Ahead of top-level talks between the Association of British Travel Agents and Cehat, the Spanish hoteliers confederation, in Madrid on 22 May to discuss the mounting problem of British holidaymakers making fraudulent compensation claims, British tour operator Jet2 announced yesterday that it is going to be taking its own action.
In fact, the campaign against the deceitful touts and companies who attempt to coax holidaymakers into making false sickness claims is ramping up at a pace, thanks to two major developments.
Firstly, the Foreign Office is putting this unscrupulous claims industry under pressure after updating its travel advice to highlight the issue, and Jet2holidays is now engaging private detectives to combat the problem. These private detectives will be out in key resorts like Magalluf and other main resorts across Spain, looking out for claims management companies attempting to lure holidaymakers into making false claims.
They will be acting on customer tip-offs too. These private detectives have been tasked to report such activity to Jet2 and the local police, who are also taking this issue very seriously.
Jet2 say that the touts and companies are peddling fraud and are brazenly handing out leaflets telling British holidaymakers that they can cover the cost of their trip by just filling out a form, irrespective of whether they have been ill or not. The detectives who have been recruited have one purpose and one purpose only - to prevent this dishonest behaviour from ruining the holidays of our customers.
What holidaymakers might not realise is that this is fraud and if caught they personally could bear the brunt of the law - not the claims firms.
In addition to this, Jet2 was pleased to report yesterday that the Foreign Office has updated its official travel advice to Spain, and it pulls no punches when it comes to warning people about the dangers of handing over your personal information to touts abroad.
It highlights "reports of an increase in holidaymakers being encouraged to submit a claim for personal injury if they have experienced gastric illness during their stay" and then advises "if you make a false or fraudulent claim, you may face legal proceedings in the UK or Spain".
Jet2 add: "We are confident that these steps will do two things - warn touts to leave our customers alone and let them enjoy their holiday in peace, while also encourage people to report suspicious behaviour. The net really is tightening on this dishonest and deceitful practice, and we will not relent until these touts stop trying to take advantage of British holidaymakers."
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