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The Travel Compensation Fund (TCF) provides compensation to travellers who booked their travel through a travel agent and that agent becomes insolvent or collapses.

All Australian states and territories (with the exception of the NT) participate in the TCF. It is compulsory for a travel agent located in these states and the ACT to be a member of the TCF and contribute to the fund upon joining, and to pay annual renewal fees.

These contributions are used to compensate travellers if they lose money because of a travel agent collapse (not if a supplier - such as an airline - becomes insolvent).

All conventional travel agents in these states (and the ACT) are TCF participants, as are online agents (such as webjet.com.au and travel.com.au). Your money is not protected by the TCF unless you book through a registered agent (e.g. if you book flights and hotels yourself, without using an agent).

Since it started 1986, the Travel Compensation Fund has paid more than $50 million in compensation to Australian travellers.

For those who have booked products through a travel agent which has since gone insolvent:

• If you have made a payment through a travel agent that has collapsed, and you have received your tickets and documentation, then the booking stands and you don't have to do anything.
  
  
• If you have made a payment by credit card, but have not received tickets or documentation, then contact your credit provider and alert them to the fact that the merchant has not delivered on the service paid for - for which you should not be charged.
  
  
• If you have made a payment to their travel agent but have not received tickets or documents, then call the claims hotline on 1300 658 165 or fill out a claim form from the TCF website.

If you are unsure, please contact the TCF on 1300 658 165.

For more information, please visit the TCF website.