Adam Glezer: Bentleigh dad’s fight for better outcomes for Victorian travellers

As thousands of would-be travellers are still stuck fighting for refunds, this Melbourne dad says there’s a trick to getting a prompt result.

As thousands of would-be travellers are stuck fighting for refunds more than two years after Covid began causing chaos in the travel industry, a Bentleigh dad has set his sights on consumer law reform.

Adam Glezer, of Consumer Champion, made a name for himself over the past two years advocating for Australians whose travel plans were thrown into disarray by border closures and lockdowns.

“The law is not on our side. It doesn’t protect consumers when a service is cancelled for reasons outside of human control,” he said.

Adam first began the fight for better outcomes after an ill-fated booking for a European holiday and his sister‘s Israel wedding in mid-2020 was thrown into disarray.

“Borders were shut, the world was closing up yet I was being told by my travel agent that I could only get credit or pay a $300 cancellation fee,” he said.

Adam Glezer became a consumer advocate helping hundreds of people to get money back from cancelled holidays during 2020. Picture by Wayne Taylor

“I quickly realised I wasn’t alone in the fight and started Facebook groups which have grown to over 17,000 members in total. It helps to know you’re not alone.”

More than two years has passed since Covid was declared a global pandemic, but Mr Glezer says thousands of Australians are still fighting for refunds.

He’s set his sights wider now, joining a growing national push for consumer law reform to ensure stronger protections for consumers.

“The shortfall in consumer law affects all service industries. For example, customers who book weddings and ticketed events also run the risk of suffering significant financial loss,” he said.

He recommends people always look at the terms and conditions of their contracts, paying “special interest” to refund and cancellation policies.

“When the option is available always book refundable instead of non-refundable because we’re living in very uncertain times,” Mr Glezer said.

Working alongside Liberal MP Kevin Andrews, a motion was introduced last year in federal parliament calling for greater rights for consumers caught up in travel disruption.

It passed with bipartisan support but Mr Glezer says the momentum has since stalled.

“The lack of rights has affected people’s mental, emotional and physical health,” he said.

“It’s a deficiency of Australian Consumer law that needs to be fixed before the next big disruption.”

The Melbourne man says he’s been meeting with members of parliament at both the state and federal level, pushing for Australia to adopt legislative protection similar to the UK and the US.

“Consumers overseas have benefited from stronger protection ensuring their right for a refund during unprecedented circumstances,” he said.

“It’s time Australia closed these gaps in our consumer law. I will not stop pushing until we get the changes we so desperately need.”

Adam Glezer was acknowledged for his advocacy last year when he was nominated in the Thanks A Million campaign.

In her nomination, Shirly Ryan, said his “tireless” effort had helped her retrieve $75,000, including credit of $30,000, after her holiday was cancelled during the pandemic.