Boycott Thomas Cook.

[waldershelf 10]

Are you seriously suggesting TC should employ gas appliance inspectors in all the resorts they use? What about electrical appliance inspectors or chemists to test the pool and water systems and food hygiene specialists to check the kitchens. It might put the price of holidays up a bit. TC are a holiday company not the local authority, I'm sure they do audits of the hotels and check the paperwork is up to local standards, they will do a quick visual inspection of the hotel facilities but that's it, it's not practical to do anything else. That's why no blame has been attached to TC because they did everything "reasonable and practicable" (for those that don't know that's a term used a lot in UK health and safety regulations)

[evil woman 10]

Are you seriously suggesting TC should employ gas appliance inspectors in all the resorts they use? What about electrical appliance inspectors or chemists to test the pool and water systems and food hygiene specialists to check the kitchens. It might put the price of holidays up a bit. TC are a holiday company not the local authority, I'm sure they do audits of the hotels and check the paperwork is up to local standards, they will do a quick visual inspection of the hotel facilities but that's it, it's not practical to do anything else. That's why no blame has been attached to TC because they did everything "reasonable and practicable" (for those that don't know that's a term used a lot in UK health and safety regulations)

 

It is rather like a car MOT. A safety inspection is only good on the day of an inspection. A holiday rep cannot be expected to go to every hotel and check every appliance in that hotel every day. Hotels are, or should, be inspected by the local authorities to ensure complicity with safety requirement. A tour operator should be responsible for ensuring the relevant inspections have been carried out and the certificates are in place. I have no idea if the hotel complied with the law in those respects. If it did then it is difficult to see a case against Thomas Cook. If it didn't then there is. If the hotel didn't comply with relevant requirements the local authority should be sticking the owners in prison.

Edited May 14, 2015 by evil woman

[Berberis 10]

After the arrogant attitude of Thomas Cook with regards to the tragic deaths of the two children in Greece .................. everybody should boycott Thomas Cook.

 

I've always considered Thomas Cook to be dodgy anyway. I normally book with Thompson or TUI as they are now called.

[francypants 441]

When people die as a result of illness that is a different thing altogether to being unlawfully killed.

 

We all know how safety standards vary in countries abroad.... some are appalling. Of course the travel company should not be held responsible for someones stupidity ( however tragic it may be ) whilst abroad ie: accidents whilst drunk, jumping off balconies into swimming pools etc but putting someones life in danger through downright neglect is totally different. Travel company's cannot say........ it's not our fault. We cannot be expected to go beforehand to a hotel to check on safety issues before we book, that is the duty of the travel company at the very least ............. they are more than happy to take our money and we don't expect to be put up in death traps. The state of that boiler shows that safety checks hadn't been carried out properly on it for months if not years !!!!

Edited May 14, 2015 by francypants

[Berberis 10]

It is rather like a car MOT. A safety inspection is only good on the day of an inspection.

 

But the flew was completely inadequate and in the wrong place. an MOT as you put it would have identified this if they had bothered. Its not like the boiler was professionally serviced and maintained and a fault caused the deaths. Staff were inspecting, who had no qualification to do so, so they didn't understand what it should be, let alone know what could happen.

 

Thomas cook claim all their hotels are kept up to British standards of safety, but this clearly was not the case at this hotel. If they made such claim they should be able to back it up, but they didn't and refused to answer questions at the inquest.

 

Look at it this way. Would you buy a t-shirt from a company that claims to protect its supply chain workers rights, but does not inspect or bother to check if they are in fact being treated right? Then when it comes out the t-shirts are made in sweat shops, is the company that sold you the t-shirt innocent? No!

Edited May 14, 2015 by Berberis

[hyper 10]

^^ This.

 

And, according to all press reports today, they have still not apologised.

probably because they feel they are not a fault.

 

Cynically I would say the lawyers will have their eye on the future. A civil claim against a Mediterranean hotel owner or heating engineer would result in next to zero value damages. TC have the funds to make a pay out. So, chase the big fish. They may even opt for an out-of-court settlement to make the publicity go away, rather than have it linger over several years.

[Cyclone 10]

Why? do you think they were responsible? Because as far as I am aware they weren't and have been found not to be by a court, you might call it arrogant, but you are not seeing beyond the tragedy, the lady employed by TC has had to live with these accusations and the death of these kids as much as the parents have AND was at risk of being held personally liable over it, despite this sort of thing clearly not being part of her remit.

