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CSTAR rétorque à l'ACTA
Le dossier des notes de débit du BSP link s'est installé au coeur de l'interminable confrontation qui oppose CSTAR à l'ACTA, les deux associations canadiennes qui veillent, à divers degrés, aux intérêts des agents de voyages canadiens. l'ACTA a émis hier un communiqué spécial, qui vous mettait en garde contre les affirmations faites par CSTAR le 26 octobre dans le dossier des notes de débit du BSP Link. La CSTAR réplique à présent au communiqué de l'ACTA, suggérant que l'ACTA ne comprend pas le dossier et l'accusant notamment de parler beaucoup et de ne rien faire. Nous reproduisons ici, en séquence, les communiqués de CSTAR et de l'ACTA. CSTAR ne communiquant qu'en anglais nous vous livrons le tout à l'état brut.
Communiqué de CSTAR du 26 octobre 2006
Protecting Your Travel Agency's Legal Rights
Please Read Very Carefully
Dear Colleagues:
As you may have seen in BSPlink yesterday, IATA has posted an "advisory" which sets forth various remitting and settlement criteria, a statement regarding an alleged minimum 48 hours (2 days) of notice of the amount to be debited against agencies each week, and policy which purports that a Canadian travel agency participating in BSP Canada and which accesses BSPlink "hereby waives any requirement for additional or other advance notification by IATA or any BSP Airline of any such debits to its trust account or other bank account".
As a threshold matter, the inclusion of the words "any BSP Airline" is a troubling indication that IATA may eventually choose to allow individual airlines to directly access the BSP Canada and BSPlink system to debit travel agencies at some future time, a process which is currently not provided for in IATA resolutions, nor in the IATA Passenger Agency Agreement.
This said, as you also know, the Canadian Payments Association (CPA) has issued regulations which require a minimum of 10 days advance notice of the amount to be debited using any Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) system unless the Payor (your agency) and the Payee (IATA) have mutually consented to waive this requirement and/or agree to a different or alternate pre-notification period.
It has been CSTAR's position all along that IATA does not have these waivers or consent from travel agencies to amend the terms of CPA regulations, and despite IATA's self-serving advisory to the contrary, that IATA has no authority to unilaterally force travel agencies to waive such rights, nor waive any right to specifically approve the amount to be paid by the agency to IATA each week. It is clear to CSTAR that IATA's posting of this advisory is an attempt to force travel agencies to adhere to IATA's terms.
While each travel agency must make its own decision as to how to protect itself from losing any legal right to proper advance notice and the right to specifically approve the amount to be drawn by IATA from agency bank accounts, agencies are asked to consider the need, or not, to protect themselves and their legal rights as follows:
1. Provide Notice to IATA (suggested text follows):
To Whom It May Concern -
Notwithstanding the advisory posted on the BSPlink web site, on behalf of the undersigned travel agency, I hereby reserve all my rights, do not waive any rights, and do not accept this unilateral change which has never been agreed to by my agency. IATA's advisory violates my rights in relation to a proper pre-notification of and authorization for settlement of amounts which would otherwise be correctly due to IATA. My travel agency shall continue to require the appropriate and proper notice of 10 days prior notification of any pre-authorized debit, the amount of which will still requires my specific authorization. The purported unilateral change in procedures for settlement, as presented in your BSPlink web advisory, is in no way agreed to by our agency. Please be guided accordingly.
IATA Number:
Agency Name:
Agency Address:
City, Province:
Name of Owner/Manager:
Yours truly,
[Agency and Signature Block]
The above text to be sent to:
bspcanada@iata.org
(with a copy, if desired, to postmaster@cstar.ca)
2. Provide Notice to the Travel Agency Commissioner (suggested text follows):
Mr. Brian Barrow
Deputy Travel Agency Commissioner - Canada
In accordance with IATA Resolution 820e "Reviews by the Travel Agency Commissioner" (including by not limited to Sections 1.1.9 and 1.1.10 or as otherwise provided), on behalf of the undersigned travel agency, I ask the Travel Agency Commissioner responsible for Canada to intervene so as to protect my agency's rights for proper advance pre-notification and proper advance authorization of a specific weekly settlement amount due from my agency in accordance with prevailing IATA resolutions and Canadian banking regulations (Canadian Payments Association Rule H-1). Any attempt by IATA to force my agency to accept terms not provided for in current IATA resolutions and procedures (including but not limited to Resos 804, 824, 832, 850m and the BSP Canada Manual for Passenger Sales Agents), or any policies which remove my rights under Canadian banking regulations, or which force my agency to accept terms which have not been approved by the IATA Passenger Agency Conference, are actions which are to my agency's direct and serious detriment.
