Dodgy travel firm sent packing with £45,000 fine over false licence claim

A BIRMINGHAM-based Hajj travel firm and its directors have been handed a £45,000 fine over false claims the company held an ATOL licence.

Trading Standards officers found Al-Hashmi Hajj and Umrah Tours Ltd, based in Trinity Road, Aston, claimed it was “protected by ATOL reg no 9899” during a routine inspection of travel websites in 2013.

However, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had previously written to the company in March 2013 to remind it that its ATOL licence expired in March 2013, stating it would be breaching ATOL regulations if it continued to advertise, sell or hold any licensable bookings before a new one was granted.

The majority of UK tour operators are required to hold an ATOL licence, without which they may not legally sell air travel.

Al-Hashmi Hajj and Umrah Tours applied for a new licence in April, but despite being warned in June that its licence had expired and the CAA would confirm when a new one would come into effect subject to terms being met, the business continued to represent itself as having a valid ATOL.

At a hearing at Birmingham Crown Court, the company was fined £14,000 and both directors, Mohammed Abdul Odud and Merajur Rahman Choudhury, were fined £7,000 each. Choudhury was also ordered to pay £16,484 in costs.  A further £7,500 was secured through a confiscation order.

Cllr Barbara Dring, chair of Birmingham City Council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: “Package tour operators have a captive audience because visas for Hajj have to be booked through these companies, people can’t do it themselves. This leaves pilgrims exposed to criminals who wish to exploit them.

“I hope today’s successful prosecution reinforces the message we will continue to investigate and prosecute travel operators who flout the law and take advantage of consumers when booking.”