(a) (1) Any person aggrieved who suffers a loss of more than fifty dollars ($50) of amounts paid for air or sea transportation or travel services may file a claim with the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation by filing a claim form as required by Section 17550.46 and paying, by check or money order, a processing fee to the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation in the amount of thirty-five dollars ($35). Any check for the processing fee that is returned unpaid to the corporation by the financial institution upon which it is drawn shall be returned to the claimant and the claim shall be rejected for filing. Any claimant whose claim is rejected may resubmit his or her claim upon payment of a processing fee of fifty dollars ($50). (2) Any processing fee required by paragraph (1) shall be nonrefundable except where (A) a claim is denied on the basis as set forth in the statement of decision that either the seller of travel, at the time of sale, was not a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund or the seller of travel was not registered, or (B) the claim is granted in whole or in part. In either case, the processing fee shall be refunded to the person aggrieved upon denial or upon payment of the claim, whichever is applicable. (3) In no event shall a person aggrieved have more than one year after the scheduled date of completion of travel within which to file a claim with the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. (b) A person aggrieved may recover from the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund an amount not to exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) per person aggrieved, not to exceed the amount paid to the participant by or on behalf of the person aggrieved for the transportation or travel services. Payments from the restitution fund shall be limited to restitution for sums paid for transportation or travel services and shall not include any other amounts, including, but not limited to, payment for lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, travel insurance, lost luggage, or any consequential damages. The person aggrieved shall not be entitled to receive attorneyâs fees in connection with a filed claim or on appeal. (c) All claims are to be decided on the written record before the corporation, with no hearing to be held. The record shall consist of a fully executed and complete claim form, any other documentation submitted by the claimant or the participant, and any documents or reports submitted by staff or the designated representative of the office of the Attorney General. Claims are to be decided within 45 days of receipt unless (1) the designated representative of the office of the Attorney General requests a continuance to obtain and submit information, or (2) the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation determines that additional information or documentation is required to decide the claim. In either case, the claim shall be decided within 45 days of receipt of all additional information or documentation. A claim not decided timely shall be deemed granted. (d) Whenever the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation denies a claim in whole or in part, it shall provide to the claimant a written statement of decision setting forth the factual and legal basis for the denial. (e) A claimant may request reconsideration of an adverse decision of the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation by mailing a written request, accompanied by a processing fee of fifty dollars ($50) paid by check or money order, within 20 days of the date a notice of denial and statement of decision was mailed to the claimant. Any check for the processing fee that is returned unpaid to the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation by the financial institution upon which it is drawn shall be returned to the claimant and the request for reconsideration shall not be determined until the claimant has paid the fifty dollar ($50) processing fee. (f) The Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation shall, within 60 days of receipt of the request, either de
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