thomascook.com refuses Irish credit cards.

rimshott

Just spent the last 3 nights at home with my fiancee planning our honeymoon.
We decided to book through thomascook.com because of great deals we can get.
After spending about 12 hours online comparing prices and researching resorts we decided to go to the dominician rep for 14 nights all inclusive.
Cost about 500 GBP P.P
We were connecting to london ourselves with ryanair. for E55 p.p.

So today i went ahead and booked and confirmed the ryanair flights 1st.
Costing me E110.
Then i proceeded to book with thomascook.com. On the last page after entering all my details it asked me for an area code. I just filled in N/A but it wouldn't let me go any further. Then after reading the small print it says "All credit cards must be registered in the UK with a UK address" :eek:

I rang thomascook.com immediatly and asked for online booking assistance.
The man confirmed that due to fraud bookings over the years thomascook will only accept payments by UK registered credit cards with a UK address. :eek:

He suggested to try to ring an Irish agent that deals with thomascook Suntravel. I rang them and they said i could book with them but they cannot match prices with thomascook.com. :eek: Because they are only working as an agent.
I gave her my dates and hotel name but she came back 200 GBP more expensive pp. So now i'm left with a 400 GBP price hike. Or find somebody/friend that lives in the UK thats willing to loan me their credit card.

Just wondering has this ever happened to anyone else and how they over came the situation?
Can't believe i booked the ryanair flights 1st :mad:

Not looking forward explaining this to the fiancee tonight.
So this is just a heads up for anyone else thinking you can get a better deal through thomascook.com.
I've learned my lesson.

Penny wise and a pound foolish.

Savman

Dunno what you want to hear tbh. You're choices are quite simple:
1. Beg/steal/borrow a card from a UK friend or family member
2. Make alternative plans or book elsewhere.

Right now you're only down the Ryanair flight so not the worst case scenario in fairness.

Baraboo

Ask Thomascook.com agent if they will accept any other form of payment other than Credit Card. Maybe a credit transfer.

Gran Hermano

I'd try another couple of options before giving up:
- Call back the agent in Thomascook.com and ask if you can pay
for the online booking by visiting the Thomas Cook store on Grafton St.

- Ask Thomas Cook Grafton St if they can book you the holiday directly.

Thomas Cook Ltd
118 Grafton st 2

(01)6771721

keefg

A lot of UK agents have a policy where you can only use a credit card issued in the same country as the departure flight (I am guessing your TC flight is out of Heathrow or somewhere) - Virgin Atlantic do the same.

But I can't see why they cant accept you card over the phone, Virgin does.

I am not even sure if they will accept a card in another persons name, some agents insist that the card has to be in the name of one of the passengers.

rimshott

keefg wrote: »

But I can't see why they cant accept you card over the phone, Virgin does.

I am not even sure if they will accept a card in another persons name, some agents insist that the card has to be in the name of one of the passengers.

No. They won't even accept it over the phone.

There goes my idea of borrowing an english cc. :mad:

ScouseMouse

I know for certain this is wrong. I own a shop and about three weeks ago, one of my staff, a polish girl, asked me to help her book a holiday as she had no credit card. I booked her dub to gatwick with ryanair, and Gatwick to Cancun with Thomas Cook. I had the problem about the uk credit card and we rang them. The guy went away and checked and DID TAKE THE BOOKING. The confirmation came to my house here in dublin about two weeks ago. I KNOW THIS FOR CERTAIN AS I DID IT !!!

They took my credit card, which is in my name, for two other people with different names. Feel free to pm me. I could get the booking ref for you to argue with them if you wish. I passed it on to my staff member as it is hers but you could use it to beat them. PM me if you wish.

Jeff

jjbrien

try and call the thomas cook office in tabot st they should be able to do it for you

rimshott

superscouse wrote: »

I know for certain this is wrong. I own a shop and about three weeks ago, one of my staff, a polish girl, asked me to help her book a holiday as she had no credit card. I booked her dub to gatwick with ryanair, and Gatwick to Cancun with Thomas Cook. I had the problem about the uk credit card and we rang them. The guy went away and checked and DID TAKE THE BOOKING. The confirmation came to my house here in dublin about two weeks ago. I KNOW THIS FOR CERTAIN AS I DID IT !!!

They took my credit card, which is in my name, for two other people with different names. Feel free to pm me. I could get the booking ref for you to argue with them if you wish. I passed it on to my staff member as it is hers but you could use it to beat them. PM me if you wish.

Jeff

Just off the phone with thomascook.com and they refuse to accept my credit card - AGAIN!
So your absolutely wrong! They started this policy over six months ago.

