Issue Date:  -  Thursday, 23 September 1999

Ministry to prosecute Kalamunda Travel Agent

The Ministry of Fair Trading today laid charges against a Kalamunda travel agent for continuing to trade while her licence was under suspension.

Commissioner for Fair Trading Patrick Walker said officers had issued summonses on two counts of breaching the Travel Agents Act against Angela Bartram of High Wycombe.

Miss Bartram, who has traded recently as Kalamunda Travel, of Barberry Square Kalamunda, holds a travel agent's licence but this is currently under suspension.

Mr Walker said the Ministry would allege Miss Bartram was terminated from the compulsory Travel Compensation Fund in June this year, but continued to accept new customers' business.

The nationwide Travel Compensation Fund protects travellers who suffer losses where licensed travel agents fail to account for money given to them by customers.

Every licensed travel agent in WA must join the fund, which also provides a mechanism for the Ministry to monitor the financial health of licensed agencies.

Mr Walker said the Ministry periodically warned Western Australian travellers to deal only with licensed travel agents, so that they were protected by the Travel Compensation Fund.

"People who deal through agents who do not have a current licence are not protected by the fund."

"The Act makes it mandatory for agents to display their licence certificates in their shops so that consumers know they are protected from financial loss," Mr Walker said.

The maximum penalty for an offence under the Travel Agents Act is $50,000 or 12 months' imprisonment or both.

Consumers needing information about their bookings with Kalamunda Travel should contact the Ministry on (08) 9222-0639 up until Friday 24 September 1999 or on (08) 9282 0639 from Tuesday 28 September.