Consumer NZ is warning travellers to avoid online travel agent eDreams. The watchdog has received multiple complaints from customers who have had a hard time getting refunds and support from eDreams.
Consumer recommends booking with a New Zealand-based travel agent or directly with the airline, to ensure problems are easier to resolve if things turn to custard.
Alejandra Hernandez told Consumer she has been waiting for a refund from eDreams for nine months.
"They pretended to do things but they didn’t do anything … they wasted my time and stole my money," says Alejandra.
Alesha Canham booked flights with eDreams for a family holiday with her terminally ill partner and toddler son. On noticing her son’s name was spelt incorrectly, Alesha spent weeks trying to get the name rectified. But eDreams failed to resolve the issue. Eventually Qatar Airways stepped in and fixed the ticket.
Sadly, these aren’t the only customers who have had nightmares with eDreams. There are many posts online by customers who claim they’ve been scammed by eDreams.
"It can be very stressful when travel plans go wrong," says Consumer investigative writer Rebecca Styles. "If you can’t get help and support from your travel agent, it makes a bad situation even worse. To prevent travel nightmares, we recommend you book with a New Zealand-based travel agent with a good reputation for customer service, or book directly with the airline."
