Travel Firm Fined Over Hajj Failure

A travel agent has been fined and ordered to pay over £34,000 in compensation to hundreds of Hajj pilgrims who have been left out of pocket and unable to travel to Mecca.

Trading standards officers in Tameside took action against Ashton Hajj and Umra Ltd., which traded as Ashton Travel, after receiving more than 40 complaints from angry customers.

Families paid thousands of pounds to travel on a pilgrimage, only to be told just days before they were due to depart that they had not been allocated a visa and would not be allowed to travel.

Tameside council took the case to court and said that more than 230 people were affected but that more victims could now come forward.

The company pleaded guilty to trading with a lack of professional diligence and was fined £6,700, with £5,000 costs and ordered to pay £34,300 in compensation to its customers.

Tameside councillor Allison Gwynne, said:

"The financial and emotional consequences for pilgrims were huge. They had put their faith in the company to act professionally and make all the necessary arrangements – only to be told days before they were due to go that they could not travel.

"Our officers worked hard to investigate the company and take robust action against its unfair trading practices so that victims could seek recompense."

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