As a traveler, you like to be well-informed and, above all, well-protected. With this in mind, I've decided to talk to you today about a little-known but incredibly important form of protection!
Are you familiar with FICAV? The Travel Agents' Customer Compensation Fund is a financial protection administered by the Consumer Protection Office.
How does it work?
As a customer, you automatically benefit from this protection when you purchase tourist services (flights, hotels, cruises, etc.) through a travel agency.
The FICAV allows you to obtain a refund if the travel agency or supplier (airline, hotel, etc.) is unable to provide you with the services you purchased.
Important: If you deal directly with a supplier, without going through a travel agency, the fund simply does not protect you. Therefore, you are not eligible for these reimbursements.
Inexpensive for good protection!
The contribution you pay when you book a trip through an agency forms part of this fund. Your contribution is 0.1% of your purchase. For example, if you buy a $1,000 trip, you will contribute $1 to the fund. A small price to pay for such good protection, isn't it?
Since its creation in 2004, the FICAV has paid out more than $8.1 million to more than 18,800 Quebec travellers.
Important: If you decide to book your trip online, make sure it's with a travel agency that holds a permit from the Office de la protection du consommateur (Consumer Protection Office). You can easily verify this using the "Check a Merchant" search tool on the Office's website.
In short, when you travel, you have every advantage in using a travel agency! You will have much more peace of mind.
If you have any questions, I invite you to consult the website: voyagezbienprotege.gouv.qc.ca
With that, have a good trip!
For many, the New Year means a wind of change, a time for resolutions that we stick…
Between work and family obligations, it's not easy to get along with friends when…
You've already visited most Cuban regions and don't know where to go on your next…
