Licence of B.C travel company suspended; consumer agency announces probe

VICTORIA—A not-for-profit corporation that enforces consumer protection laws in British Columbia says it has suspended the licence of a travel company from Surrey.

Tatiana Chabeaux-Smith of Consumer Protection BC says Global Pacific Travel is now under investigation but she declined to comment further in order to protect the integrity of the probe.

She says consumers who made arrangements with the company should confirm bookings and payments with hotels, airlines or other travel providers.

If the services were not provided and travellers want a refund, Chabeaux-Smith says they can take several steps.

She says they can contact credit card companies to see if the charges can be reversed, call insurance companies if a policy was purchased or apply to the Consumer Protection BC travel-assurance fund.

The not-for-profit corporation was set up under a provincial act, and it investigates alleged violations of consumer-protection laws and educates businesses and people about their rights and responsibilities.