STO Guarantee |
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STO Garant
This travel guarantee will demand just a little (a few minutes) more of your time and attention due to its way of payment. We ask for understanding. As a small travel organization, we would like to be able to offer financial security. This way we can. Of course you can contact us with your questions about this. www.sto-garant.nl/en and www.certo-escrow.com/en/home
This travel guarantee will demand just a little (a few minutes) more of your time and attention due to its way of payment. We ask for understanding. As a small travel organization, we would like to be able to offer financial security. This way we can. Of course you can contact us with your questions about this. www.sto-garant.nl/en and www.certo-escrow.com/en/home
A guarantee in place: STO Garant
In order to meet its statutory obligation to provide a guarantee, The Offroad Guide uses STO Garant, a guarantee scheme recognised by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). You can check that this is the case by visiting STO Garant’s website and verifying that the organisation is listed as a participant (www.sto-garant.nl/en/members). You can find all information relating to STO Garant at www.sto-garant.nl/en.
If you choose to book a package holiday with The Offroad Guide, the STO Garant guarantee applies. The Guarantee Scheme specifies what the guarantee covers and which conditions apply. You can find the Guarantee Scheme on STO Garant's website (www.sto- garant.nl/en/downloads).
How it works
If STO Garant's guarantee applies to your booking, you do not pay the booking amount to The Offroad Guide but instead into the escrow account belonging to Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow, a payment services provider registered with De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) and the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). This trust account holds your payment in reserve until the trip booked has come to an end. The booking amount is then released to The Offroad Guide on the day after your trip ends. If The Offroad Guide should become financially insolvent before the end of your trip, STO Garant will implement the guarantee. The Guarantee Scheme details how you can make a claim under the guarantee in such cases.
In order to meet its statutory obligation to provide a guarantee, The Offroad Guide uses STO Garant, a guarantee scheme recognised by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). You can check that this is the case by visiting STO Garant’s website and verifying that the organisation is listed as a participant (www.sto-garant.nl/en/members). You can find all information relating to STO Garant at www.sto-garant.nl/en.
If you choose to book a package holiday with The Offroad Guide, the STO Garant guarantee applies. The Guarantee Scheme specifies what the guarantee covers and which conditions apply. You can find the Guarantee Scheme on STO Garant's website (www.sto- garant.nl/en/downloads).
How it works
If STO Garant's guarantee applies to your booking, you do not pay the booking amount to The Offroad Guide but instead into the escrow account belonging to Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow, a payment services provider registered with De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) and the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). This trust account holds your payment in reserve until the trip booked has come to an end. The booking amount is then released to The Offroad Guide on the day after your trip ends. If The Offroad Guide should become financially insolvent before the end of your trip, STO Garant will implement the guarantee. The Guarantee Scheme details how you can make a claim under the guarantee in such cases.
What is a package holiday?
A package holiday is a trip offered by a tour operator. We speak of a package holiday if it meets two conditions: 1. The trip consists of at least two services. For example, a plane ticket and a hotel. But can also be transport and an excursion or round trip. 2. The journey takes at least 24 hours or includes at least one overnight stay. Is a trip put together with separate elements? For example, a separate flight and overnight stays in a separate hotel? Then this is also a package holiday.
What is not a package holiday?
For example; A separately booked flight ticket is not a package holiday. A car holiday with only accommodation, is not either.
A package holiday is a trip offered by a tour operator. We speak of a package holiday if it meets two conditions: 1. The trip consists of at least two services. For example, a plane ticket and a hotel. But can also be transport and an excursion or round trip. 2. The journey takes at least 24 hours or includes at least one overnight stay. Is a trip put together with separate elements? For example, a separate flight and overnight stays in a separate hotel? Then this is also a package holiday.
What is not a package holiday?
For example; A separately booked flight ticket is not a package holiday. A car holiday with only accommodation, is not either.
Important notes
• Any complaints or claims about your trip are separate from this payment method.
• Our cancellation policy simply applies to this method of payment.
• The STO is not a disputes committee.
• A customer has the option to stop a transaction up to and including the end date of the trip by pressing the blue button that freezes the funds of the transaction.
