BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey filed a lawsuit in June against Florida-based online travel company BookIt.com, alleging it had taken money from Massachusetts consumers for hotel reservations, knowing the pandemic would cancel those bookings, and refused to issue refunds.
According to Healey, more than $550,000 has now been secured for the 539 Massachusetts consumers impacted by BookIt's practices.
The AG’s complaint alleged that when BookIt suspended its business operations in March, the company also stopped paying hotels and resorts for reservations, including for reservations already in progress, leaving many consumers with no choice but to pay their hotels a second time for their stay.
Healey said BookIt also closed all of its call centers so that consumers had no way to contact the company to seek a refund.
"We're going to be getting full refunds for Massachusetts residents, over half a million dollars worth of refunds," Healey said.
Healey said her office has recovered $11.8 million since the start of the pandemic from various travel companies, resulting in payments to more than 5,700 consumers in Massachusetts.
WBZ NewsRadio's Karyn Regal reports:
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