Scamming Pilgrims

Friday, 21 November 2008 13:10

Following the launch by the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, of the British hajj delegation this year, the department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) urges British pilgrims to report any instances of substandard service and to beware of scam artists.

The department’s advice comes as the Association of British Hujjaj (ABH) lodges a complaint with BERR over a Hajj operator in Tower Hamlets who absconded with a million pounds of pilgrims’ money leaving almost 300 prospective pilgrims out of pocket and in the cold.

Consumer Affairs Minister Gareth Thomas said:

"British pilgrims are entitled to get what they pay for and need not suffer in silence if they feel that they have been ripped off"

"We are urging pilgrims to keep their travel documents, to take photos of any substandard accommodation, and report any unsatisfactory experiences to trading standards".

"The Government believes that many cases of pilgrims losing out go unreported - preventing them from getting the help, refunds or compensation they are entitled to".

BERR has worked throughout the year to spread the word to Muslim communities of the importance of booking their pilgrimage with a Hajj operator who has a current Air Travel Organiser's licence (ATOL), and pilgrims' rights of redress under the UK Package Travel Regulations.

The campaign seems to be working, with the Civil Aviation Authority reporting an increase in the number of Hajj travel operators applying for ATOLs since the summer. Since last year there has also been an increase in the number of British Muslims lodging complaints when they have been targeted by a scam.

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