Hajj pilgrims urged to be wary of scams
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As more than 25,000 British Muslims prepare to travel to Mecca for Hajj this
week, the government is urging pilgrims to know their rights and beware of scam
artists.
In previous years, some Hajj pilgrims have been ripped off by a variety of
scams, including paying for a five star hotel but getting substandard
accommodation, or in extreme cases, some agents have disappeared and taken
pilgrims' money with them.
Unfortunately, in spite of strong measures to wipe this out, pilgrims
continue to fall prey to these unscrupulous agents.
Consumer Affairs Minister Gareth Thomas said:
"British pilgrims are entitled to get what they pay for and need not suffer
in silence if they feel that they have been ripped off"
"We are urging pilgrims to keep their travel documents, to take photos of any
substandard accommodation, and report any unsatisfactory experiences to trading
standards".
"The Government believes that many cases of pilgrims losing out go unreported
- preventing them from getting the help, refunds or compensation they are
entitled to"
The Department for Business has worked throughout the year to spread the word
to Muslim communities about the importance of booking with an operator who has a
current Air Travel Organiser's licence (ATOL), and pilgrims' rights of redress
under the UK Package Travel Regulations.
The campaign seems to be working, with the Civil Aviation Authority reporting
an increase in the number of Hajj travel operators applying for ATOLs since the
summer. Since last year there has also been an increase in the number of
pilgrims lodging complaints, when they have been targeted by a scam.
Case study - victims of a scam
This year, a supposed Hajj tour operator based in Tower Hamlets, absconded
with more than a million pounds, leaving more than 300 prospective Hajj pilgrims
stranded.
Khalid Pervez of the British Association of Hujjaj (Pilgrims) UK said:
"The Association of British Hujjaj condemns in the strongest terms this
ruthless exploitation of vulnerable, innocent people, including the sick and the
elderly. And of fraudsters taking advantage of an event that many look forward
to as a high point in their lives."
Pilgrims should:
* check their package operator holds a current Air Travel Organiser's Licence
(ATOL)
* agree their tour itinerary in writing before parting with any money
* consider booking with a company that has been independently recommended by
friends or family
* keep documents such as contracts, invoices and letters in a safe place, as
this helps with redress if things go wrong
The CAA's Deputy Director of Consumer Protection, David Moesli, said:
"Every year tens of thousands British Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia for
Hajj. If you are one of these it is important to ensure your arrangements are
ATOL protected so that you don't lose out if the company you've booked with goes
bust. On the CAA website you can use the Check an ATOL facility to check that
your Hajj tour operator is ATOL protected."
Hajj pilgrims have the same rights under the Package Travel Regulations as
anyone else booking a trip.
Trading standards teams can investigate if a firm fails to honour its
responsibilities and can advise pilgrims on how to seek compensation if the
service they get is worse than they were promised.
Hajjis that fall victim to a rogue firm should contact the tour operator and
seek redress. If this fails, they should speak to their local Trading Standards
team or the police, who can take action.
Hajjis that fall victim to such bad service should contact the tour operator
and seek redress. If this fails, they should speak to their local Trading
Standards.
If Hajjis have given money to a tour operator who then disappears without
trace, they should go to the police as this is downright fraud.
Notes
1. Any firm arranging flights as part of a package must have an ATOL, which
ensures that payments are protected if the company goes bust. Travellers will be
refunded, or can finish their trip and be flown home if they are already abroad
when the company collapses.
After the collapse of Luton-based tour operator Go4 Hajj last year, pilgrims
were refunded £270,000 thanks to the firm's ATOL protection.
2. This year, a Hajj tour operator based in Tower Hamlets fled with over a
million pounds, leaving more than 300 prospective pilgrims stranded. The
Metropolitan Police have set up a helpline (020 8217 4947) for victims to report
their incidents or gain updates.
3. Pilgrims can check whether their operator has an ATOL on the Civil
Aviation Authority's website at
http://www.atol.org.uk using the 'Check an ATOL' facility or by calling 020
7453 6424.
4. Gareth Thomas met tour operators and pilgrims' groups in July to discuss
improving the situation for those travelling to Mecca. ATOL applications to the
Civil Aviation Authority from Hajj tour operators have risen since that meeting.
5. Contact details for trading standards offices are available from C
About the Author
© Crown Copyright. Material taken from the BERR- Department
for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform replacing DTI - Department for
Trade and Industry. Reproduced under the terms and conditions of the Click-Use
Licence.
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Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2008-11-24 11:13:13 in Business Articles
