By Bill Parry
With the holiday travel season in full swing and complaints on the rise, state Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) unveiled legislation in Jackson Heights Monday that would require travel agents and consultants to register with the New York Department of State. The implementation of a registration scheme would safeguard consumers against fraud, misrepresentation and false advertising, while also introducing security concerns.
“Consumers are ripped off every day with lies, scams, false travel packages,” Peralta said. “Under my proposal, we replace the Truth in Travel Act with a registry for travel consultants and promoters. Currently, the Department of State can already investigate consumer protection allegations, but my legislation will offer further protections by implementing a more regimented system where consumers can play a proactive role in protecting their interests.”
Under the proposal, DOS will assign a registration number to each travel agent, and that number must be displayed by the travel promoter at his or her place of business as well as on all documents created by the registrant’s business, including on business cards, all personalized stationery and all documents produced for each individual customer. DOS would maintain a database of all registered agents on its Internet website, easily accessible to the general public.
To adequately fund enforcement, the registration application fee would be $100, followed by an annual renewal fee of $100. Registrations would be non-transferable, and if ownership of a registered travel agency changed hands, the new owner would have to apply for a separate registration.
In order to obtain a proper registration, a person or business would undergo a vetting process by DOS.
“The registry will be a great first step in helping consumers connect with legitimate travel coordinators,” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said. Consumers will be better able to inform themselves about whom they do business with. This legislation will be particularly useful for our growing immigrant communities that are too often victimized by scam artists posing as travel agents and experts.”
DOS will have the power to revoke, suspend or impose a fine of up to $1,000 if the applicant has, among other things, defrauded consumers in the past or demonstrated incompetence or a lack of trustworthiness in his business dealings. Any individual who had his or her registration suspended would be ineligible to reapply for a registration provided for by the legislation and the applicant would have the right to a hearing to challenge such a decision.
“We are clearly protecting good businesses and offering stronger protections for consumers,” Peralta said. “Travel agents provide vital assistance and planning when one plans a trip, and that it why it is important that the consumer receives the exact services he or she pays for. If someone spends their hard-earned money to book a beach resort for their family, he or she should not arrive at their destination only to find an unsanitary or unsafe motel that was not what they bargained for. This is about preventing fraud and this is common sense.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
