Travellers 'hit by rip-off charges' (From This Is Local London)

Travellers 'hit by rip-off charges'

12:08am Thursday 23rd February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2011

Tourists face "rip-off charges" being imposed by some travel organisations, according to Which? Travel magazine.

Ultra-expensive telephone contact numbers, "hidden" extras and "free" offers that include payments were just some of the things inflicted on travellers, it added.

Some tour operators added on a £2 charity donation to the price of a holiday without giving consumers a say in the matter, the magazine said.

Which? Travel looked at the methods of 188 companies, including 51 travel firms and 32 airlines as well as hotel chains and hire companie.

It found that 28% of the organisations were using expensive 0871 or 090 calling codes; 43% were adding surcharges or unavoidable booking fees to card payments; 20% were using automatic "opt-ins" where consumers had to untick a box to avoid extra payments for things they may not have wanted; and some offered "free" car hire which was accompanied by an insurance package costing as much as £126.

Which? Travel acting assistant editor Chris Gray said: "Consumers should always have a clear choice when it comes to adding an extra item to their purchase."

In a separate report Which? Travel said the London Olympics had sent "hotel prices soaring".