We'll fight them on the beaches

Jun 22 2008 Additional Reporting By Jane Barrie

Family Book 1 Hol At £2400 Firm Charge For 2 At £4500

CLAIRE AGNEW thought she had bagged a bargain when she booked a holiday to Majorca for her entire family for s2413.

But the next day the internet travel agent got in touch to say there was a problem...the flight was overbooked.

All they could offer instead was a break to Turkey for the party of seven, leaving two days earlier.

Claire agreed and jetted off on holiday - but returned to find travel firm On The Beach had charged her for both trips - a total of s4564.

One year later, she is still waiting for a refund for the holiday that never was.

On The Beach claim the Agnews knew they had booked two holidays all along and intended to go on both.

Claire, 30, said: "This is ludicrous.

We couldn't be in two places at the one time." Claire, of Barrhead, Renfrewshire, originally planned to travel to Palma with hermum Grace, 50; dad George, 56; sister Lisa, 25; brother Christopher, 18; his girlfriend Claire Murray, also 18, and Lisa's two-year-old daughter Eilidh.

The seven-night break last July cost s2413.87. But they agreed to accept the Manchester-based firm's alternative break to Bodrum, Turkey, costing s2141.58 and leaving Edinburgh instead of Glasgow.

Claire said: "We went for the Turkey holiday on the understanding that the s2413 for the Palma holiday had not been debited from my Visa card the previous day."

Claire gave her debit card details and the s2141 for the break to Turkey came out of her account.

But when they returned they discovered the s2413 for the Palma trip had also been put on the card.

Claire complained to On The Beach and her Visa provider Bank of Scotland but the travel firm insist the Agnews have to pay.

After-sales manager Ian Copley told me: "We are not in a position to offer any refund as we've been charged in full for both holidays.

"We did make representation to the airline and hotel provider on the booking the party did not use but neither offered a refund."

Bank of Scotland are still investigating and Claire is now considering a small claims action.

Who in their right mind would book two holidays at the same time to two different destinations?

I reckon it's time to pack in the excuses and pay up Mr Copley.