Jimmy's Travel
clients can file
claims at bank
State officials say claims must
By Russ Lynch
be made with Hawaii National Bank
within 60 days of return travel date
Star-BulletinFaced with the possibility that customers of defunct Jimmy's Travel Inc. may be able to get some of their money back from Hawaii National Bank, state officials have come up with a system to help them do that.
New forms are being made available so people who paid in advance for the firm's tours to Las Vegas, but weren't able to go when the agency closed down June 19, can get their claims to the bank.
But the state cautions that there is a time limit. Claims must be filed with the bank within 60 days of the date that the travelers had planned to return to Hawaii.
As many as 2,500 consumers paid in advance for trips that were canceled and they have been flooding the bank with inquiries since late last week, after publicity of the existence of $200,000 being held by the bank on behalf of Jimmy's Travel.
However, bank employees have told many of them that the bank knows nothing about the matter.
Now the air has been cleared, after discussions between bank officials and the regulated industries and complaints office of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
At issue is $200,000 that the bank pledged, after Jimmy's Travel made certain guarantees, to meet a federal requirement that money be set aside by the tour-package seller to pay claims of people who paid for trips they didn't get.
The money is available, although it may not go far because claims already exceed $740,000. The bank isn't responsible for collecting claims against the $200,000 but has agreed to do so because Jimmy's Travel, where the claims were supposed to be made, no longer exists, said Sharon On Leng, state complaints and enforcement officer.
These claims are separate from the bankruptcy claims and the money is not part of the bankruptcy case so claims must be made with the bank as well as the bankruptcy court, she said.
Leng said Hawaii National Bank claims forms are being mailed to all those who filed complaints with the state as well as to those on a mailing list put together by Jimmy's Travel bankruptcy attorney Harrison P. Chung.
Those who don't get forms can pick them up at the regulated industry complaints office in the state office tower at 236 S. Beretania St., across from St. Andrew's Cathedral.
The form is also available for viewing and printing at the state office's Internet site at http://kumu.icsd.hawaii.gov/dcca/rico. Different forms are available from the bankruptcy court for filing claims under the bankruptcy.
Once claimants complete the separate forms, they should send:
the bank form to Jimmy's travel Inc. Claims, c/o Hawaii National Bank, P.O. Box 4178, Honolulu, HI 96812;
More information is available from the regulated industries complaints office. Call 587-3222 and press 2 after hearing the automated message.
