Travel Agents Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Moynihan
Main Page: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)Department Debates - View all Lord Moynihan's debates with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
(4 years ago)
Lords ChamberI call the noble Baroness, Lady Wheatcroft. No? We will move on. I call the noble Lord, Lord Moynihan.
My Lords, I declare an interest as someone whose holiday was understandably cancelled due to Covid. Does my noble friend the Minister agree that it is unacceptable that some travel agents should still be holding back on refunding customers and using customer payments as interest-free loans to their business without customer consent? Should not the ending of such practices be a condition precedent of eligibility for government support schemes, as well as future certification as fit and proper travel agents?
Companies have a legal obligation to ensure that they treat their customers fairly and that they pay refunds when they are due. Where disagreements exist we encourage customers and businesses to seek to find a solution that is mutually acceptable to both.