TORONTO — ACTA has sent out an advisory to ACTA members in the wake of the Sinorama closures.
The closures came after action from Quebec’s Office de la protection de la consommateur (OPC), Consumer Protection B.C. and the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO). In Ontario TICO issued a closure advisory for Markham-based Sinorama Holidays Inc. on Aug. 8 after the company voluntarily terminated its Ontario registration.
Sinorama’s closure in Ontario could hit the province’s Comp Fund for more than $5 million, and travel compensation funds in B.C. and Quebec will take a hit as well.
“Last week, Sinorama Vacation Inc. in Quebec, Sinorama Holidays Inc. in Markham, ON and Sinorama Travel in Richmond, B.C. ended operations,” says ACTA. “The following is a summary of where you can obtain information to assist your clients file a claim against the Compensation Funds within these regulated provinces.”
In Quebec there is a new claim form that has not yet been updated on the PricewaterhouseCoopers website, says ACTA.
Also, notes ACTA, the Compensation Funds in B.C. and Ontario don’t cover unpaid commissions to agents. In the meantime ACTA says it has contacted the OPC to inquire if unpaid commissions could be claimed by travel agents in Quebec and will advise members when it gets this info.
QUEBEC
Information on Sinorama by OPC
This website is for clients having booked with Vacances Sinorama Inc. or any other travel agency in Quebec (with a license from the Office) for a trip with SINORAMA VACATION INC. in Quebec.
Claim form for travel agents: Click here for the English version.
“Please note that the claim form has been modified and no longer requires the signature before a Commissioner for Oaths (see section ‘Claims’).Claim forms already printed and/or filed with the old format remain valid and it is not necessary to reprint/redo a claim, says ACTA.
Forms with supporting documents must be sent by mail or email, exclusively to the following address:
Ms. Martine Mainville
PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc.
1250 René-Lévesque Boulevard West
Suite 2500
Montreal, QC
H3B 4Y1
administration.provisoire@ca.pwc.com
ONTARIO
Consumers who purchased their travel services directly from Sinorama Holidays Inc. in Ontario and/or its website or through a registered Ontario travel agency should follow the instructions outlined by TICO.
Information on Sinorama by TICO
ACTA also passes on TICO’s reminder: “There is no provision under Ontario Regulation 26/05 pursuant to the Travel Industry Act, 2002 for a consumer to claim on the Compensation Fund when they have purchased travel services from an out-of-province travel agency. TICO can only recommend that you contact your travel agency for further assistance.”
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Consumers who purchased their travel services directly from Sinorama Travel in Richmond, B.C. and/or its website or through a registered B.C. travel agency should follow the instructions outlined by Consumer Protection BC.
