San Francisco Chinatown travel agency leaves travelers in lurch

Monday, March 10, 2014

 

In the last week, several travel agencies in San Francisco Chinatown and elsewhere in the Bay Area mysteriously closed, leaving consumers with worthless airline tickets and vacation packages. The names of these businesses included “Just Holiday,” “Asia Journeys,” “R&J International Travel Group” and “Amuse Travel.”  In many instances, the consumers did not know that their airline tickets were fraudulent until they called the airline or were already at the airport. Many consumers paid with cash, leaving them with very few options to recover their funds.

In California, when a travel agent fails to deliver tickets or vacation packages and is registered as a Seller of Travel with the Attorney General, then consumers can file for a refund with the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation. Those who paid with a credit card should contact their credit card company and request a chargeback.

If you believe you are a victim of a travel scam, immediately report the fraud to:

You have one year from the scheduled return date of your trip to file a claim with the TCRC.  Claims can be filed online (click here) or mailed in.

If possible, purchase your airline ticket directly from the airline.  If you can only purchase tickets through a travel agency, here are some tips:

  • Verify that the agency is registered with the Attorney General’s office as a Seller of Travel.
  • Pay with a credit card instead of cash or check.  Credit cards provide more protections when disputing charges.
  • Always check with the airline directly for your reservation.  Have the airline notify you directly on any changes to the reservation.
 

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