A south London agent, Diving World (UK), has been fined £3,500 for breaching the Atol Regulations and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs.
Mohamed Oweiss, a former director of Diving World, pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates Court to three charges brought by the CAA: two of selling packages while not holding an Atol and one of falsely indicating Diving World (UK) held an Atol by displaying the Atol logo on the firm’s website.
The CAA welcomed the award of a £2,000 fine for failing to remove the Atol logo after it had requested Diving World take this off the site.
Oweiss appeared in court on November 6. He stood down as a director of Diving World (UK) last December and the company now describes itself as a “retail agent for Atol holders.” Its terms and conditions state: “All monies paid by you for air holiday packages are Atol Protected by the CAA … Your invoice will inform you of the Atol number you are covered under.”
Agents have been required since October 1 to issue an Atol Certificate to consumers making a protected booking; issuing solely an invoice would be in breach of the regulations.
Though brought under the new regulations, the CAA prosecution dated from before this year’s changes, with the booking offences committed in September 2010 and July 2011.
CAA head of Atol Andy Cohen said: “This prosecution demonstrates the CAA’s willingness to use its powers to enforce the Atol Regulations. We are investigating several more businesses which we believe may be in breach.”
The CAA confirmed last month that it has written to 20 firms to order them to stop selling holidays requiring financial protection without Atol cover.
The CAA repeated its call for staff who believe their employer is in breach of the regulations to turn whistleblower by calling 01293 573190 or emailing enforcement@caa.co.uk