I also rang thomascook (at the bottom of grafton st) and they are way off on their prices. Add 30% to the cost the english can get it for. Its ridiculous.
I can't understand how one nationality is charged one price and another is charged a more expensive price - for the exact same service. :mad: :mad:
He told me that they don't even have an irish website.

I wonder should i give Joe Duffy a call - or maybe the competition authority.

ScouseMouse

Ok, as you say, I am wrong. Definately wrong. Absolutely wrong.

I apologise for that. I sent you a PM with my personal mobile number and I offered to get you the booking reference to beat them with.

You are right and I am wrong.

P.S.

This is a cut and paste from the online statement of my IRISH MBNA credit card

23/01/2008 25/01/2008 4722 THOMAS COOK ONLINE . €161.59

This was the deposit, with the balance due on the 19th February.

23/01/2008 25/01/2008 3043 AER LINGUS.C***WVN NIE DUBLIN €148.00
This is the connecting flight to Gatwick. It is Aer Lingus not Ryanair.


Dont bother ringing or PMing me.

Thank You

P. Breathnach

I don't know about the Competition Authority, as their brief is to encourage competition in Ireland. I don't think a British-based company would care much about Joe Duffy.

There may be a breach of EU market rules here. Why not look at that aspect? The EU office in Dublin might be able to suggest a path for you to take.

Ponster

superscouse wrote: »

Dont bother ringing or PMing me.

Thank You

Time to take your chill pill methinks. The guy is trying to organise his honeymoon. It seems that Thomas Cook aren't accepting him card no matter what experiences you had with them to the contrary.



Isn't this the same thing as Expedia though who don't accept Irish CCs ?

ScouseMouse

Chill pill taken. I remember my mrs arranging our wedding and the stresses of it. My contact invitation is now available again. Check your PMs If it helps, i will get a copy of the booking details and let you have it. Then at least you have some leverage to fight with them.

You have my number.

ScouseMouse

Just a thought - no offence intended - You say Thomas Cook dublin came up 30% higher than the UK get it for. You DID factor in the Sterling didnt you? Thats about 30% !

DublinWriter

The reason for this maybe that as a vendor, your exposure goes out the window if you take a payment from a CC not in your native country.

For example, I used to buy lots of bits and pieces from American companies via the web in the late 90's. After the year 2000 nearly all American on-line shops refused to deal with non-American customers because they would be liable if they took payments from fraudulant/stolen non-American CC's.

I really don't think it's one of those rip-of-Ireland issues, but more to do with the way the whole Credit Card system operates on a global basis these days.

keefg

rimshott wrote: »

There goes my idea of borrowing an english cc. :mad:

Give a go. I can only go with my own experiences with some airlines (especially flying into the US) but if you pay Tom Cook in full with a friends credit card they may let you book the holiday.

Or........if you really are saving that much on the holiday maybe you can get a cheap (20/30 euro) flight with EI or BD and go to a Tom Cook shop in the UK and pay in cash. You can be there and back in a day, just an idea.

John R

keefg wrote: »

Give a go. I can only go with my own experiences with some airlines (especially flying into the US) but if you pay Tom Cook in full with a friends credit card they may let you book the holiday.

Or........if you really are saving that much on the holiday maybe you can get a cheap (20/30 euro) flight with EI or BD and go to a Tom Cook shop in the UK and pay in cash. You can be there and back in a day, just an idea.

There are Thomas Cook stores in Northern Ireland closest would be Newry, give them a ring and see if they will match the website prices, if so head up there and book in person.


Thomas Cook Newry
Unit 26 The Quays
Newry
T35 8QS
028 30834902
Fax028 30834902

rimshott

superscouse wrote: »

Just a thought - no offence intended - You say Thomas Cook dublin came up 30% higher than the UK get it for. You DID factor in the Sterling didnt you? Thats about 30% !

Yes. I actually discussed prices in sterling with the Dublin office?
I told him i was online looking at thomascook.com prices yet he still couldn't match the prices.

keefg wrote: »

Or........if you really are saving that much on the holiday maybe you can get a cheap (20/30 euro) flight with EI or BD and go to a Tom Cook shop in the UK and pay in cash. You can be there and back in a day, just an idea.

No can do. Seemingly all thomascook shops work as agents and don't have online access to thomascook.com :eek:
How messed up is that.
I offerred to drive to newry walk into a thomascook shop, tell them the offer i can get online and try to pay for the whole holiday in cash there and then.
But i was told they cannot match the online price. Thats even including the 15 GBP telephone service charge if you book over the phone.
They are about 30% more expensive.

rimshott

superscouse wrote: »

Ok, as you say, I am wrong. Definately wrong. Absolutely wrong.

I apologise for that. I sent you a PM with my personal mobile number and I offered to get you the booking reference to beat them with.

You are right and I am wrong.

P.S.

