Refunds for holidaymakers as travel firm goes bust

TRAVEL firm Dunne and King Travel Limited, trading as Let’s Travel, is the latest tour operator to go out of business.

Last year, three Irish travel agents — Gerry McMahon/Fáilte Travel, MacLaverty Travel Ltd and Ronane Travel Ltd/Great Escapes — ceased trading.

It is understood that Let’s Travel, based in Dunboyne, Co Meath, had been trading very successfully until recently.

The agency’s business exposure is estimated at about €35,000 and their bond is well in excess of that figure.

All travel agencies and tour operators are required to maintain a bond. When a company goes out of business the bond can be called in by the Commission for Aviation Regulation.

Let’s Travel, which dealt in leisure, business and group travel, was not answering phone calls to its office yesterday.

The commission isadvising customers with a current booking with the company to contact the relevant airline, ferry company or travel provider to establish the status of their booking and make alternative arrangements, if necessary.

Customers who have bookings with the company can claim refunds of any money not passed on to suppliers by submitting a claim form to the commission. It can be downloaded from the commission’s website at www.aviationreg.ie.

The reimbursement form should be accompanied by documentary evidence of booking.

Claims for refunds are processed according to date of departure and, depending on the volume of claims received, a refund may take between six to 12 weeks to process.