Minnesota high schoolers will be reimbursed for canceled European trips
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced Friday that high school music students will be fully reimbursed for canceled European trips last year.
Colorado-based travel company Voyageurs International will be required to pay 344 Minnesota families a total of $664,835 after canceling its summer 2020 trips. Voyagers International charged families between $6,345 to $9,010 for arranging the trips, which were canceled due to COVID-19.
According to Ellison’s office, Voyageurs International refused to refund students the full amount of the canceled trips, retaining $1,900 as a “cancellation fee.” The company stated that the fee was necessary because it had already made payments for travel arrangements.
Ellison’s office launched an investigation into the incident after receiving multiple consumer complaints.
A settlement reached with Voyageurs International requires the company to fully refund all students and communicate refund and cancellation policies in the future.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on businesses and consumers alike — but that doesn’t give businesses the right to treat consumers unfairly,” Ellison said in a statement.
“Minnesota students and their families paid hard-earned money for these travel packages. I’m pleased that Voyageurs is finally making things right and refunding them for services they never received. I hope these refunds help repair some of the strain and disappointment they have felt while trying to afford their lives and get through this difficult time."
Ellison’s office will contact families who participated in the trips about their reimbursements.
