They ask retirees and pensioners to keep the documentation of Imserso trips and report incidents

With the marketing of the Social Tourism Program of the Institute for Seniors and Social Rights (known as Imserso trips) already underway, the first problems that affect thousands of retirees and pensioners have appeared and have to do, among other things, with the prices that this plan imposes on accommodation denounced by entities such as Hosbec.

At very low prices, ranging from 132.91 to 564.72 euros per destination and personthousands of users enjoy full board or half board stays in very touristy Spanish cities. The General Directorate of Commerce and Consumer Affairs of Cantabria has recalled the rights that seniors who participate in the Imserso Social Tourism Program can benefit from and has recommended that they read the conditions of the trip carefully before contracting it.

Also, from the first moment, they keep any documentation starting with the letters they received this summer with the accreditation and that, if they notice any problem or incident, they communicate it as soon as possible.

Thanks to this program, many older people can enjoy special vacations in good economic conditions where the costs of accommodation, transportation, maintenance, insurance or complementary activities are taken into account.

Ensure that the offered conditions are met

Consumption has alerted the elderly of the importance of being able to verify that all the conditions offered are met to avoid fraud. In a statement they point out that participation in the program does not mean losing or reducing the rights recognized by consumer protection and package travel regulations.

Before formalizing the reservation, you must have clear and understandable information at hand (if there is any doubt, you must ask) which includes the essential characteristics of the trip, destination, duration, accommodation, services included, conditions applicable to cancellations or changes and the price.

Once the trip has been contracted, the services must be provided according to the conditions provided, that is, there must be nothing that changes with respect to what has been read and agreed upon before signing.

What to do if there is a non-compliance or deficiency

When there is any non-compliance or deficiency that affects the normal development of travel for seniors, the General Directorate points out that consumers must take the necessary measures to solve the situation and in some cases they may have the right to a price reduction or to receive compensation.

Any problem or incident that occurs during the trip must be communicated to the organization and those responsible for managing the program, so that it can be resolved during the stay itself. It recommends that all evidence of what happened, such as photographs, supporting documents or communications in writing or via email, be saved so that they can be brought to the attention of the competent bodies if there are violations.

In addition, you must have a copy of any document prepared by the travel agency, as they can be useful in cases where a claim must be filed.

To claim you must provide all documentation

The importance of saving all documentation, as reported by this Cantabrian entity, lies in the fact that if a claim has to be filed, it must be perfectly supported. When the services do not correspond to those that have been contracted or it is thought (with justification) that the consumer’s rights have been violated, you can complain to the responsible company and ask for advice.

It is essential to provide the contract or reservation documentation, proof of payment, transportation tickets, insurance, travel program, information or advertising material as well as communications maintained with the agency, organization and establishment.

Everything related to cancellations or modifications must appear in the contract that is signed when contracting the trip. The General Directorate of Commerce and Consumer Affairs insists on the convenience of saving all documents such as Imserso accreditation, proof of payment and reservation, tickets, insurance, travel programs and other information.

“The retirees who travel with Imserso are, above all, consumers”

Rosendo Ruiz, general director of Commerce and Consumption of the Government of Cantabria, has decided that it is appropriate to convey this message to retirees and pensioners throughout Spain. “The elderly who participate in the Imserso Tourism Program are, above all, consumers and as such they have the rights and guarantees established by the regulations.”

It highlights the importance of knowing the conditions of the services that are contracted, knowing how to act in the event of an incident and keeping the documentation as it could be necessary to support any type of claim.

“Knowing your rights and keeping documentation are two fundamental tools to face any incident with better guarantees while enjoying the trip with peace of mind,” he concluded.