ethical or not? do you still sell products to the innocent people when you know your business may not deliver the products or services??? Is this cheating or business tactics of Five Stars Tours? Victims mainly from the working class…
[UPDATED Thurs 9 Jan, 6pm: Latest statement by CASE]
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/popular-travel-agency-five-star-tours-abruptly-shuts-down-033549516.html
Its shock closure could not have come at a worse time.
Potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of travellers have been left in the lurch after popular coach and travel agency Five Stars Tour abruptly closed all eight of its branches across Singapore on Wednesday.
In its latest statement as of 5pm on Thursday, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said it has received over 250 complaints -- 203 by phone, 37 walk-in and 17 online -- complaints against the tour agency, mostly due to its failure to honour terms of the agreement.
News of the travel agency's closure was first reported by Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao. In its report, it said Five Stars Tour had applied for a liquidation notice with the police.
When this reporter visited its main branch at People's Park Complex on Thursday morning, a notice at its entrance read that the agency "has closed for business and stop providing services with immediate effect. We will be returning all passports to customers through registered article in the next few days".
It also said customers with unfulfilled trips can make claims through travel insurance or file claims through the Small Claims Tribunal or CASE.
A customer, who only wants to be known as Ms Chua, went to check out the head office at People's Park Complex.
The 30-year-old housewife said she had paid Five Stars Tours S$2476 just earlier this week for a trip to Beijing for two people.
She had gone on two tours organised by Five Stars Tours previously, and had a good impression of the company, she said.
When she heard that the company had shut its doors suddenly, she checked the receipt issued by Five Stars Tours, and realised that the staff who sold her the package and handled the paperwork for her did not sign on the document.
Worried, she tried to call the different branches, and eventually made a police report when she could not get a satisfactory response.
She recounted: "I wanted to pay by credit card, but the staff told me they only accepted cash as it was a special promotional package. I didn’t think much of it then, but I feel so stupid now.”
Despite Chinese New Year being just around the corner, the travel agency that employed over 200 staff gave no advance notice or warning before shutting down.
[UPDATED Thurs 9 Jan, 6pm: Latest statement by CASE]
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/popular-travel-agency-five-star-tours-abruptly-shuts-down-033549516.html
Its shock closure could not have come at a worse time.
Potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of travellers have been left in the lurch after popular coach and travel agency Five Stars Tour abruptly closed all eight of its branches across Singapore on Wednesday.
In its latest statement as of 5pm on Thursday, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said it has received over 250 complaints -- 203 by phone, 37 walk-in and 17 online -- complaints against the tour agency, mostly due to its failure to honour terms of the agreement.
News of the travel agency's closure was first reported by Chinese daily Lianhe Wanbao. In its report, it said Five Stars Tour had applied for a liquidation notice with the police.
When this reporter visited its main branch at People's Park Complex on Thursday morning, a notice at its entrance read that the agency "has closed for business and stop providing services with immediate effect. We will be returning all passports to customers through registered article in the next few days".
It also said customers with unfulfilled trips can make claims through travel insurance or file claims through the Small Claims Tribunal or CASE.
A customer, who only wants to be known as Ms Chua, went to check out the head office at People's Park Complex.
The 30-year-old housewife said she had paid Five Stars Tours S$2476 just earlier this week for a trip to Beijing for two people.
She had gone on two tours organised by Five Stars Tours previously, and had a good impression of the company, she said.
When she heard that the company had shut its doors suddenly, she checked the receipt issued by Five Stars Tours, and realised that the staff who sold her the package and handled the paperwork for her did not sign on the document.
Worried, she tried to call the different branches, and eventually made a police report when she could not get a satisfactory response.
She recounted: "I wanted to pay by credit card, but the staff told me they only accepted cash as it was a special promotional package. I didn’t think much of it then, but I feel so stupid now.”
Despite Chinese New Year being just around the corner, the travel agency that employed over 200 staff gave no advance notice or warning before shutting down.
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