Hurb: government files lawsuit and fine could reach R$ 13 million – 04/24/2023 – Market

Senacon (National Consumer Secretariat) opened, this Monday (24), an administrative proceeding against Hurb (former Hotel Urbano) for disrespect to consumers after registering a surge in complaints about cancellations of reservations in hotels and inns.

The fine can reach R$ 13 million and the company is at risk of having its activities suspended, informed the agency.

wanted by Sheet, Hurb says that, for legal reasons, it does not comment on ongoing lawsuits. The company says, however, that everything will be clarified before the Ministry of Justice, the portfolio to which Senacon is submitted.

The company is experiencing an image crisis related to reports of non-payment for hotels and inns, which cancel reservations and jeopardize the travel of thousands of people.

The agency says that, in the first quarter of this year alone, it received more than 7,000 complaints against the company. The level is already approaching the 12,000 complaints registered throughout 2022.

Also this Monday, the company’s CEO, João Ricardo Mendes, resigned after cursing consumers on social networks. In his place, Otávio Brissant, the company’s current general council, takes over on an interim basis.

In a recent episode, Mendes leaked personal data and made threats. “It’s risky for someone to hit your shitty house,” he told a customer who did not have airline tickets issued by Hurb, according to a video posted on Instagram.

In a note released by Senacon, the national consumer secretary, Wadih Damous, said that “such a scenario is unacceptable” and obliges the body “to adopt the measures that are incumbent upon it by force of legal provision”.

The company had already been notified last year to provide clarification on the commercial practices adopted, but the responses presented were not sufficient to remedy the irregularities pointed out, according to the secretariat.