Complaint:In brief, my friend, Valerie Monay, a French-Swiss national, checked into Homestead Backpackers: 57, Annie Street, New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 07 3358 3538, and was persuaded by the manager, Mike, even though she was unsure of her plans, that it would be cheaper to pay for a week in advance, but was not told that the hostel has a no-refund policy if she should change her mind and decide to leave earlier. She paid the week and then got a place on an organic farm through WWOOF, staying for just one of the seven nights she paid for, and was told this morning, when she asked for a refund, of the hostels' no-refund policy. Her command of English is still relatively poor and I find the lack of responsibility in not informing her of this very important no-refund policy, especially in light of the fact that the manager was fully aware of her being unsure of her plans, is poor to say the least. I talked to Mike, the manager, over the phone, (he was working at another place), and he told me that he was, and is, NOT obliged to inform guests of this no-refund policy. He was also rude to me, calling me naive. We visited the tourist office in Brisbane to complain and they gave me the address and phone number of the office of Margaret Keech, the Minister of Tourism, (07 3224 2005), (GPO BOX 1141, BRISBANE). I spoke to her liaison officer, Theo, who put me onto Brian Larter, (07 3246 1528), who told me that the law is such that the hostel is indeed under NO obligation to inform the paying guest that they do not offer refunds for rent paid in advance. All the responsibility thus rests with the paying guest for finding out about such a policy! I personally find this law to be very unsatisfactory, especially as regards foreign tourists. It evidently does not offer adequate protection from unscrupulous individuals who are only too happy to take large sums in advance from travellers who they know full well have just arrived in their country and are as yet unsure of their plans and often feel a little vulnerable and disorientated. Also, for many travellers English is a foreign language, and they may be from cultures where people act in a fairer and more responsible manner and thus expect such behaviour as the norm. I hope you can help to perhaps put a bit of pressure on the Australian Tourist Board to tighten up this law and make it obligatory for hostels to inform unwary travellers, whose plans can change quickly, of any such policies?