The Travel Assurance Fund (TAF) provides a possible source of compensation when consumers do not receive the travel services they purchased through a BC licensed travel agent.

Consumer Travel Assurance Fund Claim Form [Online]
Consumer Travel Assurance Fund Claim Form [PDF]
BC licensed travel agent or wholesaler Travel Assurance Fund claim form [Online]
BC licensed travel agent or wholesaler Travel Assurance Fund claim form [PDF]

Who can claim against the Travel Assurance Fund?

Consumers: May be eligible to claim if they booked travel services through a BC licensed travel agent and the travel services were not provided. Consumers must first try to obtain compensation from other sources such as their credit card provider, insurance company and travel agent.

Licensed Agents: May be eligible if they have reimbursed or provided alternate travel services at their own expense to a client who has not received travel services as a result of a business failure by a supplier.

Licensed Travel Wholesalers: May be eligible if they have provided travel services to a client of a BC licensed travel agent after not receiving full payment from the BC licensed travel agent.

What is covered by the Travel Assurance Fund?

The TAF is meant to compensate the person who paid for the travel services that were not provided. The TAF only reimburses up to the cost of the original contracted services, and does not cover the cost of alternative or replacement services. The most common example involves the consumer paying a BC licensed agent for travel services that includes transportation or accommodation, and then not receiving the service because of business failure.

What is not covered?

The Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act and the Travel Industry Regulation set out the parameters relating to the Travel Assurance Fund. These are some of the items that are not covered by the TAF:

• Gift certificates, damage deposits or unused credits;
• Dissatisfaction with the quality of service such as poor accommodations, the occurrence of natural disasters, pandemics or bad weather, or other circumstances beyond the control of the travel supplier;
• The TAF will not top up insurance payments related to health, baggage or trip cancellation; and
• Claims received by the Travel Assurance Fund later than six months from the date you failed to receive the travel services.

Compensation From Other Sources

Under the Travel Industry Regulation, Section 20(a) the Director may defer payment until the director is satisfied that the claimant has made reasonable efforts to obtain compensation from other sources including credit card issuers and/or insurance (if applicable). For your claim to be considered, you must provide proof that you have made reasonable efforts to obtain compensation from other available sources before applying to the TAF.

Travel agents and wholesalers located in BC are required to be licensed and are required to contribute to the Travel Assurance Fund (TAF), which is managed by Consumer Protection BC.