The Israel Consumer Council today (Tuesday) warned the public against booking a vacation from the "Golden Path" tourism company, following complaints received by the council that the company demanded an additional payment from customers in order to give them tickets for organized trips abroad - even though they had already paid the full amount for them.
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According to the council's statement, "The complaints raise an apparent fear of consumer deception and a violation of the consumer protection law. The company is allegedly exploiting its power vis-à-vis the old consumers, when after they purchased its services for organized trips (among them river cruises, cruises to Iceland, etc.) and paid the full amount demanded by the company, they were required To pay a 'fuel surcharge' or a 'fuel levy' shortly before leaving for the trip, when the additional payment stood as a condition without which the consumers could not go on the trip (since the tickets were held by the company)."
"In addition, the company's regulations apparently allow it to collect the surcharge. This conduct constitutes a violation of the obligation to present the total price, using a false representation that the payment for the fuel levy is by virtue of a government directive," the statement said.
"In light of the fact that this is a serious deception aimed at the elderly, taking advantage of their weakness and taking advantage of the fact that the date of the trip they booked is close and the probability of canceling participation in it is low, and on the other hand, the company's refusal to return to the consumer public the fuel levies collected from them, the council issues a serious warning to the consumer public not to carry out Bookings for trips to this company, until it changes its ways."
"Use of misrepresentation".
Iceland, photo: Getty Images
The "Golden Path" reported: "We were amazed to read the Consumer Council's announcement in which things were written that have no meaning. This is not a deception at all, and this is because the price increase is fully reflected in the contract for the customer even before the deal is closed, and that any customer can cancel the trip before departure. Beyond that, this is a single and specific case that happened about a year ago at the height of the Corona crisis and the war in Ukraine, following the significant increase in fuel prices in the world."
They also said from the company: "Israir demanded an additional price for the flight, and as a result we were required to update the price of the trip, something that clearly reflects on the customers even before the deal was closed, and is also included in the agreement that was signed. It is important to note that the additional price goes directly to the airline, and does not remain as profit for us "The Golden Path" company is an old company that organizes dozens of trips around the world for the general public every year, and always has the best interest of the customer in mind. Therefore, we decided in advance, as a matter of law, to take upon ourselves a future increase in fuel prices."
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