Travel Question: our ski trip plans have gone off-piste

Have a question? Ask our expert Simon Calder

An excessive deposit and inflexible customer service... sounds like this holiday firm is on thin ice (Getty/iStock)

Q Last February, our family of four paid a £1,000 deposit for a skiing holiday for December this year. For various reasons, we want to move the holiday to December next year but the holiday company are saying we can either have a week in February, which we can’t do, or we lose the deposit. What can we do?

Name withheld

A Travel firms ask for a deposit because it shows an indication of your intention to go through with the trip, and – should you be unable to do so – protects the company somewhat against possible losses if, for example, price levels have fallen since you first booked.