Illegal airport transfers

Visitor · Post by **Visitor** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:53 pm

After reading through the site and checking some of the adverts, I find it quite amusing! To transfer clients to & from a Portuguese airport, you must have a fully licenced Portuguese travel agency, which should have an Alvara number (eg Alvara 1111/90)....if the company boasts ABTA etc etc UK licencing it is total rubbish as it is not valid here unless they have a UK office with UK registered vehicles here on a short term basis. Even then they cannot advertise to transfer people locally!
This means should there be an accident their insurance will not cover their passengers..you! If caught by the police they will be arrested and fined and possibly lose their vehicle...not a problem. But their clients are held as witnesses, until they have made a statement and then their passport details are held on file for the court proceedings!
The police are at this moment looking to catch these people in the act....is it really worth booking with some unlicenced con artist just to save a couple of euros, just because they mention UK licencing doesn't make them legal.
Be careful, be safe, check who you are trusting your life & precious holiday time with!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:17 am

A sound warning visitor.Is it minibus transfers and private cars acting as licenced taxis,private operators?

Visitor · Post by **Visitor** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:01 am

That I know of there are several between Carvoeiro & Albufeira. Those that don't even pretend to have a license, and those (which in my opinion is worse) make out they are a professional company! The latter tend to use minibuses, where as the others use any type of vehicle, jeep, car...which makes them easier to spot. There is a check you can do, if they are a reputable company they are listed on the APAVT website (equivalent to ABTA) http://www.apavtnet.pt/associados.php?t ... istrito=08 or on the local turismo site http://www.visitalgarve.pt/visitalgarve ... ategoria=9
If they registered on either they are not legal!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:04 am

Sorry typing in a hurry! If they are NOT registered on either they are illegal!

Michael Crane · Post by **Michael Crane** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:37 am

Anonymous wrote:Sorry typing in a hurry! If they are NOT registered on either they are illegal!

If you'd been a member you could have edited the error

Michael Crane · Post by **Michael Crane** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:42 pm

Does the content of this topic affect member, ANDY?

ANDY · Post by **ANDY** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:51 pm

ALGARVE AIRPORT TRANSFERS / EASYGO HOLIDAYS-AG. VIAG. E TURISMO, LDA
Alvara Number: 1165/2003

Member of ABTA: INTERNATIONAL ACCOCIATE SCHEME.
Which unfortunatly was discountinued last year, Pls feel free to check on our credentials with ABTA themselfs

Listagem de associados Efectivos :
http://www.apavtnet.pt/associados.php?t ... istrito=08

EASYGO HOLIDAYS-AG. VIAG. E TURISMO, LDA

---------------------------------------

Happy now Mr Visitor!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS.

Bruxinha · Post by **Bruxinha** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:54 pm

Well visitor, it is good to see that I am not the only person out there that checks up on stuff. That is very useful information indeed. I wouldn't have thought that many people would want to be in a vehicle on holiday, where they are not insured.

ANDY · Post by **ANDY** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:55 pm

Hello Gabby!!

Bruxinha · Post by **Bruxinha** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:58 pm

Hi Andy. Good to see you are on the list ok.

Dick Turpin · Post by **Dick Turpin** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:09 pm

What about Dean Vogel???

Michael Crane · Post by **Michael Crane** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:19 pm

I have updated FAQ with info from this topic.

Thank you, Guest . . . whoever you are!

Bruxinha · Post by **Bruxinha** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 1:59 pm

I think the other thing to consider here, is why should legitimate companies bother to register and do all the paperwork and have all the expense etc? When others don't and try to cut corners to make a quick buck. I would be fed up, if I was one of the companies on the lists that the visitor and Andy provided.

Post by **Steen Jakobsen** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:46 pm

I better add;

Faustitur táxi de turismo Lda. Alvará nº 5429/2003 passado pela direcção geral de transportes terrestres e fluviais

Algarserra agencia de viagens e turismo Alvará nº 861/1997 passado pela direcção geral de turismo.

both on behalf of www.algarvedriver.com & www.farotransfer.com

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 3:56 pm

Off topic removed.