This is a cut and paste from the online statement of my IRISH MBNA credit card

23/01/2008 25/01/2008 4722 THOMAS COOK ONLINE . €161.59

This was the deposit, with the balance due on the 19th February.

23/01/2008 25/01/2008 3043 AER LINGUS.C***WVN NIE DUBLIN €148.00
This is the connecting flight to Gatwick. It is Aer Lingus not Ryanair.


Dont bother ringing or PMing me.

Thank You

Listen thanks for your PM. I do believe you honestly. But they were having none of it today on the phone. They didn't want to know.
Its like "if your not from the UK, we don'want to know"......

I don't know how you managed to get away with the booking, but honestly try ringing T.C and telling them you are an Irish Citizen with an Irish CC and wish to book a holiday.
They'll tell you "sorry you have to ring an Irish TC agent which is 30% dearer than the T.C online price".
Its recking my head - and to top it all i don't know anybody who has an English CC.

BuffyBot

There may be a breach of EU market rules here

None whatsoever. Merchant is entitled to limit acceptance of cards, especially for card not present transactions - sometimes they have to do due to fraud.

superscouse: Please act in a more reasonable manner in future on this forum

OP: Online prices are generally that. You can't always expect them to match them offline.

P. Breathnach

The point I had in mind (which OP seems not to be interested in) is not the acceptance of cards, but the acceptance of payment by other means such as bank draft.

Benedict XVI

Is it possible that we can blame Ryaniar for theis whole mess.

They get blamed for lots of things around there

rimshott

Just an update for anyone who read this thread.

I rang thomascook in Newry and explained my situation to them.
I gave the girl the flight and hotel details and she searched for the best price she could get. She came back 300 GBP more expensive - for the exact same holiday - same flight, hotel etc.
So she kindly said that if i can find the holiday cheaper anywhere else she can do "A PRICE MATCH".
So i told her "I can get it cheaper with themselves at thomascook.com."
She said if I print off the quatation and fax it to her she could try and do a price match.
So I did, and she matched the price for me.
She would also accept my Irish credit card (but i declined 2.5% extra surcharge by paying by cc - 25 GBP) .
I called up last night to the shop and paid in cash.
(Stirling rate of 0.746 not bad with BOI) they accepted Euros also.

So this story has a happy ending.
A big thank you to the beautiful Aisling in Newry for all her help.

To this day thomascook.com still refuse to accept Irish credit cards but their shops (agents) in Northen Ireland will - after price matching holidays with themselves.

Thomascook in Dublin refused to price match anything at all - they were about 300 GBP more expensive for the exact same holiday as was avalible online.
Its seems all very confusing.

Bon Voyage!

keefg

Result indeed. Good work fella.

P. Breathnach

Great stuff! Thanks for the feedback.

I hope all goes well for the rest of the project. There might be a metaphor of some sort there for married life (no, I don't mean running off with Aisling!).

jonny68

Just read this thread and im glad things have worked out, but it's not good business practice on behalf of Thomas Cook and any other UK travel company if they refuse to accept credit cards that are not UK ones, indeed i would take this one step further, get the name of a senior manager and write a courteous but firm e-mail/letter explaining the whole situation and also expressing that this isn't good business practice.

One UK travel agent i can definitely recommend as i myself have used them twice without any problems at all are (for long haul) http://www.southalltravel.co.uk/

and of course IMO the best travel website of them all is...

http://www.travelsupermarket.com/

have a great honeymoon.;)

Pythia

Sorry to bump an old thread, but this is somewhat relevant. Does anyone know if First Choice UK will accept Irish credit cards? It's prompting me for a UK address so I'm not hopeful. Again, it's much cheaper to book with them than with Falcon here, even including the flight to Gatwick.

epopnomis

Pythia wrote: »

Sorry to bump an old thread, but this is somewhat relevant. Does anyone know if First Choice UK will accept Irish credit cards? It's prompting me for a UK address so I'm not hopeful. Again, it's much cheaper to book with them than with Falcon here, even including the flight to Gatwick.

I'm also really keen on this information, I'm tempted to book with first choice and have an Irish credit card, Falcon are pretty expensive.....

Pythia

Alright, I took the plunge and booked. It requires a valid postcode. I used a random one from Manchester while typing in my address with 'Republic of Ireland' in it. They accepted my card and I have got a confirmation email.

I got it (Pioneer Beach Hotel, Paphos, Cyprus, end of August) for GBP598 including free upgrade to half board. The same hotel costs EUR1032 for half board with Falcon (going in September as it's booked up in August already thru them). Flights to Gatwick are an extra 70 each, so I'm still doing pretty well. Now, the question is, when to pay the balance, will the sterling rate get better or worse?

Tiesto

Nightmare. Im planning on booking a trip with Thomson shortly and it seems to be the same situation.
Did anyone else try getting around it by using the fake post code??


