The association has received reports from members of the public being cold-called and asked if they have a Thomas Cook booking.
ABTA said people have been asked for their bank details by the caller in the scam; customers have been urged to follow the official advice on how to make a claim.
It follows the news on Monday that Thomas Cook had ceased trading leaving thousands of Britons stranded abroad and affecting many more who had booked holidays with the operator.
The vast majority of holidaymakers’ arrangements are covered through different types of financial protection: the majority are flight packages covered by ATOL while a smaller volume are packages without flights and accommodation covered by ABTA.
Flights booked directly with Thomas Cook airlines are not covered by ATOL or ABTA so customers are advised to contact their card issuer.
“Along with many others in the industry, I am extremely saddened by the news about the demise of Thomas Cook. It is one of the UK’s most iconic travel brands and thousands of staff are facing losing their jobs.”
Mark Tanzer, ABTA CEO
Advice if you’re currently on a Thomas Cook package holiday or staying in accommodation booked with Thomas Cook:
Customers who are currently overseas on a flight package holiday will be financially protected under the ATOL scheme and should contact the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA will advise on return flight arrangements. The CAA’s call centre for Thomas Cook customers can be contacted as follows.
Phoning from the UK: 0300 303 2800
Phoning from overseas: +44 1753 330 330
More information at thomascook.caa.co.uk
Those who are currently overseas on a package holiday that does not include a flight are protected by ABTA and should continue their holiday as normal. Those who are currently overseas and staying in accommodation booked through Thomas Cook Tour Operations are financially protected by ABTA and should also continue their holiday as normal.
Customers who are currently overseas and have booked flights directly with the Thomas Cook Airline, or who have booked accommodation via Thomas Cook Retail with a third party (e.g. Expedia) are not financially protected. For flights, they should contact the CAA in the first instance, for accommodation contact the company named on the travel documents.
Customers who are yet to travel
If you’ve booked a package holiday through a Thomas Cook Group retail company, but that holiday is provided by another travel company, you should contact that travel company to check your arrangements will continue as planned.
Customers who have a booked a Thomas Cook package holiday or accommodation through a Thomas Cook Group retail company (Thomas Cook, TCCT Retail Ltd, Future Travel Ltd or Freedom Travel Group Ltd) these holidays will not go ahead, and you will be entitled to a refund. If you’ve booked a Thomas Cook package holiday through another travel company, you should contact that company to discuss options which may include re-booking or making alternative arrangements.
If you’ve booked flights from Thomas Cook Airlines Ltd, these are not covered by ATOL or ABTA protection, so you will need to pursue a claim through your card issuer.
For more information about ABTA’s advice and the latest updates visit www.abta.com
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