More and more people affected

FTI bankruptcy: family has to pay twice for hotel

A Styrian family had to pay a second time when checking into the hotel (symbolic image)

(Bild: stock.adobe.com/Kalim - stock.adobe.com)

The bankruptcy of the giant German tour operator FTI Touristik is also becoming a nightmare for many vacationers from Austria. More and more people are contacting the Styrian Chamber of Labor. One family in the Dominican Republic, for example, was asked to pay twice.

Since Monday, the Styrian Chamber of Labor has already received almost 30 inquiries by phone and email - and the number is increasing, according to a Krone inquiry. Consumer advocate Birgit Auner: "The inquiries concern individual bookings of flights and rental cars as well as package tours."

The package tours are secured, Auner advises customers to look for the so-called security data in the travel documents. For individual bookings, the chances of ever getting the money back are slim: "These customers will have to wait for the insolvency proceedings."

Family asked to pay again
Nobody is currently stuck anywhere, but one family flew to the Dominican Republic on Monday. "When they arrived at the hotel, the bill had not been paid" - even though the family had paid for the trip in full. They were asked to pay again. Auner: "That's our advice: Make sure you get a confirmation of payment!" A situation like this is "extremely stressful".

According to Auner, it is also important: "If you receive a payment request now, we advise you not to pay. But you should send an email explaining why." The last insolvency of a similar scale that Auner witnessed was that of the German tour operator Thomas Cook in 2019.