What about using Entropay though? (virtual visa card)
Its a UK registered company so I wonder would it count as a UK registered Visa card..

Pythia

Well Thompson are the same company as First Choice so I imagine it would work.

sinead6230

Tiesto wrote: »

Nightmare. Im planning on booking a trip with Thomson shortly and it seems to be the same situation.
Did anyone else try getting around it by using the fake post code??


What about using Entropay though? (virtual visa card)
Its a UK registered company so I wonder would it count as a UK registered Visa card..

Hi been reading this thread and im lookin to book aholiday to turkey for a group of 5 this september, spent hours finding the right deal etc and im just wondering.............is it possible to book if u use a friends postcode /address in uk and THEN pay with irish cc?


Sinéad

schemingbohemia

i wouldn't have thought so, would the first thing they do be a check to see that the credit card is registered to that address?

sinead6230

schemingbohemia wrote: »

i wouldn't have thought so, would the first thing they do be a check to see that the credit card is registered to that address?

True, I wonder did anyone manage to find out about bank transfer? I mean its a bit ridickulous isnt it, dont they want business? theres a recession on surely they want the money no? i cant understand how this agent in Dublin wont match the price, id tell em stick it up there behind they either want my business or not and if not.... take it else where. Plenty other competition out there. I work in an oil company and i can assure u when ppl come on saying they can get it for a certain price elsewhere the manager nearly always 99% of the time matches it cus he wants the business and the the possibility of the person coming back next time.

skibum

While looking for deals for a 2 week trip to france I found that the prices on www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk were about €500 - 600 cheaper than any where else. I remembered reading this thread a while ago so I rang thomson directly, explained the situtation, they had no problems taking an Irish credit card for payment. I paid the deposit there and then.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to pay the balance, rang them again, and chanced my arm asking if they would give discount for early payment in full
Much to my surprise she said that they wouldn't charge me the usual 2.5% credit card transaction fee

The whole booking / payment process with them was first class, they couldn't have been more helpful or accomodating. She also said that they were getting a lot of bookings from Ireland so these guys don't discriminate if you don't have an UK credit card.

sinead6230

skibum wrote: »

While looking for deals for a 2 week trip to france I found that the prices on www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk were about €500 - 600 cheaper than any where else. I remembered reading this thread a while ago so I rang thomson directly, explained the situtation, they had no problems taking an Irish credit card for payment. I paid the deposit there and then.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to pay the balance, rang them again, and chanced my arm asking if they would give discount for early payment in full
Much to my surprise she said that they wouldn't charge me the usual 2.5% credit card transaction fee

The whole booking / payment process with them was first class, they couldn't have been more helpful or accomodating. She also said that they were getting a lot of bookings from Ireland so these guys don't discriminate if you don't have an UK credit card.

bugger if i had known this like half hour ago before i rang. They told me point blank they was no way they accepted irish credit cards or bank transfers they only deal with debit or cc's now and that they are not allowed to accept irish cc's as stated in there terms & conditions. I argued that if my friend/boyfrined had an english credit card could he pay, she said yes BUT tickets would be sent to the uk address,,,,,not to much of a bother could just get uk friend to post tickets onto me but man.....just goes to show depends on who u speak to on the phone to doesnt it.

Dicksboro_man

Guys, anyone know if Thomas cook can be paid through Bank transfer? bloody stupid the way they refuse irish cards!

Also thinking of driving up to belfast and booking a holiday in one of the offices there. Any thoughts?

fraxineto

Just tried to book a holiday with Thomson out of Gatwick and met the postcode blocker online, rang them to try that way and was asked when i was traveling.
If it was more than 30 days ahead of the booking date they could accept an irish credit card, as this gave them time to validate it before traveling, otherwise it was no good.
As my plans were less than the 30 days, i had to get a relative in the UK to book it for me. got my confirmation e-mail just now.

daurgo2001

I found this thread via a google search because I was trying to purchase a Thomas cook flight from LGW to Cancun Mexico, from Cancun, with an American card.... clearly I had a problem.

I tried asking a few people that I know that flew with Cook, and it seemed like the definitive answer was that it didn't matter what address you put into the fields, as long as it was something in the UK, it wouldn't matter....

... but I still wasn't 100% sure, so I thought I'd try to book the flight through a different site. I checked Skyscanner and sure enough, the flight was there.

I booked through them, and had no problem inputting my real address in the US, and using my US card....

So, if anyone else ever has this problem, just book through a different site (like skyscanner!).

Good luck, and happy travels!

- David

sawdoubters

you could send Thomas cook a check or do a bank transfare



you could get your credit card people to ring Thomas cook

did you try

http://www.thomascook.ie/

I see we are replying to a 2008 post


that's why boards ie should close posts