Stop tour seller fraud. The FTC and the Attorneys General (AG) of 12 states estimated the cost of travel related fraud at more than $12 billion a year. Unfortunately when tour sellers fail to perform services we found that written complaints to the AG’s office in both NY and Ca. fail customers as they get no response from the seller. “Travel Seller’s are unregulated and fail to have most of the basic components of a comprehensive licensing statute i.e. annual registration proficiency testing advertising standards and contractual disclosure rules surety bonding escrow accounts errors and omissions insurance consumer restitution funds and civil and criminal penalties.” Link: http://www.courts.state.ny.us/tandv/travellaw.htm On March 15 2004 customers Mr. & Mrs. Cochran purchased a Pilgrimage to Ireland tour from ITS International Tours LLC recommended by tour director Rev. Msgr. James E. Wall St. Columban Center Buffalo NY. This tour was canceled by Mr. Joe Maloof ITS International Tours 1600 Wyatt Drive Suite 16 Santa Clara California 95054. No consumer restitution funds were offered. On March 25 2005 after a year of stalling on our request for a refund Mr. Joe Maloof claimed he sold ITS International Tours and its operating assets to; Mr. Ron Hansen International Grand Tours Inc. (IGT) 4701 Patrick Henry Drive Suite 1701 Santa Clara Ca 95054 Telephone 408 850-1525. He wrote "This sale and transfer was entirely conditioned upon the payment of IGT and/or Mr. Hansen of all liabilities for any refunds due to participants both in Travel Selections as well as Travel Selection's subsidiary ITS International Tours." We have requested a refund from both ITS and IGT and again no consumer restitution funds were offered. We paid and lost $5000.00 to the tour seller. Customers need protection from rip-offs by flim-flam tour operators. We need your help to Stop tour seller fraud. What I propose in that the States develop a tour seller/operator law a comprehensive licensing statute i.e. annual registration proficiency testing advertising standards and contractual disclosure rules surety bonding escrow accounts errors and omissions insurance consumer restitution funds and civil and criminal penalties licensed and bonded. Please forward this message to elected leaders and request their help to stop tour seller fraud. Thank you Robert H. Cochran