The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority demands an explanation of the situation from Detur immediately. KKV urges travelers to wait for more information before traveling.
Tourists who were in Alanya, Turkey on Deturi’s finished trip were charged for accommodation, which should have already been taken care of on Deturi’s behalf. Some of the travelers were not allowed back in their rooms until the payment was made again, and others were even threatened with the police.
The situation in Alanya escalated immediately due to the payment difficulties of tour operator Deturi. KKV urges travelers or those who will be traveling soon to wait for more information.
– We came to the hotel in the evening and a few other Finns came to meet us. They said that notes had been left on the doors of the rooms asking them to pay the price of the trip to the hotel again. Detur reportedly hadn’t paid it, says Männikkö.
Männikko refused to pay. However, a few had ended up paying a second time and decided to collect the money back from the insurance companies later.
– I stated quite bluntly that we don’t pay, and we don’t have the money to pay. We were then no longer asked for money, but others were allegedly threatened by the police as well. We just left the keys, and not a word was spoken to us in the morning, says Männikkö.
Although Männikkö himself did not stress the situation, according to him, some of the tourists were really shocked.
– Yes, Finland feels like a nice country again after such an experience, says Männikkö and sighs.
Some were not allowed back in the rooms, others ran away
On Wednesday, Detur sent faxes to the hotels informing them of the sale of the tour operator to another company. According to the tourists, the information about the sale of the company also came as a complete surprise to the tour guides who were on site.
He also received a notice on Wednesday that he has to pay for the hotel room again. Hanski finally agreed to pay 220 euros, but does not think he will get the money back.
– We were told that if we don’t pay, we will be denied the flight. Many ran away from there, but we didn’t dare. We were afraid we wouldn’t get on the flight.
According to Hanski, the reception staff ran after some customers who did not pay.
– We had to pay for the trip again. We were not allowed into the hotel room until we agreed to pay 355 euros, he says.
At the end of the long conversation, Sieppi was allowed back into the room to get his passport.
– This is not nice. I felt so uncertain about the travel company that I dare to book trips through them again, Sieppi reflects.
