5 2


Deluge of fake holiday sickness claims feared


Lee Hayhurst lee.hayhurst@travelweekly.co.uk


Holidaymakers are being urged not to make false sickness compensation claims as the peak holiday season draws to a close.


Abta issued the warning as unscrupulous claims firms are predicted to bombard customers returning home telling them they are “entitled” to claim from a pot of money set aside by the government or their travel firm. Abta said holidaymakers could


face criminal prosecution if they make a false or exaggerated claim. Tui and Thomas Cook have


begun successfully challenging claims after Abta reported the number of fraudulent claims had increased by 500% since 2013. Mark Tanzer, Abta chief


executive, said: “Holidaymakers need to understand that making a fraudulent claim will have consequences. People should be very wary of any company that encourages them to make a


dishonest or exaggerated claim. Whatever a claims firm might say,


fake claims are fraud.” Travel Weekly launched its Fight


Fake Claims campaign in June, and Abta has lobbied government and publicised the issue under its Stop Sickness Scams initiative. This week, Abta highlighted the


experience of one holidaymaker, who faced a barrage of calls from claims management firms. Tracey Krieger from London was cold-called by firms asking if she had become unwell after returning from an all-inclusive holiday in Mexico. She said: “It really annoys me that these companies can get away with this. We will all end up losing out as this will cause holiday prices to rise.” Abta and Travel Weekly have demanded the government close a loophole that allows firms to profit from personal injury claims related to overseas incidents. In July, ministers said they would act to


limit the legal costs firms charge. › Back the campaign: tinyurl.com/fightfakeclaims


3


Travel Franchise homeworkers at a training ‘retreat’


STORIES HOT


Travel Franchise sets 1,000 target


Lucy Huxley lucy.huxley@travelweekly.co.uk


The Travel Franchise, the homeworking division of Not Just Travel, is to start targeting experienced travel agents to join its network for the first time.


The group has 430 agents, only


five of whom had any previous travel experience before joining. Co-owner Paul Harrison now


plans to recruit members from other homeworking agencies, as well as high street agents. He aims to create an


organisation of 1,000 franchisees over the next few years. “We have never recruited an


existing homeworker,” he said. “We have never tried. “But we have agents, new to


travel, turning over more than a million pounds a year, and that’s with no previous experience. Just think how well someone with travel experience could do here.” Harrison said: “We are specifically targeting homeworkers, but we are also looking for high street agents who want to have a go. “They will have never had to go out and get their business, as they


will be used to it coming in through the door, but we can teach them how to go and find it.” Harrison added: “We have been


voted homeworking company of the year for the past two years by Travel 2, so we will be encouraging experienced agents to come and work for the ‘homeworking company of the year’.” Meanwhile, The Travel Franchise


is encouraging members to “fish for clients with a net, rather than a rod” by joining its new Partners in Travel affinity scheme. Members are encouraged to


partner with local organisations, such as schools, churches and charities, to become their ‘trusted travel partner’ and bag new clients. The Travel Franchise will


provide each organisation with its own website, featuring their personal Travel Franchise agent, which will encourage members to “give us a try”. The organisation takes a cut of agents’ commission on every booking. Harrison said some franchisees


had already signed up not only local partners but also nationwide ones such as Sainsbury’s, the Royal


British Legion and LV Insurance. › Special Report, page 12


31 August 2017 travelweekly.co.uk 5


CLAIMS FIGHT


PICTURE: SHUTTERSTOCK

Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90