The Travel Agency Commissioner's review of and intervention in this matter is urgently requested.
IATA Number:
Agency Name:
Agency Address:
City, Province:
Name of Owner/Manager:
Yours truly,
[Agency and Signature Block]
The above text to be sent to:
agency.commissioner@bluewin.ch
bspcanada@iata.org
(with a copy, if desired, to postmaster@cstar.ca)
3. Only if you are a customer of and use CIBC for your regular business banking: Provide Notice to CIBC
(suggested text follows):
Ms. Kimberley McVittie
CIBC Ombudsman
As a banking customer of CIBC, my travel agency hereby provides notice to CIBC that our travel agency does not waive our rights for the required 10-day advance pre- notificaiton of PAD transactions initiated by your other customer, IATA, nor do we waive our right to specifically authorize the PAD amount to be deducted. Any statement which IATA makes which purports that our agency has agreed to other terms or waived such rights has not been agreed to by our travel agency, and we have not executed or consented to any document or agreement to this effect.
Travel Agency Name:
Agency Address:
City, Province:
Name of Owner/Manager:
CIBC Account Number:
CIBC Branch Number:
Branch City/Province
Yours truly,
[Agency and Signature Block]
The above text to be sent to:
ombudsman@cibc.com
bspcanada@iata.org
(with a copy, if desired, to postmaster@cstar.ca)
Lastly, I respectfully call upon Christiane Théberge, Vice-President, Public Affairs for ACTA, the ACTA Board of Directors, and the leaders of agency groups and organizations througout Canada to evaluate the merits and importance of advising their respective members of the above considerations.
Best regards,
Bruce Bishins, CTC
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Please Read Very Carefully
Dear Colleagues:
As you may have seen in BSPlink yesterday, IATA has posted an "advisory" which sets forth various remitting and settlement criteria, a statement regarding an alleged minimum 48 hours (2 days) of notice of the amount to be debited against agencies each week, and policy which purports that a Canadian travel agency participating in BSP Canada and which accesses BSPlink "hereby waives any requirement for additional or other advance notification by IATA or any BSP Airline of any such debits to its trust account or other bank account".
As a threshold matter, the inclusion of the words "any BSP Airline" is a troubling indication that IATA may eventually choose to allow individual airlines to directly access the BSP Canada and BSPlink system to debit travel agencies at some future time, a process which is currently not provided for in IATA resolutions, nor in the IATA Passenger Agency Agreement.
This said, as you also know, the Canadian Payments Association (CPA) has issued regulations which require a minimum of 10 days advance notice of the amount to be debited using any Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) system unless the Payor (your agency) and the Payee (IATA) have mutually consented to waive this requirement and/or agree to a different or alternate pre-notification period.
It has been CSTAR's position all along that IATA does not have these waivers or consent from travel agencies to amend the terms of CPA regulations, and despite IATA's self-serving advisory to the contrary, that IATA has no authority to unilaterally force travel agencies to waive such rights, nor waive any right to specifically approve the amount to be paid by the agency to IATA each week. It is clear to CSTAR that IATA's posting of this advisory is an attempt to force travel agencies to adhere to IATA's terms.
While each travel agency must make its own decision as to how to protect itself from losing any legal right to proper advance notice and the right to specifically approve the amount to be drawn by IATA from agency bank accounts, agencies are asked to consider the need, or not, to protect themselves and their legal rights as follows:
1. Provide Notice to IATA (suggested text follows):
To Whom It May Concern -
Notwithstanding the advisory posted on the BSPlink web site, on behalf of the undersigned travel agency, I hereby reserve all my rights, do not waive any rights, and do not accept this unilateral change which has never been agreed to by my agency. IATA's advisory violates my rights in relation to a proper pre-notification of and authorization for settlement of amounts which would otherwise be correctly due to IATA. My travel agency shall continue to require the appropriate and proper notice of 10 days prior notification of any pre-authorized debit, the amount of which will still requires my specific authorization. The purported unilateral change in procedures for settlement, as presented in your BSPlink web advisory, is in no way agreed to by our agency. Please be guided accordingly.
IATA Number:
Agency Name:
Agency Address:
City, Province:
Name of Owner/Manager:
Yours truly,
[Agency and Signature Block]
The above text to be sent to:
bspcanada@iata.org
(with a copy, if desired, to postmaster@cstar.ca)
2. Provide Notice to the Travel Agency Commissioner (suggested text follows):
Mr. Brian Barrow
Deputy Travel Agency Commissioner - Canada
In accordance with IATA Resolution 820e "Reviews by the Travel Agency Commissioner" (including by not limited to Sections 1.1.9 and 1.1.10 or as otherwise provided), on behalf of the undersigned travel agency, I ask the Travel Agency Commissioner responsible for Canada to intervene so as to protect my agency's rights for proper advance pre-notification and proper advance authorization of a specific weekly settlement amount due from my agency in accordance with prevailing IATA resolutions and Canadian banking regulations (Canadian Payments Association Rule H-1). Any attempt by IATA to force my agency to accept terms not provided for in current IATA resolutions and procedures (including but not limited to Resos 804, 824, 832, 850m and the BSP Canada Manual for Passenger Sales Agents), or any policies which remove my rights under Canadian banking regulations, or which force my agency to accept terms which have not been approved by the IATA Passenger Agency Conference, are actions which are to my agency's direct and serious detriment.
The Travel Agency Commissioner's review of and intervention in this matter is urgently requested.
IATA Number:
Agency Name:
Agency Address:
City, Province:
Name of Owner/Manager:
Yours truly,
[Agency and Signature Block]
The above text to be sent to:
agency.commissioner@bluewin.ch
bspcanada@iata.org
(with a copy, if desired, to postmaster@cstar.ca)
3. Only if you are a customer of and use CIBC for your regular business banking: Provide Notice to CIBC
(suggested text follows):
Ms. Kimberley McVittie
CIBC Ombudsman
As a banking customer of CIBC, my travel agency hereby provides notice to CIBC that our travel agency does not waive our rights for the required 10-day advance pre- notificaiton of PAD transactions initiated by your other customer, IATA, nor do we waive our right to specifically authorize the PAD amount to be deducted. Any statement which IATA makes which purports that our agency has agreed to other terms or waived such rights has not been agreed to by our travel agency, and we have not executed or consented to any document or agreement to this effect.
Travel Agency Name:
Agency Address:
City, Province:
Name of Owner/Manager:
CIBC Account Number:
CIBC Branch Number:
Branch City/Province
Yours truly,
[Agency and Signature Block]
The above text to be sent to:
ombudsman@cibc.com
bspcanada@iata.org
(with a copy, if desired, to postmaster@cstar.ca)
Lastly, I respectfully call upon Christiane Théberge, Vice-President, Public Affairs for ACTA, the ACTA Board of Directors, and the leaders of agency groups and organizations througout Canada to evaluate the merits and importance of advising their respective members of the above considerations.
Best regards,
Bruce Bishins, CTC
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Réponse de l'ACTA, le 30 octobre 2006
L’ACTA souhaite donner suite à une demande de CSTAR et fournir ses commentaires sur les enjeux relativement aux paiements dans le BSP .
communiqué de l'ACTA
En premier lieu, l’ACTA désire rappeler à ses membres certains faits car, quoique ni l’ACTA, ni ses membres, ne soient parfaitement heureux avec le système actuel, les faits suivants demeurent réels :
Tous les agents reconnus par IATA doivent signer le PSAA ( Passenger Sales Agency Agreement) et utiliser le BSP;
Le BSP repose sur des débits préautorisés (DPA) pour traiter le flot des fonds;
En signant le Passenger Sales Agency Agreement, chaque agent accepte d’être régi par des Résolutions de l’IATA;
L’une de ces résolutions, la Résolution 832, para 1.6.1, dit que la Direction de ISS peut demander à l’agent de fournir un formulaire d’autorisation autorisant la banque d’affaires à retirer des chèques ou des débits du compte en fidéicommis de l’agent en faveur d’IATA, en paiement de tous les montants dus aux transporteurs BSP, et
La Résolution 824, para. 1.6.2.5 - 1.6.2.13, encadre les règles de paiement pour les agents au Canada. Cette résolution prévoit également un formulaire d’autorisation aux fins du règlement des ventes par lequel l’agent préautorise les débits périodiques de son compte par IATA, pour un montant qui reflète ses ventes telles que rapportées au BSP.
C’est sur cette base que la relation entre l’agent et IATA fonctionne.
L’Association canadienne des paiements a un certain nombre de règles qui régissent ses opérations, dont quelques-unes s’appliquent au procédé de débits préautorisés (DPA). L’une de ces règles exige un avis écrit d’au moins dix jours, tel que noté par CSTAR. Cette règle générale s’applique lorsqu’il y aura un changement futur dans un débit périodique d’un montant identique, semaine après semaine, mois après mois, etc.
Toutefois, un autre paragraphe de ces règles statue qu’en dépit de cette règle, aucun préavis n’est requis si l’entente DPA « prévoit la variation du montant comme résultat d’une action directe de la part du payeur… » Le payeur étant bien entendu l’agent. Ce paragraphe réfère à un scénario dans lequel le montant du paiement VARIE régulièrement. Or, chaque fois qu’un agent soumet un rapport à l’IATA, le montant qu’il doit remettre au BSP (via le DPA) varie, puisque le montant est fonction de ses ventes conclues dans la période rapportée. Comme l’agent est informé d’une telle variation dans le montant, la règle du dix jours d’avis ne s’applique pas.
Il semble donc, en accord avec les règles de l’Association canadienne des paiements telles que mentionnées plus haut, que le préavis écrit ne soit pas requis dans le scénario normal du BSP.
En conséquence, nous aimerions souligner à nos membres qu’un agent de voyages qui réfute le droit au BSP de varier le montant de ses retraits à une date désignée court le risque de se retrouver en violation des Résolutions de l’IATA et conséquemment en violation de son PSAA. Selon les termes du PSAA, des conséquences légales et pratiques peuvent en résulter, l’une d’entre elles étant le risque de voir sa désignation révoquée.
L’ACTA va continuer à dialoguer avec IATA sur cet enjeu, et sur d’autres, toujours dans le même but : protéger les droits des agents de voyages et s’assurer que l’IATA se conforme à ses propres Résolutions.
Nous vous rappelons que vous pouvez voir le montant de vos débits sur le BSP link à compter du lundi matin avant qu’il ne soient débité en fin de journée le mercredi ou le jeudi (prenant effet le mercredi).
Comme toujours, tout commentaire que vous souhaiteriez nous faire parvenir sera le bienvenu.
La vice-présidente, Administration et Affaires publiques
Christiane Théberge
communiqué de l'ACTA
En premier lieu, l’ACTA désire rappeler à ses membres certains faits car, quoique ni l’ACTA, ni ses membres, ne soient parfaitement heureux avec le système actuel, les faits suivants demeurent réels :
Tous les agents reconnus par IATA doivent signer le PSAA ( Passenger Sales Agency Agreement) et utiliser le BSP;
Le BSP repose sur des débits préautorisés (DPA) pour traiter le flot des fonds;
En signant le Passenger Sales Agency Agreement, chaque agent accepte d’être régi par des Résolutions de l’IATA;
L’une de ces résolutions, la Résolution 832, para 1.6.1, dit que la Direction de ISS peut demander à l’agent de fournir un formulaire d’autorisation autorisant la banque d’affaires à retirer des chèques ou des débits du compte en fidéicommis de l’agent en faveur d’IATA, en paiement de tous les montants dus aux transporteurs BSP, et
La Résolution 824, para. 1.6.2.5 - 1.6.2.13, encadre les règles de paiement pour les agents au Canada. Cette résolution prévoit également un formulaire d’autorisation aux fins du règlement des ventes par lequel l’agent préautorise les débits périodiques de son compte par IATA, pour un montant qui reflète ses ventes telles que rapportées au BSP.
C’est sur cette base que la relation entre l’agent et IATA fonctionne.
L’Association canadienne des paiements a un certain nombre de règles qui régissent ses opérations, dont quelques-unes s’appliquent au procédé de débits préautorisés (DPA). L’une de ces règles exige un avis écrit d’au moins dix jours, tel que noté par CSTAR. Cette règle générale s’applique lorsqu’il y aura un changement futur dans un débit périodique d’un montant identique, semaine après semaine, mois après mois, etc.
Toutefois, un autre paragraphe de ces règles statue qu’en dépit de cette règle, aucun préavis n’est requis si l’entente DPA « prévoit la variation du montant comme résultat d’une action directe de la part du payeur… » Le payeur étant bien entendu l’agent. Ce paragraphe réfère à un scénario dans lequel le montant du paiement VARIE régulièrement. Or, chaque fois qu’un agent soumet un rapport à l’IATA, le montant qu’il doit remettre au BSP (via le DPA) varie, puisque le montant est fonction de ses ventes conclues dans la période rapportée. Comme l’agent est informé d’une telle variation dans le montant, la règle du dix jours d’avis ne s’applique pas.
Il semble donc, en accord avec les règles de l’Association canadienne des paiements telles que mentionnées plus haut, que le préavis écrit ne soit pas requis dans le scénario normal du BSP.
En conséquence, nous aimerions souligner à nos membres qu’un agent de voyages qui réfute le droit au BSP de varier le montant de ses retraits à une date désignée court le risque de se retrouver en violation des Résolutions de l’IATA et conséquemment en violation de son PSAA. Selon les termes du PSAA, des conséquences légales et pratiques peuvent en résulter, l’une d’entre elles étant le risque de voir sa désignation révoquée.
L’ACTA va continuer à dialoguer avec IATA sur cet enjeu, et sur d’autres, toujours dans le même but : protéger les droits des agents de voyages et s’assurer que l’IATA se conforme à ses propres Résolutions.
Nous vous rappelons que vous pouvez voir le montant de vos débits sur le BSP link à compter du lundi matin avant qu’il ne soient débité en fin de journée le mercredi ou le jeudi (prenant effet le mercredi).
Comme toujours, tout commentaire que vous souhaiteriez nous faire parvenir sera le bienvenu.
La vice-présidente, Administration et Affaires publiques
Christiane Théberge
Réaction de CSTAR le 31 octobre 2006
Just Who is ACTA Protecting? You or IATA?
CSTAR Responds to ACTA
Dear Colleagues:
As you know, CSTAR called upon ACTA to consider advising its members regarding protecting agent rights under IATA's current requirement that agencies waive pre-notification of weekly debits and amounts to their bank accounts. It was CSTAR's hope to seek support from ACTA, despite oft differences of opinion, because the matter of a travel agency's financial security and proper control was an issue which both CSTAR and ACTA should defend without question.
Simply stated, CSTAR is astounded by ACTA's public response to our request for consideration; a response which seems that ACTA is more interested in defending and supporting IATA, than standing by its travel agency members. While this is bad enough, the situation is made worse by ACTA's inaccuracies and incorrect statements in its "Special Edition Scoop" dated 30 October 2006.
CSTAR address ACTA's comments point by point:
1) ACTA states: "By signing the Passenger Sales Agency Agreement, every appointed travel agent agrees to be bound by IATA’s many Resolutions".
CSTAR replies: This is indeed true, however, none of IATA's current resolutions provide a proper and legal transition from the prior reporting and settlement process to BSPlink, and the Passenger Sales Agency Agreement does not do so in any way either.
2) ACTA states: "Resolution 832 governing BSP, para 1.6.1, says that ISS Management may require the agent to provide an authorization form permitting the Clearing Bank to draw cheques on or debit the Agent’s trust account in favor of IATA, in payment of all amounts due to BSP Airlines"
CSTAR replies: This too is true, however, Section 1.3.1 of Resolution 832 also states:
"the Agent shall, for each Approved Location, supply to the designated Clearing Bank Sales Transmittals prepared and submitted in strict compliance with the instructions prescribed in the BSP Manual for Agents."
The BSP Canada Manual for Passenger Sales Agents explicitly refers to and instructs agencies to authorize and calculate an amount due in:
Section 8.4 (Authorization Form)
Section 14.2.2.1 (Sales Report Settlement Authorization)
Section 14.3.3 (Calculation of Net Amount Due)
3) ACTA states: "Resolution 824 para. 1.6.2.5 – 1.6.2.13 set forth the Processing and Settlement rules for agents in this country, and they include provision for a “sales settlement authorization” form by which the agent pre-authorizes the periodic debiting of its account by IATA, in an amount that relates to the sales it has earlier reported to BSP. It is on the basis of this framework that the relationship between appointed agent and IATA proceeds."
CSTAR replies: The paragraphs cited by ACTA do not exist. Resolution 824 is the actual "Passenger Sales Agency Agreement" and nowhere do the sections quoted by ACTA appear.
However, in Resolution 832 (Reporting and Remitting Procedures), Section 1.6.2.5 does state that "the Agent shall submit to the Processing Centre together with each Sales Transmittal, a ‘sales settlement authorization’ in a format, and in an amount calculated in accordance with instructions prescribed by ISS Management.
ACTA conveniently leaves out "in an amount calculated" in its incomplete citation of the improperly referenced section, and furthermore leaves out Section 1.6.2.6 which states: "The amount so calculated ... shall be the maximum amount that the Processing Centre is authorized to draw against the Agent’s trust account or other bank account. This said, IATA has, without authority, completely ignored this required form and thereby has removed agency control and approval over debit amounts as specifically required by the resolution and the Passenger Sales Agency Agreement.
4) ACTA states: "The Canadian Payments Association (CPA) has a number of rules that govern its operation. Some of those rules apply to the PAD process. One of those CPA rules requires at least a (10) day’s advance written notice, as CSTAR has noted. This general rule applies where there is to be a future change in what had been a regular, recurring debit of an identical amount, week-to-week, month- to-month, etc. However, another subparagraph of those CPA rules says that notwithstanding that rule, no such pre-notification is needed if the applicable PAD agreement “provides for the change in amount to occur as a result of a direct action on the part of the Payor...” The “Payor” being the appointed travel agent. This paragraph contemplates a scenario in which the payment amount is to VARY regularly.
Each time an agent submits a report to IATA, the amount that he must then remit to BSP (via the PAD process) will vary, since the amount is a function of the amount of sales concluded in the prior sales period. As the agent is aware of such change in amount, the CPA rules do not require the ten-day advance notice. Thus, it would seem the advance written notice is not required in the usual BSP scenario, in order to comply with CPA’s rules."
CSTAR replies: ACTA fails to recognize the following facts -
a) IATA has no PAD agreement with travel agencies which meets the requirements of the CPA or which was filed with/approved by IATA's PAD processing bank, CIBC. A proper PAD agreement is one which is revocable, provides for a secure electronic signature, and meets the terms of acceptance and specific language as provided for by the CPA. IATA has no such agreements. By contrast, the prior manual reporting system, while not perfect, provided specific authorizing terms for each weekly settlement, provided agencies with the means to specify an authorized amount to be deducted, and provided for an actual signature of the remitting agency. CSTAR has repeatedly requested that IATA produce a copy of the required PAD agreement, and IATA has repeatedly failed to do so. Why? - because no PAD agreement exists.
b) Even if CSTAR were to accept the fact that a proper PAD agreement exists, which CSTAR emphatically does not, CSTAR does not object to amounts to be deducted for actual sales, refunds, exchanges (direct action on the part of the Payor). What CSTAR objects to, and what ACTA surprisingly fails to understand and completely ignores, is that IATA is also debiting for amounts which are NOT the direct action of the payor (agencies), but instead, are debits (ADMs) which airlines allege are owed by travel agencies. It is clear that when these ADMs, despite being protested or disputed, are summarily debited without legitimate and full due process accorded to the agency, that such an action is NOT the direct result of actions by the payor travel agency, but rather actions by IATA (the payee) on behalf of the beneficiary airlines. Accordingly, the right to proper pre-notification (10 days) and the right of rejection of any unauthorized amount deducted is a right properly maintained by the travel agency.
5) ACTA states: "Consequently, we would advise our members that a travel agent who denies BSP the right to vary the amount of its withdrawals on the designated date runs the risk of being found in violation of the applicable Resolutions and thus in breach of its PSAA. According to the terms of the PSAA, legal and practical consequences can flow from that result, one of them being risking its appointment. ACTA will continue to dialogue with IATA on this issue (and others) with the same goal in mind: to protect your travel agents’ rights and to ensure that IATA is not in breach of its own Resolutions."
CSTAR replies: ACTA's position is as indefensible as it is absurd. Its counsel to travel agencies is not only based on a complete ignorance of the facts, but a poor if non-existent review and understanding of the underlying IATA resolutions and CPA regulations. ACTA's attempt to scare travel agencies into accepting IATA's unauthorized requirements is both offensive and outrageous.
ACTA's "dialogue with IATA" has produced what? How has ACTA's intervention changed anything? Just what has ACTA done to protect agencies from the abuse of process which these new procedures foist upon travel agencies? Not a single thing. As usual, ACTA is all talk and no action.
No reasonable person could possibly conclude that ACTA's comments in this matter either make sense or indicate a just and equitable treatment of the issues - and CSTAR is not alone in this opinion - several ACTA members have already written to ACTA (with copy to CSTAR) challenging ACTA's reply and puzzled by ACTA's incomprehensible position and lack of support for agencies.
CSTAR attempted to reach out to ACTA in the hope that ACTA would respond positively and support a valid and appropriate cause in defense of travel agencies. What CSTAR got for that effort was the latest and most evident proof yet that ACTA is completely out-of-touch with the industry it purports to represent and has abandoned the interests and rights of the travel agency community at-large.
How shameful that ACTA's Christiane Théberge could not have taken the time to respond to my personal letter to her and to consult with CSTAR to better understand these important issues.
Instead, ACTA's knee-jerk reaction to this matter, one which so oddly defends and backs IATA, is yet another failed attempt to prove CSTAR wrong at any cost, and in the end, as in the past, ACTA only brings embarrassment to itself and the ACTA Board of Directors - a fact which some agencies will no doubt remember when it's time to renew membership.
Best regards,
Bruce Bishins CTC
President & CEO
CSTAR Responds to ACTA
Dear Colleagues:
As you know, CSTAR called upon ACTA to consider advising its members regarding protecting agent rights under IATA's current requirement that agencies waive pre-notification of weekly debits and amounts to their bank accounts. It was CSTAR's hope to seek support from ACTA, despite oft differences of opinion, because the matter of a travel agency's financial security and proper control was an issue which both CSTAR and ACTA should defend without question.
Simply stated, CSTAR is astounded by ACTA's public response to our request for consideration; a response which seems that ACTA is more interested in defending and supporting IATA, than standing by its travel agency members. While this is bad enough, the situation is made worse by ACTA's inaccuracies and incorrect statements in its "Special Edition Scoop" dated 30 October 2006.
CSTAR address ACTA's comments point by point:
1) ACTA states: "By signing the Passenger Sales Agency Agreement, every appointed travel agent agrees to be bound by IATA’s many Resolutions".
CSTAR replies: This is indeed true, however, none of IATA's current resolutions provide a proper and legal transition from the prior reporting and settlement process to BSPlink, and the Passenger Sales Agency Agreement does not do so in any way either.
2) ACTA states: "Resolution 832 governing BSP, para 1.6.1, says that ISS Management may require the agent to provide an authorization form permitting the Clearing Bank to draw cheques on or debit the Agent’s trust account in favor of IATA, in payment of all amounts due to BSP Airlines"
CSTAR replies: This too is true, however, Section 1.3.1 of Resolution 832 also states:
"the Agent shall, for each Approved Location, supply to the designated Clearing Bank Sales Transmittals prepared and submitted in strict compliance with the instructions prescribed in the BSP Manual for Agents."
The BSP Canada Manual for Passenger Sales Agents explicitly refers to and instructs agencies to authorize and calculate an amount due in:
Section 8.4 (Authorization Form)
Section 14.2.2.1 (Sales Report Settlement Authorization)
Section 14.3.3 (Calculation of Net Amount Due)
3) ACTA states: "Resolution 824 para. 1.6.2.5 – 1.6.2.13 set forth the Processing and Settlement rules for agents in this country, and they include provision for a “sales settlement authorization” form by which the agent pre-authorizes the periodic debiting of its account by IATA, in an amount that relates to the sales it has earlier reported to BSP. It is on the basis of this framework that the relationship between appointed agent and IATA proceeds."
CSTAR replies: The paragraphs cited by ACTA do not exist. Resolution 824 is the actual "Passenger Sales Agency Agreement" and nowhere do the sections quoted by ACTA appear.
However, in Resolution 832 (Reporting and Remitting Procedures), Section 1.6.2.5 does state that "the Agent shall submit to the Processing Centre together with each Sales Transmittal, a ‘sales settlement authorization’ in a format, and in an amount calculated in accordance with instructions prescribed by ISS Management.
ACTA conveniently leaves out "in an amount calculated" in its incomplete citation of the improperly referenced section, and furthermore leaves out Section 1.6.2.6 which states: "The amount so calculated ... shall be the maximum amount that the Processing Centre is authorized to draw against the Agent’s trust account or other bank account. This said, IATA has, without authority, completely ignored this required form and thereby has removed agency control and approval over debit amounts as specifically required by the resolution and the Passenger Sales Agency Agreement.
4) ACTA states: "The Canadian Payments Association (CPA) has a number of rules that govern its operation. Some of those rules apply to the PAD process. One of those CPA rules requires at least a (10) day’s advance written notice, as CSTAR has noted. This general rule applies where there is to be a future change in what had been a regular, recurring debit of an identical amount, week-to-week, month- to-month, etc. However, another subparagraph of those CPA rules says that notwithstanding that rule, no such pre-notification is needed if the applicable PAD agreement “provides for the change in amount to occur as a result of a direct action on the part of the Payor...” The “Payor” being the appointed travel agent. This paragraph contemplates a scenario in which the payment amount is to VARY regularly.
Each time an agent submits a report to IATA, the amount that he must then remit to BSP (via the PAD process) will vary, since the amount is a function of the amount of sales concluded in the prior sales period. As the agent is aware of such change in amount, the CPA rules do not require the ten-day advance notice. Thus, it would seem the advance written notice is not required in the usual BSP scenario, in order to comply with CPA’s rules."
CSTAR replies: ACTA fails to recognize the following facts -
a) IATA has no PAD agreement with travel agencies which meets the requirements of the CPA or which was filed with/approved by IATA's PAD processing bank, CIBC. A proper PAD agreement is one which is revocable, provides for a secure electronic signature, and meets the terms of acceptance and specific language as provided for by the CPA. IATA has no such agreements. By contrast, the prior manual reporting system, while not perfect, provided specific authorizing terms for each weekly settlement, provided agencies with the means to specify an authorized amount to be deducted, and provided for an actual signature of the remitting agency. CSTAR has repeatedly requested that IATA produce a copy of the required PAD agreement, and IATA has repeatedly failed to do so. Why? - because no PAD agreement exists.
b) Even if CSTAR were to accept the fact that a proper PAD agreement exists, which CSTAR emphatically does not, CSTAR does not object to amounts to be deducted for actual sales, refunds, exchanges (direct action on the part of the Payor). What CSTAR objects to, and what ACTA surprisingly fails to understand and completely ignores, is that IATA is also debiting for amounts which are NOT the direct action of the payor (agencies), but instead, are debits (ADMs) which airlines allege are owed by travel agencies. It is clear that when these ADMs, despite being protested or disputed, are summarily debited without legitimate and full due process accorded to the agency, that such an action is NOT the direct result of actions by the payor travel agency, but rather actions by IATA (the payee) on behalf of the beneficiary airlines. Accordingly, the right to proper pre-notification (10 days) and the right of rejection of any unauthorized amount deducted is a right properly maintained by the travel agency.
5) ACTA states: "Consequently, we would advise our members that a travel agent who denies BSP the right to vary the amount of its withdrawals on the designated date runs the risk of being found in violation of the applicable Resolutions and thus in breach of its PSAA. According to the terms of the PSAA, legal and practical consequences can flow from that result, one of them being risking its appointment. ACTA will continue to dialogue with IATA on this issue (and others) with the same goal in mind: to protect your travel agents’ rights and to ensure that IATA is not in breach of its own Resolutions."
CSTAR replies: ACTA's position is as indefensible as it is absurd. Its counsel to travel agencies is not only based on a complete ignorance of the facts, but a poor if non-existent review and understanding of the underlying IATA resolutions and CPA regulations. ACTA's attempt to scare travel agencies into accepting IATA's unauthorized requirements is both offensive and outrageous.
ACTA's "dialogue with IATA" has produced what? How has ACTA's intervention changed anything? Just what has ACTA done to protect agencies from the abuse of process which these new procedures foist upon travel agencies? Not a single thing. As usual, ACTA is all talk and no action.
No reasonable person could possibly conclude that ACTA's comments in this matter either make sense or indicate a just and equitable treatment of the issues - and CSTAR is not alone in this opinion - several ACTA members have already written to ACTA (with copy to CSTAR) challenging ACTA's reply and puzzled by ACTA's incomprehensible position and lack of support for agencies.
CSTAR attempted to reach out to ACTA in the hope that ACTA would respond positively and support a valid and appropriate cause in defense of travel agencies. What CSTAR got for that effort was the latest and most evident proof yet that ACTA is completely out-of-touch with the industry it purports to represent and has abandoned the interests and rights of the travel agency community at-large.
How shameful that ACTA's Christiane Théberge could not have taken the time to respond to my personal letter to her and to consult with CSTAR to better understand these important issues.
Instead, ACTA's knee-jerk reaction to this matter, one which so oddly defends and backs IATA, is yet another failed attempt to prove CSTAR wrong at any cost, and in the end, as in the past, ACTA only brings embarrassment to itself and the ACTA Board of Directors - a fact which some agencies will no doubt remember when it's time to renew membership.
Best regards,
Bruce Bishins CTC
President & CEO
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