog Wednesday: Booking a holiday? Don’t get your fingers burnt…

2 December 2016

Gone are the days of flicking through a guide book, walking into a travel agent and booking direct with an airline. Now, we do it all - and it’s all done online: where we go, when we go and who we travel with.

But you’ve got to keep your wits about you. Callum Verney, 19, from Exeter was off on his hols to Malaga, Spain, with three of his mates. He tells us, "It was my first time flying and first time on holiday without my parents. It was a bit nerve-wracking but really exciting." With the holiday booked and travel insurance sorted, Callum’s mum asked him to get an EHIC, just in case of an emergency.

Callum Callum Verney

What’s an EHIC?

An EHIC is an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and it entitles you to access free or discounted medical care in all EU countries, and a few more. It means you will get the same treatment that local citizens are entitled to, something that's particularly useful in an emergency.

Callum’s granddad had just renewed his EHIC so sent him the link to help him out. Callum went online, filled out the form, paid £35, job done. He was all set to jet off and soak up some sun. But, when he got home and told his mum what he’d done, he realised he’d been ripped off.

His mum, Sophie Allen, explains, "I was surprised that Cal had paid for his EHIC. I was sure they were free on the NHS website, but then thought perhaps a fee had been introduced." They went straight online to check and sure enough, on the NHS website there is no charge.

Callum went back to the website he used, scrolled down and read the small print. Callum paid £35 for something he could have got for free.

The small print on website www.ukehic.com www.ukehic.com

"It’s really annoying and very irritating" Callum tells us. "My granddad got done over as well. The website looks so legit. But I didn’t know any better".

Sophie adds ‘He’s of the generation where everything has to be paid for, so nothing seemed out of the ordinary to him. These copycat websites shouldn’t be allowed to operate and should be shut down. They’re preying on the vulnerable."

He complained to UkEhic but didn’t get any money back. It’s not just EHIC copycat websites that people are falling foul to. There are others out there. Dave Rogers from Haywards Heath, West Sussex, went online to buy an ESTA visa to allow him entry into the United States. He paid £32.40 for his visa when he could have paid around a tenner had he gone through the official website. He tells us "These websites are pretty awful. They’re trying it on and ripping people off. They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it". Dave complained to the company he used and managed to get some money back.

Person planning a holiday iStock

We spoke to travel expert, Simon Calder. He said, "These copycat websites are scurrilous, expensive and upsetting. They’re scandalous. It’s profoundly unfortunate that the Government hasn’t done more to stamp them out. These websites purport to add a service, but in reality no service is added at all. They profit from people's naivety."

Simon warns that the latest copycat websites offer Canadian ETA visas for around £40. But if you go to the official Government website it costs around £4 ($7). He advises you type in FCO and the country you want to visit into your search engine. This will take you to the relevant page on the official Government website, then click on ‘entry requirements’ and you can see the official websites where you can obtain your visas.

Go to the official government website of a country to get true information about entry requirements Gov.uk

What else should I look out for?

Flight comparison websites can be problematic. You find your fare, click on it and you’re taken to an online travel agency, usually based abroad. Often the original fare is not available anymore and you end up paying more than you originally set out to. But that’s not the only issue.

Simon says, "The problem with booking through a company based abroad is that if something goes wrong it can be very very difficult to sort it out or get any money back."

However, Simon goes on to tell us that you can use comparison websites to your advantage. If you find yourself a good deal on a hotel, give the hotel a call and tell them what you’ve been offered. Simon says "It’s highly likely they’ll match it and may even reward you with a free drink or free breakfast when you get there."

Have you been caught out by booking a holiday online? If you think Watchdog should investigate, email us at Watchdog@bbc.co.uk

This article was first published on Wednesday 10 August 2016