Consumer Protection BC (CPBC) is warning the public that a Coquitlam travel agent who had her licence cancelled last fall may still be conducting business in the area.
According to a press release from CPBC, Golden Travel Ltd.'s licence was cancelled in November when it was determined the High Street business did not have sufficient working capital to continue operating.
But on Wednesday, CPBC said it had information that Lily Lau (aka Chuen Kuen Lau), the owner of Golden Travel, was still conducting sales "from an undisclosed location."
"This isn't allowed," said Tatiana Chabeaux-Smith, a spokesperson for the provincial travel agency regulator. "We believe any individual or business who buys travel from her is putting themselves at risk."
The press release stated that CPBC has already paid out $12,000 to consumers who did not receive their contracted travel services from Golden Travel through the organization's Travel Assurance Fund.
"We still have a number of outstanding claims for close to $95,000," she added. "While we have not assessed those claims yet, some consumers are alleging that Lau charged their credit cards without their permission."
Companies that do business with Lau may also be targeted by CPBC.
The agency said that a $2,000 fine has been issued to Catway Travel Ltd. of Richmond after it paid Lau for services even though she is not licensed.
"These enforcement actions are a reminder to the industry that they are not allowed to do business with a travel agency or wholesaler that is unlicensed or has a suspended licence," Chabeaux-Smith added.
In November, The Tri-City News reported that Raymond Wang had been struggling to secure a refund from Golden Travel, which he said bilked him out of $30,000.
His wife visited the travel agency to get more information about an advertised package deal to Disneyland and a cruise out of Florida. Wang said she gave the agent their credit card and passport information, which was requested to "hold the price" for the vacation.
But a few days later, the couple checked their online credit card statement and discovered that they had been billed $30,000.
After several calls to the travel agency and several promises that the refund would be issued within 48 hours, Wang said he visited the office and discovered several others who said they were in the same position.
"Some of them had been chasing their money over a couple of years already," Wang said.
When contacted by The Tri-City News in November, Lau said she was busy and hung up the phone.
gmckenna@tricitynews.com
@gmckennaTC
