CONSUMER ADVISORY

Consumer Protection BC is informing consumers that Safari Studio Ltd., a travel agency operating out of New Westminster (formerly called Vancouver Travel Studio Ltd., located in North Vancouver) has ceased operations.

“We urge any traveller who has booked – but not yet received – services through Safari Studios to confirm their reservations,” says Tatiana Chabeaux-Smith, spokesperson for Consumer Protection BC. “As we have just learned of this closure, we’re still assessing the situation and potential consumer impact. We felt it was important to get information out to consumers as soon as possible.” 

Travellers who have made arrangements with Safari Studio should first confirm with their hotel, airline or other travel provider that their travel has been booked and paid for. If travel has not been confirmed, here are some steps consumers may take before you travel:

Talk to your airline, hotel or tour operators to determine if there are options available for you to rebook your travel arrangements. Contact a BC-licensed travel agent to determine if they can assist you with rebooking alternative travel. To find a licensed BC travel agent, please visit www.travelrightsbc.ca. In the unfortunate circumstance that the original travel services you booked through Safari Studio were not provided and you are seeking a refund, here are some steps you can take:

If you purchased travel services with a credit card, please call or write to the credit card company to determine if the charges can be reversed.
If you purchased separate travel insurance, call the insurance provider to see if they will cover the costs of the undelivered services.
If these steps have been unsuccessful, consumers may make a claim to BC’s Travel Assurance Fund with Consumer Protection BC.

Although consumers’ costs may eventually be recovered through other means, all claims to the Fund must be filed within six months from the date the travel services were not provided. The Travel Assurance Fund is a fund of last resort and provides possible compensation for consumers who did not receive the contracted travel services they purchased through a BC-licensed travel agent (to a maximum of $5,000 per consumer). Please note that the fund only covers the cost of the original travel services that were not provided – it does not cover the cost of alternate travel or any increase in price due to re-booking travel.

Eligibility to the Travel Assurance Fund is available to both consumers and BC-licensed travel agents.

For more details about the Fund and to find a licensed travel agent or wholesaler, visit Consumer Protection BC online at www.travelrightsbc.ca. Information about the Travel Assurance Fund in several languages can also be found on this page on Consumer Protection BC’s website.

About Consumer Protection BC:
Consumer Protection BC is a not-for-profit corporation that was created to strengthen consumer protection in BC and enforce consumer protection laws. We balance the interests of all parties to promote a marketplace that is fair for both BC consumers and BC businesses. We license and inspect specific industries, respond to inquiries through our Inquiry Centre, investigate alleged violations of consumer protection laws, and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities under the law.  For more information about our organization, please visit our corporate website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.

You can also follow Consumer Protection BC on Twitter @ConsumerProBC, like us on Facebook and read our blog for valuable consumer tips and resources.