A couple have been made to pay £7,500 after they made a sickness claim against a holiday operator – despite leaving a glowing review about their ‘amazing’ experience on Tripadvisor.
Tanya Tuson and husband Kieran, both 36, were ordered to pay damages to the Jaz Mirabel Park Hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, after they claimed they suffered food poisoning during their stay.
The pair from Andover, along with their children, stayed at the hotel for ten days in August 2015 after booking through Thomson holidays – now TUI.
According to a five star review left by Mrs Tuson on Tripadvisor the family had such a good time they were very sad to be home after leaving staff who ‘could not do enough for you’.
However, ten months later the owners of the hotel received a Letter of Claim indicating action was being taken against them.
The couple had made various allegations saying that there was a poor standard of food and hygiene at the hotel, that the food was not cooked properly and that food was not offered at the correct temperature.
The family said they went to a pharmacist while on the holiday and still have the boxes to prove they were treated for sickness.
However, a civil court ruled against the family and said they must pay damages because the hotel found a glowing review after their stay.
Mr and Mrs Tuson from Andover were made £7,500 after they made a claim against holiday firm TUI
Jaz Mirabel Park in Egypt where Kieran and Tanya Tuson stayed during their 2015 holiday
Mrs Tuson said her family were left extremely unwell and sought damages in relation to the alleged illness they suffered in addition to the ‘distress, embarrassment and anxiety caused by the illness’.
She told MailOnline they sought medical assistance and were genuinely unwell.
However, she insisted she left the review because otherwise, they enjoyed themselves.
Mrs Tuson who has left 100 ratings on Tripadvisor for hotels, restaurants and takeaways had left a glowing message for staff at the hotel adding just one complaint about their door being left open.
The positive reviewer who heaps praise on places she has enjoyed with her family said: ‘We arrived back from the beautiful sharm this Tuesday. This is my 4th visit to sharm and to Jaz park. We all had an amazing time and are very sad to be home.
‘From the minute we arrived the staff we are all amazing very helpful and just couldn’t do enough for you. Our room was clean and tidy but we did have to call reception for more toilet roll and clean towels also the cleaner left our hotel room door open twice which I was not happy about and did complain to the reception.
‘Towel and pool staff were amazing Amin and Thomas made sure we had clean towels and back mats every day!’
This review was left after the family stayed in the hotel for the 4th time but they later said they had a bad time after being made ill by the food and drinks
The Tusons left a review which said they had an amazing time and wanted to return to the hotel – but later claimed compensation
The Tusons praised staff at the Jaz Park hotel for their help in reviews left in both 2014 and 2015
Mr and Mrs Tuson were ordered to pay back £7,500 after they claimed they were made ill by the hotel
The family shared images of themselves with the staff who ‘couldn’t do enough for them’ at the Jaz Park Hotel
Despite the claim being over sickness, the mother also left praise for the restaurant and the manager.
She said it was ‘hard to choose’ some days because there was a bland menu and often rice and chips – but did not mention sickness.
Months later, in 2016, the family said they were extremely unwell.
They even provided evidence from a Dr Lieberman and a Dr Brittain-Dissont. Both concluded illness was caused by food and drink consumed at the hotel.
Mrs Tuson reviewed the hotel two years running
Yet in the review, Tanya Tuson wrote: ‘The pool side snack bar both my girls loved and ate there every lunch time.
‘Again the staff were just amazing and also made sure the girls had something they liked and enjoyed. Myself and my husband ate lunch every day in the main restaurant and there was some choice but some days I did find it hard to chose something that wasn’t rice or chips. Staff again were great especially ‘Adam’ always had a drink on the table for us as we sat down.
‘Adam would always make sure we were ok and happy with everything. Ive saved the best till last the animation team!!! Well what can I say, every day they would dance, play darts, water polo, table tennis and water aerobics always something to do if you wanted too. They were always happy and so much fun! The animation are a real credit to the hotel and I’m sure our stay would not been as good as it was if it wasn’t for them.
‘I take my hats of to you all what a fantastic job you all do!!! Beach party’s three times are week were run by the animation team and I highly recommend these. Oh and the dance show On a Sunday night moodie as Michael Jackson was just superb!!!! Any one thinking of going to jaz park or beach or club! Go it’s amazing!! Hopefully be back next year! Thanks again jaz park x x x.’
TUI bosses have said they will continue taking people to court for bogus claims.
Andrew Flintham, Managing Director at TUI UK & Ireland said: ‘The court has found that Mr and Mrs Tuson have brought a claim that is fundamentally dishonest and they have been made to pay because of it.
The Tusons uploaded their holiday photographs from around the pool on Tripadvisor
The family praised the hotel and said the staff could not ‘do enough’ for them in June 2015
‘The fight continues as we are still seeing fake sickness claims served against us. We simply will not pay compensation claims of this nature and we will bring all similar cases to a court hearing. We hope that this sends out a clear message to anyone else considering making a fraudulent sickness claim.
‘We will continue to work tirelessly to defend our industry and hotel partners. We have a duty of care to protect honest holidaymakers.’
The Tusons did not report any issues or illness at the time, nor did they alert TUI or the hotel to problems before launching court action, the holiday firm said.
Winchester County Court ordered the couple to pay £7,500 in August 2018. However, they were not in court since they were on a holiday booked through TUI.
Mrs Tuson maintains the allegations and insists TUI has not contacted them and is under the impression the case is still ‘ongoing’.