Court fines holiday salesman

Officers from West Sussex Trading Standards Service secured a conviction against Mel Bouzad, 36, of Southlea Avenue, in Bournemouth, for selling holidays without correct financial security in the event of insolvency. Bouzad was convicted of contravening the The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations Act 1992 at Chichester Magistrates’ Court on August 4. The case followed a complaint from a Worthing man who had booked a £1,150 rally holiday in Europe through Bouzad’s London registered business, Pure Rally. At the 11th hour, Bouzad tried to levy an extra charge of £285 on the customer with the promise of a refund later in the year. The Worthing man, who wants to remain anonymous, could not pay and forfeited his holiday. When Trading Standards began investigating the complaint it emerged that Bouzad did not have the necessary financial security in place to protect consumers when they are abroad on his holidays. The financial security is necessary to ensure that companies can get their customers home in the event of insolvency of the business. Bouzad was fined £1,000 by the court, ordered to pay £1,000 towards WSCC’s prosecution costs and ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge. West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for residents’ services with responsibility for trading standards, David Barling, said: “I hope this case goes to show that we will pursue people beyond the borders of West Sussex if the victims fall within our area. “This was quite a complex case and due credit should be given to the trading standards team for the thorough investigation they carried out.” Anyone who thinks they have been a victim of an unfair trading practice should contact Trading Standards via Citizens Advice on 03454 04 05 06 or www.westsussex.gov.uk/TSreport Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1) Make our website your homepage at www.worthingherald.co.uk/ 2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Worthing.news 3) Follow us on Twitter @Worthing_Herald 4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out! The Worthing Herald - always the first with your local news. Be part of it.