Would the Spanish really ban Brits from their all-inclusive hotels after reports of bogus food poisoning claims?
Such claims have risen more than 700% in the past year, where holiday makers are falsely claiming they have been hit with the gastroenteritis bug due to food poisoning from the hotel.
According to the Daily Mail, hoteliers are claiming that they have had to pay out in the last 18 months over £42 million in way of compensation.
Holiday makers are even putting forward their claim 2 years after the ‘poisoning’ took place.
The pay-outs are reportedly costing hotels up to £5,000 per claim. All the claimant must do is provide a receipt from a chemist stating the medicines bought were for food poisoning.
It was reported that one family alone received £25,000 from their bogus claim leaving the hotelier considerably out of pocket.
He said: “It’s a scandal. Strangely they were the only ones who got sick, despite the hotel being practically full.”
With regards to such claims, it has now cast a dark cloud over the Brits and some hotels are wanting to ban Brits from using their all-inclusive deals.
It isn’t clear how much food poisoning is costing the tourist industry, UK travel regulator, however ABTA said scams were definitely on the rise.
Labelled the as “new PPI claim”, the hotel industry has called on the Government to crack down on such scams.
A recent announcement on the ABTA website claimed: ABTA members are reporting significantly increased volumes of gastric sickness claims.
Claimants are claiming to have had to seek medical attention, in the form of a chemist, local GP or upon their return to the UK. However, these so-called claims where never reported to the hotel staff.
Many of the cases are notified in the first instance by a letter from a law firm or solicitor who is representing the client. Nor is it unusual to receive a claim up to 2 years after the supposed attack of food poisoning.
ABTA are conscious of destructive advertising by claims management companies, which include the targeting of holidaymakers in local resorts, which is likely to be contributing to the rise in numbers.
Benidorm, Costa Dorada, The Costa Del Sol and Costa Blanca have the highest number of false claims.
The Hotel Business Association of Majorca wants to put a permanent ban on all-inclusive visitors to the island unless the problem is solved.
Hotel owners in Benidorm are said to have requested that chemists do not sell to the Brits any kind of upset stomach medication unless this is backed up with an official prescription.
There are hotels across the Canary Islands which are considering to ask hotel guests to sign a disclaimer upon their departure confirming the are well upon departure and did not suffer any upset stomachs or food poisoning during their stay.
So be warned if you are thinking of making a false claim. The Foreign Office have said they will fight back against false claims and legal action will be taken upon the claimant.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk