Following complaints state officials are investigating the sale of unlicensed travel insurance in Florida.

A report said chief financial officer, Alex Sink, yesterday instructed the three travel agencies involved to stop selling travel cover from Prime Travel Protection Services Inc.

It quoted officials as saying that the firm, Prime Travel, had been out of business for a couple of months and was not licensed to sell insurance in Florida or Colorado.

Two of the agencies, however, responded that they had stopped selling policies from the firm months ago, adding that their decision followed complaints about unpaid claims.

The third agency’s response was not known to the press.

According to one of the two responses, they stopped selling Prime Travel policies after Florida officials warned about the travel insurer.

They added that they spent more than $50,000 (nearly £36,000) on new coverage for customers that were yet to travel.

Meanwhile, several complaints were reportedly filed against the firm for unpaid claims including for a man who suffered heart attack and needed to be airlifted off a cruise ship.