• This should only be done in case the travel organization has (possibly) become financially incapacitated. • When the customer does this, Certo Escrow will always check in consultation with STO whether there is financial incapacity of the travel organization. If that is not the case, funds will simply be paid to the travel organization as predetermined on the day after the trip.
• Certo Escrow will always contact the travel organization in the event of cancellation by the participant to have the funds released in accordance with the cancellation conditions as laid down in the agreement that the travel organization has concluded with the traveler. The Escrow transaction that the travel organization, the traveler and Certo Escrow enter into for the financial settlement of the booking has no influence on this. • Certo Escrow will never refund the funds to the customer before both parties have been heard.
• Any complaints or claims about your trip are separate from this payment method.
• Our cancellation policy simply applies to this method of payment.
• The STO is not a disputes committee.
• A customer has the option to stop a transaction up to and including the end date of the trip by pressing the blue button that freezes the funds of the transaction.
• This should only be done in case the travel organization has (possibly) become financially incapacitated. • When the customer does this, Certo Escrow will always check in consultation with STO whether there is financial incapacity of the travel organization. If that is not the case, funds will simply be paid to the travel organization as predetermined on the day after the trip.
• Certo Escrow will always contact the travel organization in the event of cancellation by the participant to have the funds released in accordance with the cancellation conditions as laid down in the agreement that the travel organization has concluded with the traveler. The Escrow transaction that the travel organization, the traveler and Certo Escrow enter into for the financial settlement of the booking has no influence on this. • Certo Escrow will never refund the funds to the customer before both parties have been heard.
FAQ / questions from travellers
What happens if Certo Escrow goes bankrupt?
Answer: If Certo Escrow goes bankrupt, the Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow, in which the funds of all travelers are guaranteed, will continue to exist. This foundation is completely independent and is separate from the trading company Certo Escrow. Because no other activities than guaranteeing funds take place in Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow, this foundation will not go bankrupt. In addition, Certo Escrow cannot obtain the funds that are guaranteed in the Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow.
Can Certo Escrow get the guaranteed money?
Answer: No, to safeguard the funds of third parties, the Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow has been established. This foundation only acts as a conduit for the payments intended for the selling party. For this purpose, use is made of a blocked and separate third-party account placed in the foundation. Due to the blocking, it is not possible for Certo Escrow to get hold of the funds, so it does not manage. Only when the agreed conditions in the Escrow agreement have been met will the funds be released to the seller. The separate character ensures that Certo Escrow is never entitled, but only the holder of the funds of third parties that have been secured. These funds therefore fall at all times outside the estate and the scope of ownership of Certo Escrow.
Certo Escrow has been included by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) in the Register of Payment Institutions under Article 2:3d Exempt payment service providers. Certo Escrow thus meets the legal requirements under the Financial Supervision Act. See the www.sto-garant.nl website for more frequently asked questions.
What happens if Certo Escrow goes bankrupt?
Answer: If Certo Escrow goes bankrupt, the Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow, in which the funds of all travelers are guaranteed, will continue to exist. This foundation is completely independent and is separate from the trading company Certo Escrow. Because no other activities than guaranteeing funds take place in Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow, this foundation will not go bankrupt. In addition, Certo Escrow cannot obtain the funds that are guaranteed in the Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow.
Can Certo Escrow get the guaranteed money?
Answer: No, to safeguard the funds of third parties, the Stichting Derdengelden Certo Escrow has been established. This foundation only acts as a conduit for the payments intended for the selling party. For this purpose, use is made of a blocked and separate third-party account placed in the foundation. Due to the blocking, it is not possible for Certo Escrow to get hold of the funds, so it does not manage. Only when the agreed conditions in the Escrow agreement have been met will the funds be released to the seller. The separate character ensures that Certo Escrow is never entitled, but only the holder of the funds of third parties that have been secured. These funds therefore fall at all times outside the estate and the scope of ownership of Certo Escrow.
Certo Escrow has been included by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) in the Register of Payment Institutions under Article 2:3d Exempt payment service providers. Certo Escrow thus meets the legal requirements under the Financial Supervision Act. See the www.sto-garant.nl website for more frequently asked questions.
