Advice please.

[celtic]

When you picked Gambia, didn't you research it first? Seems very un red dog like!

[tikay]

I would hazard a guess that Thos Cook were pressuring Tom as they would have had many cancellations, & are faced with a half empty flight & a bunch of empty (pre-booked in bulk) Hotel rooms.

[nirvana]

I would hazard a guess that Thos Cook were pressuring Tom as they would have had many cancellations, & are faced with a half empty flight & a bunch of empty (pre-booked in bulk) Hotel rooms.

Are you implying they saw him coming ?

[celtic]

I would hazard a guess that Thos Cook were pressuring Tom as they would have had many cancellations, & are faced with a half empty flight & a bunch of empty (pre-booked in bulk) Hotel rooms.

Possibly, not sure tom is the type to be pressured into something though. What I meant was did tom go in and say I want to go The Gambia, is it safe as I haven't researched, or did tom go on and say I want to go on holiday somewhere, where can you recommend that's safe. And they came up with The Gambia.

[PokerBroker]

Fire an email to  the chef exec.  I have done this on two occassions when I have felt badly let down by Thomas Cook.  On each occasion I have got back more than the cost of the holiday. 

chris.mottershead@thomascook.com

[doubleup]

Fire an email to  the chef exec.  I have done this on two occassions when I have felt badly let down by Thomas Cook.  On each occasion I have got back more than the cost of the holiday. 

chris.mottershead@thomascook.com

A bit premature imo. Tom doesn't even appear to have made a complaint, much less reached an impasse.

[tikay]

I would hazard a guess that Thos Cook were pressuring Tom as they would have had many cancellations, & are faced with a half empty flight & a bunch of empty (pre-booked in bulk) Hotel rooms.

Are you implying they saw him coming ?

Well I did not want to use those exact words......

[hhyftrftdr]

I would hazard a guess that Thos Cook were pressuring Tom as they would have had many cancellations, & are faced with a half empty flight & a bunch of empty (pre-booked in bulk) Hotel rooms.

Does this excuse dubious sales tactics? Desperate times desperate measures and all that but belling potential customers to flog holidays to possibly dangerous countries doesn't seem like good customer service or indeed good business practice.

[PokerBroker]

Fire an email to  the chef exec.  I have done this on two occassions when I have felt badly let down by Thomas Cook.  On each occasion I have got back more than the cost of the holiday. 

chris.mottershead@thomascook.com

A bit premature imo. Tom doesn't even appear to have made a complaint, much less reached an impasse.

And there is no point in pissing around by going to a call centre in which the staff don't give a f**k.  Straight to the  top. 

[tikay]

I would hazard a guess that Thos Cook were pressuring Tom as they would have had many cancellations, & are faced with a half empty flight & a bunch of empty (pre-booked in bulk) Hotel rooms.

Possibly, not sure tom is the type to be pressured into something though. What I meant was did tom go in and say I want to go The Gambia, is it safe as I haven't researched, or did tom go on and say I want to go on holiday somewhere, where can you recommend that's safe. And they came up with The Gambia.

Absolutely not, he's stubborn & obdurate & argues for argue's sake. But Thos Cook would not know that until they try, would they?

[tikay]

I would hazard a guess that Thos Cook were pressuring Tom as they would have had many cancellations, & are faced with a half empty flight & a bunch of empty (pre-booked in bulk) Hotel rooms.

Does this excuse dubious sales tactics? Desperate times desperate measures and all that but belling potential customers to flog holidays to possibly dangerous countries doesn't seem like good customer service or indeed good business practice.

Not at all. I was simple theorising as to why they were pressurising him. I was not defending Mr Cook & Co.

They have targets to meet, & they are gonna miss The Gambia targets. It's Business. Missed targets, step up the pressure.  

[tikay]

PS - Tom purchased a pup.

[marcro]

If you do ask them to change the holiday make sure you tell them you like dolphins.

[nirvana]

PS - Tom purchased a pup.

I read the government thing and it didn't look too bad unless the locals think Tom's moustachioed look is some kinda Gay Biker schtick. Hopefully Mrs Red's presence will help alleviate any concerns they might have.

[RED-DOG]

I would hazard a guess that Thos Cook were pressuring Tom as they would have had many cancellations, & are faced with a half empty flight & a bunch of empty (pre-booked in bulk) Hotel rooms.

Possibly, not sure tom is the type to be pressured into something though. What I meant was did tom go in and say I want to go The Gambia, is it safe as I haven't researched, or did tom go on and say I want to go on holiday somewhere, where can you recommend that's safe. And they came up with The Gambia.

Basically we have a small window in Jan when it would be convenient for us to have a fortnight away. We were initially going to Mexico but that fell through so we popped into T Cook and asked what they had available at short notice. They suggested The Gambia. (We were served by the manageress btw)

Went in today and it was packed. We spoke to a junior and he relayed our concerned to someone else by telephone.

After the call he told us that they were unaware of any problems when we booked but they have received a notice from head office this morning making them aware of the issues but also stating that unless the foreign office advises against travel their is nothing they can do for us.

I said I wasn't happy so they arranged for a manager to ring me on Monday.

I'm not hopeful.