Introduction fees, bonuses, commissions, kickbacks
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2004-12-29 08:28:53 - Graham EllisDo you get kickbacks?
The question was asked yesterday (yes, we answer emails and phones even on Bank holidays if we're around), from a trainee who was booking on the January Python course and was wanting suggestions for somewhere to stay.
The answer to his question is "no, we don't take kickbacks". The question was asked with a certain humour, but we were still a little suprised. In hindsight the question was reasonable enough - after all, agent's fees and introduction commissions are quite common in the accommodation business and almost the norm at certain training companies.
We don't receive any payments from any of the establishments on our Melksham Accommodation list. We are very much aware that we could gain a little more income that way, but we wish to remain unbiased and be able to add (and remove) places from our lists based solely on their suitability for our cutsomers, and the feedback we get from people who stay there.
Along the same lines, as a matter of policy we don't pay agents who wish to book people onto our courses. We have a single (good value) pricing structure, and everyone pays according to it. If an agent is providing a booking service onto one of our courses for his clients, then he's very welcome to charge his client for the service - the total cost to that client is likely to end up somewhat less than the cost of a course from a provider who "fattens" his prices to allow for kickback anyway!