| A sobering article appeared this morning that | | | | participation. |
| should have never been printed. It is news of a | | | | As a seller of travel business in the state of |
| N.C. travel agent arrested on fraud charges for | | | | California, you are required to participate with the |
| accepting monies for deposits on Hawaiian | | | | Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation along |
| vacations from consumers and then canceling the | | | | with the regular Seller of Travel program. This is |
| trips without refunding these dollars. (per the 03 | | | | an additional agency where consumers who are |
| 27/08) | | | | residents of California may apply for refunds of |
| Consumers have a way to prevent this by asking | | | | monies that were not returned to them or failed |
| the correct questions and qualifying information | | | | to comply with the conditions stated in cancellation |
| about the companies they do business with. This | | | | agreements. |
| does not always prevent mishandling of fees | | | | Any business selling travel to consumers in |
| though. There are additional resources of further | | | | California and Florida should acquire this registration |
| verifications in the travel industry like the seller of | | | | in these states whether or not they are located in |
| travel registration programs in such states of | | | | the respective states. Yes, even larger, household |
| California and Florida. | | | | named corporations and organizations, need this |
| In California and Florida, there is an additional | | | | identifier and sometimes fail to show this on their |
| protection known as the "seller of travel" | | | | advertising materials. |
| registration laws which businesses need to | | | | Remember, there is another registration, a TCP |
| participate in when they sell to residents of these | | | | license, a ground transportation company must |
| states. Specifically, in California, as of 2007, all | | | | additionally maintain with vehicles in California. |
| seller of travel businesses, including ground | | | | Other states have additional procedures to |
| companies (examples: transportation over land - | | | | comply with which your Travel Consultant should |
| limousine, motor coach, charter tour), are required | | | | be able to provide information free of charge to |
| to register with the state of California. | | | | you. |
| Selling travel includes all types of travel - a fun trip | | | | Additional information may be found at the named |
| with your group in a motor coach for the evening | | | | websites mentioned in the beginning of this article |
| to your local downtown for entertainment AND | | | | and if you have additional questions please ask |
| week long vacations, cruises, and air - travel | | | | your Travel Consultant and/or call these agencies |
| adventures you enjoy. Consumers may receive | | | | as this only skims the surface of this issue. These |
| more information of the California seller of travel | | | | programs have been in existence for many years |
| program at: and the Florida seller of travel | | | | - to protect consumers. |
| program at: | | | | As mentioned earlier in this article, any |
| Travel businesses in these states are required to | | | | professional seller of travel business in California |
| renew their registrations annually and must follow | | | | and Florida will be delighted to offer free |
| certain highlighted procedures (and more): | | | | information to you about this protection. These |
| 1. Display this registration number on all | | | | business owners follow these procedures for any |
| advertisements, including business cards, flyers, | | | | consumers in any state. And, these business |
| and websites, "visible" to the consumer. You will | | | | owners rest peacefully at night knowing funds are |
| recognize this as: CST (or FST) # XXXXXXX-XX. | | | | set aside for the consumer to enjoy. |
| 2. Establish a bank account or trust fund to be | | | | This article is written to increase awareness of |
| used for consumer deposits only, until the trip or | | | | the additional identifiers for the consumer to ask |
| vacation has taken place. Businesses may not | | | | questions and should not be used as a legal |
| co-mingle funds received from consumers with | | | | document. Additional questions should be directed |
| regular business funds until after the completed | | | | to designated agencies as mentioned. Owners of |
| travel. | | | | Seller of Travel businesses should be able to |
| 3. Sellers of Travel businesses need to have the | | | | provide information and direct you to these |
| established liability insurance to be eligible for | | | | agencies when asked. |