First Choice Complaints
Consumer Advice
Our Holiday Claims Solicitors receive complaints about First Choice Holidays regularly from upset holidaymakers returning from disastrous holidays abroad wanting advice about their legal rights and how to complain and get compensation.
You and the Law
Providing that your First Choice holiday was purchased as a package you will have protection if things go wrong.
Consumers travelling abroad on package holidays have extensive protection through the Package Travel Regulations 1992 which make First Choice Holidays responsible for all the services that make up the holiday.
Therefore, if when you booked your holiday it was misrepresented or, for example, your hotel accommodation was shoddy, the Regulations provide you with a legal route to compensation.
Time Limits for First Choice Complaints
If your holiday was booked as a package through First Choice Holidays and your complaints concern the quality of your holiday, a breach of contract or misrepresentation you have 6 years to start court proceedings.
If your complaint concerns an accident or illness then you have 3 years to start court proceedings or in the case of children, 3 years from the age of 18.
How to deal with First Choice Complaints
Important Notice: If your complaint concerns you or a family member falling ill or sick on holiday because of food poisoning or you have suffered and accident abroad and wish to complain to First Choice Holidays get some free advice from Simpson Millar before you contact First Choice.
If you have had a holiday from hell and wish to claim compensation then you must follow First Choice’s complaints procedure which you can find in the booking conditions you will have received when making your holiday arrangements.
You should write to First Choice setting out clearly and succinctly your complaints.
- Keep a copy of your complaint letter and all the correspondence you receive and send to First Choice.
- List your complaints in bullet point form so that they are crystal clear.
- When writing your letter do not be aggressive as a judge may read your letter if your case ends up at a court hearing and may not be impressed if the tone is rude.
- The best evidence is that which cannot be denied. If you have photographs or DVD recordings and details of other holidaymakers with similar complaints this will be compelling and supportive evidence.
- Explain how the problems you encountered during the holiday affected you and your family.
- Be realistic about the compensation you want. Don’t be greedy as again a judge may find this unfavourable and hold it against you.
- If you incurred expenses because of the problems you are complaining about try to support your claim with copies of receipts.
- First Choice Holidays are a member of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and must follow ABTA’s Code of Conduct.
- ABTA’s Code requires that a complaint is acknowledged within 14 days and a full response is given within 28 days.
- If you do not receive an acknowledgment to your complaint or full response within the time stipulated by ABTA you should contact ABTA and complain.
- If when you receive a response from First Choice you remain dissatisfied you may consider pursuing your claim further through ABTA’s arbitration scheme or the Small Claims Court.
Useful Contacts
To find out more about ABTA’s Arbitration Scheme click this link
To find out about how you can a claim in the Small Claims Court click this link
Personal Injury Claims
If your First Choice Holidays complaint involves an accident or an illness you sustained abroad during your package holiday you should take legal advice before writing to First Choice.
By contacting us you can avoid the situation of not knowing how much your holiday accident or illness claim might actually be worth in terms of compensation. Tour operators will try to settle claims for as little as they can get away with.
You should be aware that if you accept an offer of compensation from First Choice holidays your claim will end and you will not be able to claim any more compensation if your accident or injury worsens or you discover that the sum you accepted was inadequate.
You can get free advice from a professional Holiday Accident and Illness Solicitor at Simpson Millar about your claim if you have been the victim of an accident abroad or an illness during a foreign package holiday with First Choice.
For free expert advice call 0808 145 1353 and get a £250 bonus, if we agree to take on your holiday accident claim, by quoting 'Claim250' at the outset of your enquiry. (Terms & Conditions apply).
