A website dedicated to holiday complaints is to be launched later this month. Holidaymakers will be encouraged to log their complaints and will be e-mailed advice on how to follow them through. People planning a holiday can can look up these complaints and any response from the holiday companies.

The website is the brainchild of Mike McClement, a training consultant, and his wife Jenny, who used to work in the customer services department of a medium-sized tour operator - though she will not say which company. 'Our first aim is to enable the holidaymaking public to vet their choice by searching our database for complaints that have previously been made,' said Mr McClement. 'Unhappy holidaymakers can register their complaints and receive free advice by e-mail.'

The site - www.holidaycomplaint.com - cannot yet be accessed though information can be obtained by e-mail from info@holidaycomplaint.com. Tour operators will be invited to register and their replies to complaints will be posted on the site. The home page will have a pull-down menu which will allow holidaymakers to search for complaints against the travel company of their choice.

Mr McClement denied that the site would become a 'whingers charter'. 'We are aware that the site could cause concern but we want to provide a public service,' he said. He also believed that libel need not be a problem despite the recent successful action against Internet service provider Demon. 'We will act if a problem is identified,' he said. Complaints will not, however, be vetted. The site will have a database about how to pursue a complaint and law firms specialising in holiday complaints will be encouraged to advertise. This will be the obvious source of revenue for the site.

Keith Betton, head of corporate affairs at the Association of British Travel Agents, said: 'We have a tried and tested procedure for complaints. Not only does it work but it is approved by the DTI. Some 80 per cent of people who go through the Abta arbitration scheme win their case.'

Sue Ockwell, spokeswoman for the Association of Independent Tour Operators, said: 'Our advice to holidaymakers is to research your holiday well. We encourage consumers to talk to their tour operator before booking. My worry about a complaints website would be that spurious complaints could be posted which could mislead customers.'