 

Stop scape-goating, people die, end off.

 

The way the CEO refused to answer any questions or even confirm his written statement at the coroner's hearing was bad.

 

---------- Post added 14-05-2015 at 09:19 ----------

 

Are you seriously suggesting TC should employ gas appliance inspectors in all the resorts they use? What about electrical appliance inspectors or chemists to test the pool and water systems and food hygiene specialists to check the kitchens. It might put the price of holidays up a bit. TC are a holiday company not the local authority, I'm sure they do audits of the hotels and check the paperwork is up to local standards, they will do a quick visual inspection of the hotel facilities but that's it, it's not practical to do anything else. That's why no blame has been attached to TC because they did everything "reasonable and practicable" (for those that don't know that's a term used a lot in UK health and safety regulations)

 

I'm tempted to think that they weren't actually responsible, given what I've read. But the way they behaved at the inquest was very poor.

[francypants 441]

To all the people who are defending Thomas Cook....... that could have been you in that room. Just thank your lucky stars it wasn't because Thomas Cook don't give a damn. They even accepted damages. Like was said at the inquest... Thomas Cook should hold their heads in shame.

Edited May 14, 2015 by francypants

[Cyclone 10]

After confirming his name and that he is no longer chief executive, Mr Fontenla-Novoa was asked to confirm that he said in his statement: "The deaths of Robert and Christianne Shepherd are very significant events in the company's history as they are the only customers of Thomas Cook to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

"Since their deaths in October 2006, this awful tragedy has been a major priority occupying my attention and also the attention of all my senior management and the board."

He replied: "I decline to answer that."

 

And that's what he kept on saying to pretty much every question.

[evil woman 10]

But the flew was completely inadequate and in the wrong place. an MOT as you put it would have identified this if they had bothered. Its not like the boiler was professionally serviced and maintained and a fault caused the deaths. Staff were inspecting, who had no qualification to do so, so they didn't understand what it should be, let alone know what could happen.

 

Thomas cook claim all their hotels are kept up to British standards of safety, but this clearly was not the case at this hotel. If they made such claim they should be able to back it up, but they didn't and refused to answer questions at the inquest.

 

Look at it this way. Would you buy a t-shirt from a company that claims to protect its supply chain workers rights, but does not inspect or bother to check if they are in fact being treated right? Then when it comes out the t-shirts are made in sweat shops, is the company that sold you the t-shirt innocent? No!

 

I think I would rather safety inspections be carried out by people who are competant and trained to deal with such matters, not a young girl who has flown out to do 6 weeks summer work in the university holidays.

 

A tour operator has a duty of care to ensure that a hotel or resort to which they send customers complies with all relevant safety requirement. That should require nothing more than checking that the hotel has all the corret and up to date certificates in place. A hotel that is used by 500 tour operators from around the world could not function, if in adition to the local authorities, every single one of those companies sent in a team of electricians, gas inspectors, structural engineers, pool inspectors, water quality inspectors etc etc. That requirement is down to the hotel and it is up to them to show certificates of compliance to show the above is in order.

 

Regarding the inquest. Thomas Cook is under no obligation to give evidence at an inquest. I am pretty sure that their legal representitives as well as their insurers have insisted that they don't.

[tzijlstra 11]

When people die as a result of illness that is a different thing altogether to being unlawfully killed.

 

We all know how safety standards vary in countries abroad.... some are appalling. Of course the travel company should not be held responsible for someones stupidity ( however tragic it may be ) whilst abroad ie: accidents whilst drunk, jumping off balconies into swimming pools etc but putting someones life in danger through downright neglect is totally different. Travel company's cannot say........ it's not our fault. We cannot be expected to go beforehand to a hotel to check on safety issues before we book, that is the duty of the travel company at the very least ............. they are more than happy to take our money and we don't expect to be put up in death traps. The state of that boiler shows that safety checks hadn't been carried out properly on it for months if not years !!!!

 

People have already been found guilty, it is nothing to do with it being abroad or not.

 

It is this sort of case that leads to more bureaucracy and red tape and then people wonder why they have to jump through all sorts of hoops and checklists whilst doing their job.

[Berberis 10]

It is this sort of case that leads to more bureaucracy and red tape and then people wonder why they have to jump through all sorts of hoops and checklists whilst doing their job.

 

If hoops and checklists are what it takes to prevent just one death, its worth it, unless you consider your time being more important that a persons life that is.