Tour firms risk closure on hidden costs

TOUR operators who fail to make prices clear in their brochures could face immediate closure by Government watchdogs. The Office of Fair Trading is deciding whether to crack down on operators who conceal extra costs in their small print. It fears consumers are being hoodwinked and may threaten to use new powers introduced last year to shut down any company that fails to make its prices clear.

Bruce Treloar, head of package holidays for the Trading Standards Institute, said it had requested immediate action from the OFT. 'There are package holidays which are not making supplements clear,' he said. 'The OFT are considering taking action using their new orders. We at Trading Standards need to hear from people who have discovered their holiday costs a lot more than the brochure said, in order to create a firm case against them.'

The news comes as a report claims that the new 2003 travel brochures are so confusing customers cannot calculate the cost of going on holiday. Just months after package tour operators announced that they would offer consumers 'pick and mix' deals on their holidays, watchdogs fear the new price tags are misleading.

In many cases, costs no longer include in-flight meals, coach transfers to hotels or headphones during flights. This means customers will have to calculate these costs in addition to the usual supplements added on for hotel food, children and special rooms.

Holiday Which? magazine, part of the Consumers' Association, said the brochures were a mathematical minefield and is warning people to beware. Patricia Yates, editor of the magazine, said: 'Brochures have always been a minefield what with all the supplements you have to add to get the final cost. The new tiering system will add extra confusion and consumers need to be sure they price up the holiday with all the extras to get a true price - and shop around at travel agents.'

The report found that of the big four tour operators - Airtours, Thomas Cook, Thomson and First Choice - three had changed the make-up of their packages for next year. While Thomson charges £10 for in-flight meals on a return trip and the same amount to pre-book seats, Airtours Sundeal only permits passengers to carry 15kg of luggage before charging an excess baggage fee.

However, the Association of British Travel Agents denied the brochures would confuse customers, saying that those who had difficulty calculating prices should ask their travel agent for help. A spokesman said: 'People now buy holidays the way they buy cars so it is easier to build from the bottom up as many people only want the basics. The travel agent can do all the sums and deal with maths to see how they compare.'

Additionally, holidaymakers ought to remember that children do not count towards occupancy when booking self-catering.