Illustrative stock photo (source: SME)
Travel agency Hechter has not yet proven that it has obtained new insurance against bankruptcy or a bank guarantee even during the third inspection. As it did not have coverage, the Slovak Business Inspectorate (SOI) banned it from selling any trips in late June, the Denník N daily reported.
Though the travel agency lacked both the guarantee and the insurance, it continued selling trips. With such steps, it violated the ban SOI imposed after its first inspection. Moreover, it failed to meet the deadline to submit a new agreement on either the guarantee or the insurance scheduled for July 15.
“The binding instructions have been violated,” SOI spokesperson Petra Blehová confirmed to Denník N, adding that the revelations of the inspectors will be a subject of the administrative procedure. “This will end with imposing a sanction.”
Hechter now faces a fine amounting to more than €16,000. If the inspectors reveal other shortcomings, the sum may be even higher, Denník N wrote.
Hechter responded by saying that the main reason for the current state is that the insurance companies have not insured them yet, while the banks cannot provide guarantees due to the vague laws. They have thus turned to the National Bank of Slovakia which supervises the subjects on the financial market, Peter Pozníček, manager of Hechter, told the TASR newswire.
Meanwhile, head of the Slovak Association of Travel Agencies Stanislav Macko told Denník N that they proposed to cancel the membership of Hechter in the association.
