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| Air passengers sending bailiffs to airlines | Air passengers sending bailiffs to airlines |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Bailiffs are being sent into airline offices because companies are failing to pay passengers compensation for flight delays and cancellations, BBC Radio 4's You and Yours has learned. | Bailiffs are being sent into airline offices because companies are failing to pay passengers compensation for flight delays and cancellations, BBC Radio 4's You and Yours has learned. |
| Thousands of court rulings ordering compensation have been ignored by airlines, including EasyJet and Thompson Airways (now TUI Airways). | Thousands of court rulings ordering compensation have been ignored by airlines, including EasyJet and Thompson Airways (now TUI Airways). |
| In one case bailiffs boarded a plane. | In one case bailiffs boarded a plane. |
| EasyJet says it is changing its policies about claims, while TUI Airways has launched an investigation. | EasyJet says it is changing its policies about claims, while TUI Airways has launched an investigation. |
| On-the-spot payments | On-the-spot payments |
| Bailiffs are arriving at the offices of leading UK airlines, and staff are paying on-the-spot with debit and credit cards, an investigation by You and Yours has found. | Bailiffs are arriving at the offices of leading UK airlines, and staff are paying on-the-spot with debit and credit cards, an investigation by You and Yours has found. |
| If staff fail to pay up the bailiffs can remove and sell their office equipment and furniture. | If staff fail to pay up the bailiffs can remove and sell their office equipment and furniture. |
| In one case, bailiffs boarded a plane belonging to a small European airline and prevented it from taking off until the owners paid up. | In one case, bailiffs boarded a plane belonging to a small European airline and prevented it from taking off until the owners paid up. |
| Since 2005, EU rules state that passengers who have had their flights cancelled or delayed three hours or more, are entitled to compensation of around £500, depending on the flight. | Since 2005, EU rules state that passengers who have had their flights cancelled or delayed three hours or more, are entitled to compensation of around £500, depending on the flight. |
| But when they put their claims in, many passengers have found the airline ignores them. | But when they put their claims in, many passengers have found the airline ignores them. |
| Ignored | Ignored |
| As a result, some passengers have turned to lawyers to get compensation, but they too have been ignored. | As a result, some passengers have turned to lawyers to get compensation, but they too have been ignored. |
| TUI Airways and EasyJet now have thousands of unpaid County Court judgments against them. | |
| When You and Yours searched official records, there were so many outstanding court orders against EasyJet and TUI Airways that the official websites crashed. | |
| New court judgements are being registered against TUI Airways at a rate of around 20 a day. | |
| Some passengers have turned to solicitors, including Bott and Co, which acts on behalf of flight delay clients and in some cases sends in bailiffs to recover compensation. | Some passengers have turned to solicitors, including Bott and Co, which acts on behalf of flight delay clients and in some cases sends in bailiffs to recover compensation. |
| "Passengers shouldn't have to go to lawyers at all to get what they're owed," solicitor Coby Benson told the programme. | "Passengers shouldn't have to go to lawyers at all to get what they're owed," solicitor Coby Benson told the programme. |
| "The airlines ignore solicitors who present a formal letter for compensation, then ignore the court proceedings and finally they ignore the judgement against them as well," he said. | "The airlines ignore solicitors who present a formal letter for compensation, then ignore the court proceedings and finally they ignore the judgement against them as well," he said. |
| He added: "The airlines think they can bury their heads in the sand thinking that the problem is going to go away, but that's not the case". | He added: "The airlines think they can bury their heads in the sand thinking that the problem is going to go away, but that's not the case". |
| 'Concern' | 'Concern' |
| Bott and Co, which describes bailiffs as "a last resort" says they've sent them to airline offices "dozens of times." | Bott and Co, which describes bailiffs as "a last resort" says they've sent them to airline offices "dozens of times." |
| In a statement, TUI Airways told You and Yours: "We're extremely concerned and disappointed by the volume of these [judgements]." | |
| It added: "We are conducting a full and thorough investigation to understand what has happened and to resolve the situation." | It added: "We are conducting a full and thorough investigation to understand what has happened and to resolve the situation." |
| EasyJet said: "Historically, we have chosen not to defend all EU261 County Court cases in certain circumstances. | EasyJet said: "Historically, we have chosen not to defend all EU261 County Court cases in certain circumstances. |
| However, it added: "We have recently reviewed that approach and this is no longer the case." | However, it added: "We have recently reviewed that approach and this is no longer the case." |
| You and Yours is on BBC Radio 4 weekdays 12:15-13:00 GMT. Listen online or download the programme programme podcast. | You and Yours is on BBC Radio 4 weekdays 12:15-13:00 GMT. Listen online or download the programme programme podcast. |
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