UNITED KINGDOM: Travel Agent Banned For Seven Years

A travel agency director has been banned from running a business for seven years.

The unexplained payments, worth close to £400,000, included £193,000 paid to Jacobs' own account and more than £186,000 in debit card transactions.

Jacobs, aged 32, from Chatham, had set up the agency in November 2015.

It entered into Creditors Voluntary Liquidation in March 2018 after it couldn't pay debts of more than £127,000.

Insolvency Practitioners were appointed to wind-up the company and their report to the Insolvency Service triggered an investigation into Jacobs' conduct.

The investigation established that from December 2015 she failed to maintain ICharter's books and records.

She has been banned from directly or indirectly becoming involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company for seven years.

Martin Gitner, deputy head of insolvent investigations at the Insolvency Service, said: "Helen Jacobs had a vast amount of experience in the travel industry and should have known that directors have a duty to maintain and preserve a record of financial transactions.

This seven-year ban should reinforce to company directors the importance of maintaining accurate accounts.


Tourism Observer