VICTORIA, BC – Consumer Protection BC suspended the travel licence and issued an administrative penalty against Airways Tours & Travel Ltd., a travel agency located in Surrey, BC, for violating BC’s consumer protection laws.
A recent Consumer Protection BC inspection determined that Airways Tours & Travel had contravened section 189(5)(b) of the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act (the BPCP Act) by failing to provide information to an inspector. As a result, Consumer Protection BC suspended the licence until the business provides the information and imposed an administrative penalty of $750 for the contravention.
“Our inspections staff regularly review certain financial information to assess the suitability of a business to hold a licence with our office and to assess whether the business is in compliance with BC’s consumer protection laws,” says Tatiana Chabeaux-Smith, spokesperson for Consumer Protection BC. “In this case we suspended the business’ licence because they did not provide the requested financial information.”
By law, the business must not engage in the sale of travel services until the suspension is lifted.
Click here to view the administrative penalty in full. All money received from administrative penalties is deposited into the Consumer Advancement Fund (as required by Section 169 of the BPCP Act).
By law, Airways Tours & Travel has 30 days to request a reconsideration of this decision.
For more information about BC’s travel licensing requirements, the Travel Assurance Fund, or to find a licensed travel agent or wholesaler, visit our website at www.travelrightsbc.ca. A backgrounder on the regulation of travel agents and wholesalers in BC is also available. All recent Consumer Protection BC enforcement actions are published on Consumer Protection BC’s corporate website, at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.
About the Consumer Advancement Fund:
The fund is administered by Consumer Protection BC and is a designated statutory fund that can only be used for the purposes of educating consumers and suppliers about any matters relating to the BPCP Act or the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act, or for the purpose of increasing compliance with those Acts. Click here to view the section of the BPCP Act that speaks to the consumer advancement fund.
About Consumer Protection BC:
Consumer Protection BC is the regulator of a variety of industries and specific consumer transactions in the province. Our mandate is to license and inspect our regulated businesses, respond to consumer inquiries, investigate alleged violations of consumer protection laws, classify all general release motion pictures and provide information so consumers can self-assess the fairness of a transaction. Our vision is a province where all citizens of BC are empowered in their transactions as a result of rigorous and consistent business compliance and through the provision of solution-based information.
For more information about our organization, please visit our corporate website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca. You can also follow Consumer Protection BC on Twitter @ConsumerProBC, like us on Facebook and read our blog for valuable consumer tips and resources.
