CONSUMERS affected by the collapse of Bestjet (TD 18 Dec 2018) are continuing to raise concerns about chargebacks, with a significant number of customers having had refunds reversed after challenges by Integrapay, the firm which processed credit cards on behalf of the failed OTA.
Minutes of a meeting of a Bestjet “Committee of Inspection” posted last week on the ASIC website indicate Integrapay CEO Chris Urry saying the company is “defending” some of the chargebacks, on the basis that tickets were issued even though flights were not taken.
Some banks are believed to be pushing back on the Integrapay claim, but consumers are understandably anxious as money returned to them in a chargeback has been subsequently re-debited pending arbitration.
The meeting, which took place in early Jan, also noted about 4,600 known creditors owed about $10.3 million, including a $600,000 claim from one airline.
However “chargebacks are starting to be made which will result in many customers no longer having claims against Bestjet,” the Administrators from Pilot Partners noted.
Pilot Partners confirmed it was investigating legal action against cloud computing giant Amazon, which hosted the Bestjet booking platform, in order to gain access to the servers.
Discussions at the meeting also revolved around Bestjet Singapore Pte Ltd, a separate company controlled by former Bestjet CEO Rachel James, and its relationship with Sabre.
The meeting’s Chairman, Nigel Markey, noted there was “a lot of explanation required from Bestjet Singapore which is related to Ms Rachel James”.
Source: traveldaily