Consumer Protection BC (CPBC) is warning customers of a Coquitlam travel agency to reconfirm their vacation plans after the company’s licence was revoked for breaching provincial regulations.
Kimiya Travel’s licence was first suspended earlier this year over concerns the business did not have enough working capital after its operators failed to provide required financial documentation and payments to the travel assurance fund.
As part of the licence revocation, wholesalers and outside travel agents are no longer permitted to do business with the company, according to a CPBC press release.
But Shahid Noorani, the vice-president of CPBC, told The Tri-City News that Kimiya continued to sell its services after the Jan. 12 suspension.
“We were contacted by a consumer that had purchased travel services from Kimiya Travel claiming that they did not receive the travel services,” he said in an email. “Since then, we have received similar information from other consumers. We have also had discussions with the owner of the business on the issue.”
Noorani added that while it is not yet clear how many customers may have been affected, anyone who has purchased from the company since Jan. 12 could be at risk.
Parisa Pahlevan, the owner of Kimiya Travel, told The Tri-City News she has been dealing with medical and family issues, and was unable to update her financial statements. She added that she will closing the business.
“It is not fraud,” she said. “It is not something that I am going to go away. It is a health problem. I can’t continue.”
Pahlevan said that she would be getting in touch with CPBC to find out what are the next steps she must take.
Anyone who believes their travel plans may be in jeopardy should contact the end suppliers, including airlines, hotels and tour operators, to ensure their travel arrangements are still in order, Noorani said.
“We have reason to believe that a number of travellers may be at risk of not receiving the travel services they paid for. We want to hear from anyone who thinks they may have been affected.”
According to the CPBC, affected customers who paid with a credit card should contact their credit card company to see if the charges can be reversed. If they have purchased travel insurance, they can contact the insurance provider.
Consumers may also be eligible for assistance under the travel assurance fund if they file a claim within six months. The CPBC said claims are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• For more info, contact CPBC at 1-888-564-9963 or go to www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.
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