A class action request has just been filed against Croisières AML to obtain reimbursement of illegal reservation and service fees paid by vacationers.
For years, claimants argue, the Quebec cruise line has been charging its customers higher prices than those advertised. This contravenes an article in the Consumer Protection Act in force since 2010.
Again on November 28, the site www.croisieresaml.com offered a “Christmas offshore dinner cruise” package for $ 114.99 per person. However, at the time of the transaction, the total invoice for two tickets was not $ 229.98, but $ 292.14 (including taxes).
Because in addition to the price per ticket of $ 114.99, a reservation fee of $ 2 was applied as well as a tip fee of $ 10.06.
These fees were only added at the time of going to checkout, when it was time to collect the personal and banking information of the plaintiff, details the request for class action presented by the firm Lambert Avocat.
“Croisières AML says it sells its packages to more than 600,000 passengers per year,” explains lawyer Jimmy Ernst Jr Lambert over the phone. So, just for the reservation fee, that’s $ 1.2 million per year in illegal fees. Imagine over 10 years. The company has put more than 10 million in its pockets. ”
Croisières AML offers cruise-excursion services (guided cruises, dinner cruises, brunch cruises, day cruises) in various cities of the province of Quebec. Croisières AML also does business under the names of Croisières du port de Montréal and Croisières Navimex and operates the ship. Louis jolliet.
The request is also aimed at a numbered company that operates the vessel. AML Cavalier Maxim as well as Navimex Investments (www.dufour.ca), which does business under the names of Croisières Dufour and Croisières Navimex in addition to operating various vessels: AML Suroît, AML Zéphir, AML Levant, AML Marsouin, Tadoussac III, Sea rider, Royal Cavalier and Great River.
The reservation fees added by cruise lines are $ 2 plus tax per person for an online transaction and $ 4 plus tax per person for a telephone transaction. Tip charges added during payment are sometimes 8.74% of the ticket price, sometimes 9.9%.
Purchase since June 2018
The class action request was made for all consumers who paid a higher price than the one advertised for a cruise offered by Croisières AML inc. since June 12, 2018.
The prescription only allows you to go back three years. However, due to COVID-19, an additional 170-day suspension was granted.
“Consumers who feel cheated tell themselves that for 10 years, the company made a profit and pocketed money, but you can only go back 3 years. And this is where it becomes profitable for companies to break the law, because they say to themselves: “If I don’t get caught, it’s money in my pocket, and if I get caught. , at worst, I go back three years ”, says lawyer Jimmy Ernst Jr Lambert.
If the class action request is accepted, customers who paid over the internet will be reimbursed directly to their credit card. Others may receive a letter and claim the costs.
“If the company has a computer system that allows credit card payments to be taken, its system also allows reimbursement,” concludes the lawyer.