Released on November 3, 2017
Travel agents can make planning a trip easy and effortless, but they often require large deposits of money up front. Many travellers pay deposits worth thousands of dollars by cheque, cash and credit to reserve their spots, but what happens if something goes wrong? What if the agency goes out of business?
You can take three steps to protect yourself in the event something goes wrong with a travel agency:
- Pay with a credit card. It is easier to get a refund through a credit card provider.
- Minimize or avoid cash/cheque deposits. It may be more difficult or impossible to get a refund if something goes wrong.
- Do research, read customer reviews, check with the Better Business Bureau and the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) at www.acta.ca, and confirm that the agency is well established and has a good reputation within the community.
The Consumer Protection Division may be able to help consumers who have problems with a travel agency. They can call toll free at 1-877-880-5550 or by email at consumerprotection@gov.sk.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Matthew Barton
Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6067
Email: matthew.barton@gov.sk.ca