Unmasked... the sneaky holiday cash snatchers
(And, no, we don’t mean him)
IT IS not just beachside bag snatchers that holidaymakers need to worry about – much bigger losses come from pickpocketing companies and scammers trying to overcharge you from the moment you book a trip abroad.
Banks, airlines and car hire firms have become increasingly creative when it comes to hidden fees and sneaky tricks designed to rip off travellers. The Mail on Sunday highlights the most common travel scams – and how to avoid them. THE number of British tourists hit by booking scams rose by 19 per cent last year, according to fraud prevention organisation Action Fraud. In 2016, there were 5,826 reported cases, with holidaymakers losing £7.2 million in total, an average of £1,236 per booking. The most common scams involve fraudsters setting up bogus accommodation websites, hacking into legitimate accounts and posting fake adverts online.
HOW TO FIGHT BACK
BE WARY of any deal that looks too tempting – such as a bargain price for a luxury property in a popular destination during the peak period – and thoroughly check out any travel agent you use. Dealing with a member of the Association of British Travel Agents gives you extra protection.
If using Airbnb or a similar rentals website, make payments only through the website’s payment system. Be wary of a host asking you to make a bank transfer to them to save on fees – this can be a sign of a fraudulent listing and you could lose your money and your holiday. WHETHER you need a new passport, a European Health Insurance Card or a visa to enter a country, there are copycat websites waiting to rip you off. These operations may not be illegal but they charge an inflated fee for something that is cheaper or free if obtained via the official channels.
For example, esta-registration. co.uk charges £32.40 for the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (Esta) required to enter the US. But an Esta costs just $14 (£10.80) from the official website.
HOW TO FIGHT BACK
USE only official websites. For a US Esta go to esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta. An Australian tourist visa can be obtained free at border.gov.au. Order a free EHIC card at nhs.uk (tap EHIC into the search box). LOW-COST airlines have long been criticised for hidden costs – and are constantly dreaming up ways to lighten travellers’ wallets. The latest ruses include separating families who do not fork out extra for seat reservations and levying an unfavourable exchange rate if your flight is priced in euros but you pay in pounds. Research by travel comparison website Kayak has found that some airlines even charge more for reserving a seat than the cost of the flight. For instance, its research found a flight available on Ryanair for £7.49 on which a passenger would need to pay £15 for a seat with extra legroom.
HOW TO FIGHT BACK
PAY for fares in the local currency if you are abroad, check in and print your boarding pass at home, only take carry-on luggage, be happy to sit anywhere on the plane – even apart from family – and take a packed lunch. JUST getting to the departure gate can cost you money at some airports. Airport parking is exorbitant if you pay on the day. Luggage trolleys cost £2 at Luton and Bristol airports, and £1 at Birmingham and Gatwick.
Luton Airport and several others also charge for the clear plastic bags needed to take liquids through security.
HOW TO FIGHT BACK
BOOK parking in advance to save up to 60 per cent. Take suitcases with wheels or easy-to-carry backpacks. Reuse plastic bags from past flights. Stock up on free ones. IF YOU fly with just hand luggage, any liquids you take with you will be limited to 100ml, so toiletries are now available in small volumes that will clear airport security – but they will cost you dear. For example, Boots sells a 95ml travel bottle of Listerine mouthwash for £1.25 – or £1.32 per 100ml. But a litre costs £6.50, or 65p per 100ml.
HOW TO FIGHT BACK
HOLD on to any empty bottles with a maximum 100ml volume and decant liquids from larger bottles at home before you travel. BOOKING a hire care typically comes with an excess of £1,000 or more, though this can be reduced to zero with an ‘excess waiver’ policy. But buying this cover at the rental desk can more than double your hire bill.
Another way unscrupulous car hire firms make money is to overcharge customers for minor damage. Europcar is currently being investigated by Trading Standards over claims that it systematically overbilled customers by up to £30 million over several years.
HOW TO FIGHT BACK
BUY a standalone excess waiver policy before you set off. For example, iCarhireinsurance.com sells excess policies covering Europe from £2.99 a day or £37.99 a year. It suggests this saves £120 on policies
sold at rental desks. The key to avoiding rip off repair charges is to ensure you are not billed in the first place. When you hire a car, spend a few minutes taking photos of it at the start and end of the hire period to provide a lasting record of its condition. This should stop potential disputes. AIRPORT kiosks offer the worst deals on currency exchange. Sainsbury’s Bank, for example, claims its exchange rates are an average of 11 per cent better than typical rates offered for euros at airports, and 10 per cent better than the average rates for US dollars.
HOW TO FIGHT BACK
ARRANGE currency in advance from a high street exchange and get it sent to your house or pick it up from your local exchange bureau. Find a good deal at travelmoneymax.com.
Pack plastic designed for use abroad. Halifax’s Clarity credit card, for example, is free to use overseas, as is the debit card from app-based Starling Bank.
Revolut is a prepaid card which you top up in advance. It uses the more competitive interbank exchange rate for most currencies. It makes no charge for spending abroad – though free cash withdrawals are capped at £200 a month.
Always opt to pay in the local currency. If you pay in sterling, the bank or shop will apply its own unfavourable exchange rate. This trap costs British holidaymakers about £500 million every year. THE Foreign and Commonwealth Office has seen an increase in the number of ill or injured travellers deliberately sent to private clinics by hotels and taxi drivers, in return for a referral payment. Many of these private clinics charge extortionate rates for simple treatments, with some withholding treatment until they are paid.
HOW TO FIGHT BACK
INSIST on being taken to a state healthcare facility where you can use your EHIC (in Europe) or might benefit from a reciprocal healthcare agreement (such as in Australia). Always buy comprehensive travel insurance – and check if cover includes treatment in private clinics or else you may end up footing the bill yourself.