AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today filed a final judgment and permanent injunction against Guided Tourist, LLC, an Austin-based third-party online booking company that advertises and sells tickets to tour national parks and monuments, including the Statue of Liberty and Alcatraz Island. The State’s lawsuit shows that Guided Tourist, LLC failed to disclose to consumers that it is not as official ticket vendor and inadequately discloses its booking fees, legal name, contact information, hours of operation, and refund policy.
The judgment orders Guided Tourist, LLC to provide notice to Texas customers that they may be eligible to receive a refund of any undisclosed fees imposed by the company. Additionally, Guided Tourist, LLC must respond to complaints filed by Texas consumers by refunding any undisclosed mandatory fees in full.
“All Texans deserve to know exactly what a company is charging them when they make a purchase. Hidden fees and unnecessary charges on ticket sales are deceptive and unjust,” Attorney General Paxton said. “I look forward to seeing the Texans who have been tricked by this business receive a full reimbursement of their hard-earned money.”
The judgment in this case also orders Guided Tourist, LLC to pay $132,000 to the State of Texas in addition to the reimbursement of hidden, mandatory fees charged to Texas consumers through these unofficial ticket sales. Texans who believe they are victims of a scam can file an online complaint with the attorney general’s office at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint.