Bloomfield Tour Company Bilked Patrons For Undelivered Services, Authorities Say

Patrons of Club ABC Tours, a now-defunct, Bloomfield-based travel agency, may be able to recoup some of their ill-taken funds thanks to a consent judgment through the Office of the Attorney General and New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

According to the OAG settlement, 52 customers purchased all-inclusive travel packages from the agency – which also did business as Crown Travel Service Inc. – unaware that the company had filed for bankruptcy in 2012.

The OAG had alleged that the travel agency continued to book travel packages until September of 2012, even though Club ABC Tours was insolvent at least as early as December 2008, and ABC Destinations was insolvent as early as June 2012.

As a result, some customers found themselves literally stranded in Europe, the OAG stated in a release.

After arriving at hotels in Rome, the victims learned the company had failed to pay for their lodging and other accommodations. The customers then found that the travel insurance they had paid for would not cover the losses.

Those stranded customers had to choose whether to pay out-of-pocket for hotels – or book immediate flights back home, the OAG stated.

The Final Consent Judgment provides for a payment of $525,000, which will be applied as partial restitution for eligible consumers. In addition, a civil penalty of $119,000 assessed against Robert Paris and Thomas Paris will be suspended and vacated after two years if they satisfy the terms of the agreement.

Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file an online complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 or 973-504- 6200.