CAR News Archive

UPDATE 27th May 2020: The time for receipt of completed claims in respect of USIT Ireland Limited has expired. No further claims can be accepted beyond May 26th 2020. We are currently processing all claims received in date order and will be in communication with each claimant by email or post as appropriate in due course.

Due to the fact that we are working remotely, we would ask you to bear with us during these difficult times.

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USIT Ireland Limited is unable to fulfil its obligations to its customers.

The Commission operates a consumer protection scheme and, if you find you are out of pocket, you may be covered by this scheme.

Am I covered by the consumer protection scheme?

You may be covered by the consumer protection scheme if you purchased a package from USIT Ireland Limited and this package includes travel. You may also be covered if you bought travel (alone) commencing in Ireland.

There is also separate consumer protection to cover customers who bought a travel package elsewhere in Europe.

Unfortunately, no other customers are covered by the scheme. If you are one of these customers, we advise you to look at the charge back policy of your credit/debit card provider and/or any holiday insurance you may have in place. 

What if I have not left Ireland yet?

Check with your airline and with your accommodation provider to see if your tickets and/or accommodation are still valid and have been paid by the travel agent.

i. If your airline says you can travel and if you have established your accommodation has been paid for, you can proceed with your travel plans.

ii. If your airline says you can travel but you have established that your accommodation is not paid for you can 

• proceed with your travel plans, pay for your accommodation yourself and then submit a claim for refund of the original cost of your accommodation from the Commission
• choose not to travel and submit a claim for a refund from the Commission.

iii. If your airline says you cannot travel and your accommodation is not paid, you cannot proceed with your travel plans and you can submit a claim for your original costs back from the Commission.

How can I make a claim?

For customers who bought either travel alone or a travel package commencing in Ireland claim forms are available here:

• USIT Travel Claim Form if you have not started your Holiday
• USIT Travel Claim Form if you are Abroad

You must submit your claim form within 60 days of the collapse of the business. The Commission will then assess these claims to determine the amount due to the claimant.

For customers who bought a travel package elsewhere in Europe you must notify International Passenger Protection (IPP) as soon as practically possible giving full details of what has happened quoting USIT Ireland Limited as your Travel Operator and quoting Reference: TOFI CAR IRELAND V1.19. You must contact IPP through any of the following means: 

Telephone: +31 103120666  Email: Insolvency-claims@ipplondon.co.uk   or online at http://www.ipplondon.co.uk/claims.asp

What if I am currently abroad?

We will be contacting any affected customers as necessary. If you would like to speak to one of our advisors, please call on +353-1-6611700.  

 

ENDS

For media queries please contact Johnny Fallon, johnny@carrcommunications.ie / +353 85 889 5103

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[i] The Commission has the following roles under the broad heading of travel trade licensing:

1. Licensing travel agents and tour operators, established in Ireland, buying and selling overseas travel packages and ensuring their other packages within the EU are covered with insolvency protection also.
2. Administering a bonding scheme for travel agents and tour operators established in Ireland.
3. Ensuring organisers established within the EU, selling or offering for sale packages and linked travel arrangements in Ireland comply with the requirement to inform the Commission of the security they have in place.
4. Ensuring organisers established outside the EU, selling or offering for sale packages and linked travel arrangements in Ireland provide security for their Irish sales.
5. Administering the Travellers’ Protection Fund (which was built up with a levy on passengers of tour operators between 1983 and 1987). This only applies for licensed travel agents and tour operators.
6. Processing claims for refunds and repatriation in the event of a regulated business being unable to meet its obligations.
7. Investigating instances of alleged illegal trading and, when necessary, prosecuting illegal traders.

More information can be found at www.aviationreg.ie.