WATCH ABOVE: A GTA family planning to be on a Caribbean beach this week is home instead because their travel agent didn’t provide the promised and paid-for all-inclusive vacation. As Sean O’Shea reports, the agent was unwilling to offer an explanation.
TORONTO — Ten members of a GTA family are home this week, instead of on a beach in the Dominican Republic, because the travel agency they paid for air and hotel didn’t arrange the vacation they paid for.
Judith Robinson of Brampton says her family booked the all-inclusive vacation in April through Blue Mountain Travel on Jane Street. She says they were told by their agent, Michelle (no last name was given) that they’d be staying at the Vista Sol resort in Punta Cana.
But when Robinson didn’t receive any confirmation or itinerary by last week, she and others in the family got worried.
“I had her on speed dial and kept dialling and dialling and dialling,” said Robinson, describing her efforts to get in touch with the agent last week.
When she finally reached the agency, Robinson says she eventually got the bad news.
“Her words — there was a mistake with the booking,” Robinson said, adding “she said nothing was booked: we’re still here.”
“I felt betrayed, let down; I had my hopes up — I felt stabbed in the back,” said Rayon White, another traveller in the family group.
Global News paid a visit to the travel agency’s office. The agent, Michelle, refused to answer questions about the Robinson case.
“Sean O’Shea, who don’t really have a proper job is here,” she told a telephone operator. When she hung up, she told the crew “please leave my office.”
Minutes later, police officers arrived at the agency, spoke to employees of the agency and the Global News crew.
Police said they were not investigating, declaring the issue “a civil matter.”
Travel agents in Ontario are regulated by TICO, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario.
Robinson says she contacted TICO and has been told she’ll be sent a form to report her complaint.
But having booked the week off from work, Robinson says the family is disappointed they won’t get a vacation.
“Everyone was looking forward to it so much,” she said.
As for the travel agency, Robinson expressed frustration with how the family has been treated.
“She needs to be closed down and we need our money back.”
Comments