Check ATOL

Check before you book

A few minutes of checking before you pay can save you from losing your money. Here's what to look for.

Five checks before you pay

  1. Find the ATOL numberA company selling protected trips must show its ATOL number on its website and in its booking documents. It has 4 or 5 digits and sometimes starts with a T.
  2. Search the registerCheck the number and the company name. Both should match the company you're dealing with, and the licence should be current.
  3. Compare the detailsLook at the trading names, address and websites on the register. If the website you're booking on isn't listed, ask the company why. Members of an Accredited Body may not list their own details, so confirm directly with them.
  4. Ask if your exact booking is protectedCompanies can sell protected and unprotected trips side by side. Ask, in writing, whether your booking will be ATOL protected.
  5. Make sure you get an ATOL CertificateYou should receive it as soon as you pay any money, including a deposit. Learn what it should show.

Warning signs

Stop and check carefully if a company:

  • shows an ATOL logo but no ATOL number, or a number that isn't on the register
  • uses an ATOL number that belongs to a different company
  • asks you to pay by bank transfer to a personal account
  • won't give you a booking confirmation or ATOL Certificate after you pay
  • pressures you to pay quickly with prices that seem far too good to be true
  • has a website not listed on the register and can't explain why

Pay safely

Paying by credit card can give you extra protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act for purchases between £100 and £30,000. Debit cards may let you ask your bank for a chargeback. Bank transfers usually give you the least protection if something goes wrong.

Found something wrong?

If you think a company is making false ATOL claims, you can report it to the CAA at atolcompliance@caa.co.uk. See our contact page for more ways to raise a concern.