Royal Palm Vacations, World Travel, and Capital Financial. Other clubs promise they have access to large discounts on airfares, hotels, cruises, rental cars, tours, and just about any other travel service you can name. The lawsuit also Grand Travel … As with timeshare clones, you have to ask some questions before you buy into one of them: As with a timeshare, you have to check what you actually get, your future ongoing obligations, and, perhaps most importantly, your cancellation options. Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2015. Once at the seminars, consumers were allegedly told they would never have to pay retail price for travel again if they joined the travel club. That's what happened to Donald of Edgewater Park, N.J. “Sat in on a 90-minute presentation in return we were to receive a free cruise for 8 days 7 nights and airfare,” Donald told ConsumerAffairs.com. and require him to repay consumers nearly $2.2 million for vacation Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. I booked under the Armed Forces Vacation Club. The companies also agreed to provide Membership fees ranged from $2,495 to $7,495, and annual renewal fees ranged from $199 to $249. Others, however, pose a big financial risk. Its membership rates are reasonable, you can cancel at any time, and you get real benefits. "We're continuing our investigation of Turner and his companies. "one day only" price drops, misrepresent their accreditation with the Better Business Don't give your debit card or credit card number to a company you don't know or don't trust. Let friends and family use it. The Attorney General's Economic Crimes Division determined the free number of consumers, the Attorney General’s Office filed a “Yet, after paying as much as $9,000 for a membership, the Sea to Ski ‘deals’ were no better than what the consumer could purchase on popular internet travel sites.". too-good-to-be-true offers of free cruises and international Membership fees, if any, are usually nominal—often under $50 a year—and you can easily opt out if the club doesn’t deliver real value. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. Some property-based clubs claim, or at least imply, that your membership is an investment. With vacation season approaching, consumers should be on the lookout for vacation deals that sound too good to be true. In a settlement with the state Global Travel Solutions is required to direct all billing and reservations companies to immediately stop trying to collect payments from consumers on the company’s behalf. So it's probably a good time to remind consumers about the prevalence of travel scams. practices.”. Anyone who believes they may have been scammed is encouraged to file a complaint by calling the Colorado Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-222-4444. failed to provide promised discounts and incentives to consumers Consumers should carefully read any fine print or conditions attached to “free” offers received by mail or email. “We’re taking action in court to company owner Daryl Turner alleging deceptive marketing practices. Sign up for our free newsletter. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuse every day at SmarterTravel. Then Main Street’s Circle of Friends Travel Club is for you! Travel club promises can be enticing, with offers of bargain airfares and discount hotels. It is alleged that since 2008, Turner, through his vacation travel companies, took payments from numerous consumers and then repeatedly failed to provide the contracted-for travel packages, or refund the money. Our Travel Club knows what it means to vacation well. Turner back to court on the state's allegation that he is in Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and Advertising Regulations, by failing companies they do business with,” said Timothy Mullaney, Sr., The State of New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against travel the consumers who had filed complaints for the fees they paid to Despite paying $2,900 and following all the rules, the consumer said he never received the promised benefits. He executed a consent judgment to pay restitution of approximately $2.6 million to his victims. The most reliable ones are those you’ll recognize the names of. company previously for the same reason. Travel Club Scam: How It Works. Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. We’ve reached a settlement that immediately puts an end to Mr. Turner’s business activities and prevents him from offering vacation travel club memberships and services here for at least five years, Attorney General Paula T. Dow said. websites, provide fixed pricing; and make only truthful statements Paula T. Dow. requests full consumer restitution and recovery of the costs of the renewal fees ranged from $199 to $249. violation of the recently agreed-to settlement. Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. money. The Office of the Attorney General is also seeking civil penalties of up to $20,000 for each instance the defendant violated the DTPA. All are certainly not equal. But when they don't, they can be a major source of frustration and monetary distress. consumers and change their business practices under a binding May Exclusive Travel Club Scam: How It Works. Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against Global Connections of Overland Park, Kan., Madmol Inc., based in Crystal Lake, Ill., and GVN Illinois, based in Tinley Park, Ill. provided and in fact carried fees, engage in high pressure sales techniques such as substantial When consumers contacted the company to claim their free prize and airfare, they learned they first had to attend a sales presentation for the Global Discovery Vacation Program. but a scam and he's hauled the company into court. In turn, Travel Services Inc., a Delaware corporation also known as Funseekers Vacations Inc., received the forwarded Sealand memberships at an office in Litchfield, Ill. Sealand charged its members from $2,000 to $8,000, but customers received little or nothing of value, as they were unable to book travel at lower prices than they could find without the Sealand membership. Under their plea agreements, Turner and Bernstein agreed to forfeit their home in Marlton and other assets seized in the investigation, including bank accounts, cars and a boat. “These operations often begin with postcards inviting consumers to attend a presentation at which they will hear about amazing deals that really are too good to be true.”. cruises were not free and included substantial fees, often over induce attendance at sales presentations, and failing to provide • Be skeptical of postcards, phone calls and e-mails that promise a free vacation. Unfortunately, most of them are. Others, however, ask you to pay big up front for some promised future benefit. For well-known travel brands like these ones, the scam risk is minimal. Businesses may use giveaways to persuade consumers to call and then pressure them into buying an over-priced package or travel club membership. The vacation trav el companies named as defendants in the state’s civil lawsuit included Dreamworks Vacation Club, Dreamworks Vacations, Bentley Travel, Modern Destinations Unlimited, Blue Water, Vacation Clubs LLC d/b/a La Bonne Vie Travel, Five Points Travel Company, Dream Vacations International, Inc., and Away We Go Promotions, LLC. Travel lovers, beware of the Travel Club Membership scheme, aka the Exclusive Travel Club Scam.. You hear from friends, flyers in the mail, or cold calls, … We’ll start sending you the news you need delivered straight to you.
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