OFT issue warning over web holiday sites

An Office of Fair Trading investigation has warned that many internet travel deals fall well short of their advertising.

The probe found that 54 out of 135, or 40%, of UK-based websites visited during the search contained potentially misleading claims.

Claims that are being investigated under the Control of Misleading Advertising Regulations include: 'hot deals' which bear no resemblance to the prices of the holiday actually available on the website; an advertisement stating 'Australia from £599' when the cheapest price was £891.60; an offer of 7 nights in Austria in March for £99, when the cheapest price was £259; and a claim of 'up to 70% discount off world wide hotel rooms' with no further mention of any savings or discounted deals.

The OFT and 55 local trading standards authorities across the UK were among 87 enforcement agencies in 24 countries surfing the internet for websites making potentially misleading claims about travel deals. The investigation was part of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) Sweep where well over a thousand problem sites were identified worldwide.

More than 100 additional potential breaches of consumer legislation were identified and UK-based sites identified as making potentially deceptive, misleading or false claims are being pursued either by local trading standards or the OFT with a view to taking further action.

John Vickers, OFT Chairman, said: "The internet is a valuable and expanding resource for consumers and for business. On-line shoppers must have the same protection afforded by the high street, and if traders breach fair trading law, the OFT will pursue them."