07/11/2025
🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑
Please read and be cautious!
I’m sharing this for awareness, and I want to clarify that the individual involved has given me permission to post this to prevent others from becoming victims.
Recently, I received a message from a person based in Toronto seeking advice about a troubling situation. This individual purchased a ticket from an agency in Calgary on April 30, with a scheduled departure date of July 18. However, as of now, he has yet to receive the ticket. To make matters worse, the agency requested additional payment, claiming they were waiting for confirmation from the airline. This is fundamentally wrong! When we book a passenger, it should mean that we have secured a confirmed booking (referred to as "HK" in airline terminology), not "HL" or waitlisted status. After the payment is made, the client should receive their ticket promptly, not be left waiting for months.
The victim has made numerous attempts to contact the agency for assistance, but they have refused to help. He also requested a refund, only for his request to be ignored. Additionally, he attempted to reach out to ACTA (the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors), but they were unable to locate the agency, which leads me to believe that it is not registered in Canada.
A significant issue in this case is that the victim paid via e-transfer, making it impossible for him to dispute the transaction. It’s disheartening to witness how easily some individuals can scam others, especially knowing how hard people work for their money.
I always emphasize this: you get what you pay for! It’s crucial not to focus solely on price but to consider the quality of service and after-sales support. Always choose to work with agencies accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and ACTA to ensure you are in safe hands.
