Posted on Monday, 26 June 2017

While the vast majority of Britons who visit Spain are of the honest variety, a few travellers are starting to give UK sun-seekers a bad name – especially in Spain.

Fake food poisoning claims – invariably made by UK holidaymakers – are threatening to cripple Spanish hoteliers, as they choose to pay out early rather than face a protracted court case.

But the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has launched a campaign to fight the spurious tummy bug claims. Package holiday companies such as Thomas Cook, TUI, Jet2holidays, Monarch and Saga are calling on the government to act against the scams, which are costing the Spanish hotel sector more than £50m annually.

Blacklisted Brits

Holiday firms Thomson, First Choice and Jet2holidays have already stated that Britons found guilty of making a fake claim will be blacklisted.

The fact that the claims have been made almost exclusively by UK holidaymakers was described as 'totally embarrassing' by Nick Longman, the director of holiday giant Tui.

Longman said: “A hotel will have customers from four or five markets of Tui and it will only be the British Tui customers who are complaining.”

The end of low-cost package holidays?

Meanwhile, Thomas Cook's UK managing director, Chris Mottershead, said the fake tummy upset scams could mean the end of low-cost package holidays for British sun seekers.

Mottershead said: “It's a very serious situation because it has the effect of stopping all-inclusive holidays for the UK market.

“It has the potential of putting hoteliers out of business. They will stop British customers coming into their hotels.”

Thanks to a legal loophole, claim firms are allowed to charge high fees for taking on tummy upset claims.

11 tour operators are calling on Justice Secretary David Lidington to cap these fees and thereby discourage fake gastroenteritis claims.

Holidaymakers could also face a jail term if they are caught making a spurious claim.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA chief executive, said: “Holidaymakers need to know that whatever a claims firm might say, fake claims are fraud.

“Holidaymakers pursuing fake or exaggerated claims risk ending up in jail either in the UK or abroad.”

On its website, the Foreign Office also reminded UK holidaymakers heading to Spain that they could face legal action if they make a false gastroenteritis claim.

“You should only consider pursuing a complaint or claim if you have genuinely suffered from injury or illness. If you make a false or fraudulent claim, you may face legal proceedings in the UK or Spain.”

- FCO website

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