A Bankstown-based travel agency known for servicing Sydney’s Lebanese community has gone into liquidation and left many customers with worthless airline tickets. The alleged victims claim they paid in full for tickets that were never booked with airlines.
An investigation by SBS Arabic24 has revealed multiple alleged victims, including one family who claims to have lost around $15,000 AUD to Monte Carlo Travel.
When Monte Carlo Travel was contacted for comment, a spokesperson told SBS Arabic24 he had been advised by his lawyer not to comment.
Documents obtained by SBS Arabic24 have revealed that the agency was continuing to trade after being placed in liquidation on June 13, 2018.
Alleged victim, Paul Semaan alleges he bought tickets through the agency for 15 relatives who were planning to travel to Lebanon on 7 August for a wedding. After paying Monte Carlo Travel around $15,000 AUD, some of it in cash, his family’s tickets never arrived. Mr Semaan told SBS Arabic24’s breakfast program, Good Morning Australia, he has since hired a lawyer to take on the case.
SBS Arabic24 was provided with a copy of one of the receipts that documents a payment of AUD 3,500.
Mr Semann said the situation has been particularly difficult for his elderly father who was extremely disappointed to find out they would not be travelling to the family wedding in Lebanon.
The alleged-victim further stated that when payment was made on July 5, the company was already in liquidation. Documents provided to SBS Arabic24 state Monte Carlo Travel went into liquidation on June 13, 2018.
Raghad Tamer who works for another travel agency, Sendibad Travel, urged customers to check the validity of airline tickets by verifying the ticket number. This can be found under the name of passenger. This isn’t the flight number or the reservation number, and can be done by contacting the airline directly.
People waiting to board the plane. Source: Moment RF
Another alleged victim, Pierre Al-Alam*, said he bought two round-trip tickets to Lebanon from the Monte Carlo Travel Agency to the value of $2,350. He was provided with a receipt which was signed by a staff member and dated April 20, 2018. This receipt has been seen by SBS Arabic24. The "ticket" Mr Al-Alam purchased booked him flights in August, or so he thought.
Mr Al-Alam subsequently discovered that the bookings were not actually made with the airline after he heard rumours circulating in the community about the travel agency. He tried to contact the agent but did not receive an answer. He called Etihad airline and he was told the booking had been cancelled because they had not been paid by the agency.
After that, he went to the travel agency's office in the Sydney suburb of Bankstown, but discovered the doors were locked. The Department of Fair Trading advised him to file a complaint with NSW Police. He was told he wasn’t the first one complaining against Monte Carlo Travel. On 25 July, Mr Al-Alam said Fair Trading contacted him to let him know the company was in liquidation. Fair Trading gave him the liquidators’ contact details and advised him to get in touch about a possible compensation.
It is unknown how many people have been affected so far but those who have seen their dreams of travelling evaporate into thin air have been left asking how a company can continue to operate even though it is under liquidation.
*disclaimer – alleged victim is a family relation to the SBS Arabic24 journalist involved in this investigation
