Murray Atherton has spent several weeks driving VIP's around during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. He took every opportunity to play tour guide.
"People are in awe of our beauty," Atherton said.
Last fall it was Murray who was the tourist when he visited Haida Gwaii.
"Every day it was like this we were in the Haida Gwaii and it was like this," he said pointing to a sunny sky. "It rains 300 days a year up there but it was absolutely amazing."
But when his group arrived in Smithers, B.C. the desk clerk at the hotel had bad news.
"The tour company that you booked with has gone bankrupt and we haven't been paid,' he was told.
So for the next three days Murray paid for hotel rooms. When they arrived home, he tried to get his money back through his credit card's travel insurance. But they declined his claim.
"I get the letter and it said they do not cover in-province travel," he said.
Meanwhile, Murray's friend had already received a refund through the B.C. Travel Assurance fund which covers licensed B.C. travel agents.
Manjit Bains of Consumer Protection BC describes it as a fund of last resort. That means you have to exhaust all your other options first such as travel insurance or your credit card company before you can claim.
"Always look at the fine print. Look at refund and cancellation policies." Bains said.
When booking a vacation online look for an icon that says the website is licensed by Consumer Protection BC. If you are using websites based in another province -- check to see if you have added protection from that province.
Murray filled out the forms and crossed his fingers.
"[I] got all the receipts and sent it off to Victoria and within four weeks I got all the money. It was amazing it was so easy," he said.
Consumer Protection BC's new website travelrightsbc.ca has more information. And remember the travel assurance fund doesn't replace travel insurance for those cases where you have to cancel your trip.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
