Sernac claims that it cannot intervene in school trip scam

SANTIAGO.- The Director of the National Consumer Service (Sernac), José Roa, indicated that in cases of fraud such as the one suffered by students who were abandoned in Mendoza on a school trip, the organization does not have the authority to do anything and it is the courts that would have to intervene.

"Consumer law addresses companies that make mistakes, but not predators or criminals disguised as professionals, that is far beyond what consumer law can take on, and where the penal institutions need to step in", stated Roa to Radio Cooperativa.

The Sernac Director emphasized that it is very important to research previous services offered by tourism agencies, but regardless, the companies are still required to comply with what they have been contracted to do.

Students from the Colegio Manquemávida of Santa Cruz, in the Region of O'Higgins were on their way to Camboriú, Brazil, but when they were in Mendoza the bus broke down. They waited for three days for the company to replace the engine, until finally they were sent tickets to return to Santiago.