Kumuka shuts up shop
Kumuka Worldwide Inc has ceased trading. The company informed its customers and the travel trade in an announcement on its web site that any tours scheduled after July 22, 2012 would not operate and that travellers booked on trips after this date would need to re-book with another operator. In Ontario, Kumuka Worldwide Inc is located in Mississauga, Ontario and in an advisory on the TICO web site, it is indicated that the company voluntarily terminated its Ontario Travel Industry Act, 2002 registration to do business as a travel retailer and as a travel wholesaler in Ontario effective July 18, 2012. The TICO advisory states that consumers with future departures who purchased their travel services directly from Kumuka Worldwide Inc. located in Ontario or through a registered Ontario travel agency and who will not be receiving their future travel services may request a claim form from TICO against the Ontario Travel Compensation Fund. Consumers may request a claim form by contacting TICO directly at 1-888-451-8426 or (905) 624-6241 or email: [email protected] to request a claim form. There is a legislated 6 month claim filing deadline for Standard Claims. The filing deadline to file a claim in relation to the non-provision of future travel is Jan. 21, 2013. Consumers who paid by credit card and the payment was processed by Kumuka Worldwide Inc. should contact their credit card company and request a charge-back (refund) as well as request a claim form from TICO. Consumers who purchased their travel services through an Ontario registered travel agency (other than Kumuka Worldwide Inc.) should contact their travel agent for information with respect to alternate travel arrangements and request a claim form from TICO against the Travel Compensation Fund. Consumers who purchased their Kumuka Worldwide Inc. travel services from an out-of-province travel agency (ex. a travel agency located outside of Ontario, Canada): There is no provision under Ontario Regulation 26/05 pursuant to the Travel Industry Act, 2002 for a consumer to claim on the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund when they have purchased travel services from an out-of-province travel agency. TICO can only recommend that you contact your travel agency for further assistance. Consumers currently in destination travelling on Kumuka Worldwide Inc. travel services purchased directly from Kumuka Worldwide Inc. located in Ontario or through a registered Ontario travel agency can file a claim against the Compensation Fund to provide the reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred (transportation, accommodation and meals) to complete a trip where the travel services have not been provided as the result of the closure of Kumuka Worldwide Inc. Provided that the consumer purchased their original travel services from an Ontario registered travel retailer, trip completion claims may be eligible when the consumer’s travel services commenced prior to the failure of Kumuka Worldwide Inc. and the consumer is in destination and unable to receive the travel services purchased to complete their travel plans. Please note that there is a legislated 3 month claim filing deadline for Trip Completion Claims. The filing deadline to file a claim in relation to expenses incurred to complete a trip where the travel services have not been provided as the result of the closure is Oct. 19, 2012. Go to http://www.tico.ca for additional information.
