payment security
If you are concerned
about security when paying for any accommodation rental then ensure you
pay by credit card and that the sum payable is not less than £100 in any
one transaction (does not apply to switch, Amex or other charge cards).
At Paphos Lettings we do not surcharge you for deposit payments by
credit card. Paphos Lettings has also met with the strict requirements
by our bankers to accept credit card payments.
An article
in the Sunday Times (Sep 06) stated:
Holidaymakers can no longer claim compensation if they lose
money to a dishonest travel agent, the Association of British
Travel Agents said last week. It claims this issue arises only
very rarely, but the Office of Fair Trading has withdrawn
approval for ABTA's code of conduct as a result ABTA advises
consumers to discuss financial protection with their travel
company so that they are sure what they are and are not covered
for.
ABTA says on its website
"In the unlikely event that your travel agent has failed to make
your booking with a travel company you should contact your
credit card company if you paid by credit card. ABTA may not be
able to recover your money for you but we can assist in taking
the matter up with the relevant authorities."
BBC Watchdog says on its website:
LIABILITY OF CREDIT CARD COMPANIES.
One advantage of paying for goods and/or services with a credit
card, such as Access, Visa or Mastercard, is that if there is a
problem the credit card company may be liable to the same extent
as the supplier (section 75 Consumer Credit Act 1974).
Consequently, if you are entitled to compensation, you can
withhold an appropriate sum when you come to pay your next
credit card account.
Obviously, this is a far easier way of recovering compensation
than suing the supplier for it. Note, however, that certain
cards (e.g. Diner’s Club and American Express) are not covered
by section 75 as they fall outside the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
Section 75 Consumer Credit Act
For a credit card company to be liable, the cash price of the
goods or service must be over £100 and under £30,000 and there
must be a claim for breach of contract (or misrepresentation)
against the supplier. If these requirements are satisfied, you
then have a claim against the supplier and/or the credit card
company.
Practically speaking it is advisable to complain first to the
supplier as the supplier may deal satisfactorily with your claim
(eg. by replacing defective goods or refunding the price). It is
when a supplier is un-cooperative or insolvent that you should
think about claiming against the credit card company.
