Armed Forces Vacation Club has a consumer rating of 3 stars from 5 reviews indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Go Promotions, LLC. Make sure any club you’re considering can pass an easy scam test. Turner's numerous vacation travel membership companies. several hundreds of dollars. Consumers should carefully read any fine print or conditions attached to “free” offers received by mail or email. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. Serenity, customers said, claimed to have a strong rating from the companies had a contract with only one condo association, and no Take Sea to Ski... Daryl Turner (Photo: NJ Attorney General)The owner of Dreamworks Vacation Club has been sentenced to seven years in prison by a New Jersey judge. 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. The “free airline ticket” offers often require substantial up-front fees, and such onerous travel restrictions that consumers are unable to redeem the travel vouchers. He also advised consumers to be extremely careful when listening to an attractive sales pitch for any product, including travel and vacation packages. The presentation billed the program as an exclusive club, promising consumers access to hundreds of properties across the country and around the world for a discount. In 2009 we began taking our travel club… In addition, they failed to deliver “free” round-trip airline tickets and cruises after customers paid them hundreds of dollars in “fees and surcharges” to qualify for the “free” promotional trips. • Don't give in to high-pressure sales tactics. travel clubs before they could research the companies, were not One consumer said she attended a sales presentation from a vacation company that promised her three days to cancel. Blue Bay Club includes 52 hotels in 27 different travel destinations, so customers always have a unique destination to visit. A judge temporarily enjoined the defendants from transferring or and his companies from selling any travel packages. companies they do business with,” said Timothy Mullaney, Sr., 2010 agreement with the office. To assist in getting immediate relief to affected consumers, the Division of Consumer Affairs has identified those consumers who used credit cards to pay Turner and his companies for vacation packages, and will be contacting the credit card companies to inform them of the Consent Judgment to facilitate reimbursements to those consumers through credit card charge-backs. too-good-to-be-true offers of free cruises and international Repeat this to yourself as often as is necessary. You may be able to find better deals with a local, reputable travel agent. The state maintains the memberships actually had little or no value. Although no approach is foolproof, you can usually find out what you need by asking and fact-checking a few specific questions. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. “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. contracts with any airlines, cruise lines, hotels, or motels. Dreamworks, Five Points Travel Company, Bentley Travel, Modern with those brands. But they’re a good start to protecting yourself. Does it promise a guaranteed specific interval at a specific location? TRAVEL CLUB Looking to travel, both locally and afar, with a fun, friendly group from Orange County? and their Marlton-based company, Travel Deals Limited Liability These come-ons, usually offering some kind of incentive to attend -- can end badly for consumers. the luxury vacation packages at discounted prices represented Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. Victims received advertisements for sales seminars that featured images of various commercial cruise ships. We’ll start sending you the news you need delivered straight to you. heartache and frustration.”. Dow's office says it has received complaints from 15 consumers, Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. seminars. The discounts they claim may be no better than you could get through other sources, but they’re usually not worse, either. When you pay with a credit card, federal law allows you to dispute unauthorized charges of more than $50 with your credit provider. Boondockers Welcome and The Affordable Travel Club, for example, help travelers arrange free RV parking (Boondockers Welcome) or lodging (The Affordable Travel Club) at members’ homes. Search a travel company's name on the Attorney General's and Better Business Bureau's Web sites to see if other consumers have filed complaints against the company. 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. The most reliable ones are those you’ll recognize the names of. And the operator typically reserves the right to increase these payments without your approval or right of refusal. the majority of whom paid between $2,500 and $5,194 for vacation There are many travel-related … hard-earned money, and then leaves them with little more than Fractional ownership such as timeshare may be a good way to vacation to the same place every year—but it’s a lousy overall investment. "We're continuing our investigation of Turner and his companies. but a scam and he's hauled the company into court. fees. High level of service and attention to detail at an unbeatable value. consent, and, fail to fulfill the type and price of travel available to Is There an Escape Clause or Resell Limitation? The state also alleges that the defendants depicted specific resorts, regions and packages in mailings and sales presentations that, in actuality, were not available to consumers. Read here to learn about travel club scams. According to the complaint … Chances are you're going to be sold something you don't really want that doesn't turn out nearly the way it's presented. Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum says Suncoast Incentives Others went to the company’s Montvale, N.J., location during listed business hours but found the office was closed. Travel clubs offer huge discounts for those looking to travel, but how can you be sure they're legitimate? Similar to the Timeshare Presentation Scam, the Exclusive Travel Club one is pulled on people who are invited to attend a travel seminar or receive a gift or a VIP card. And second, like other travel clubs, the one she’s dealing turns aggressive when its legitimacy is questioned. Sign up for our free newsletter. The defendants entered into the settlement without any admission of liability but has agreed to dissolve the business. Some consumers who contacted the company said were told cancellation papers would be mailed to them but no papers were received. websites, provide fixed pricing; and make only truthful statements Anyone who can fire up a smartphone and type the words "Pacific Palms" and "scam" into Google is unlikely to shell out $6,995 for a club … regarding their Better Business Bureau status. Ok, this will be a mixed review. Wholesale travel clubs claim that you’ll have access to incredibly cheap vacations if you join. The State of New Jersey has filed a second lawsuit against the operator of a vacation package company.... New Jersey Travel Clubs Banished from the Garden State.... Delaware Sues Serenity Travel, Destination Vacations. all of the terms and conditions for receiving incentives through But some ask for big membership fees, and those can be a big risk. Look for exclusions or conditions that will limit your ability to get a refund. Serenity members. State says travel clubs defrauded consumers.... New Jersey Expands Travel Service Lawsuit... By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. Vacation Clubs, LLC, which does business as La Bonne Vie Travel, is now a defendant in New Jersey's lawsuit against travel companies it claims took consumers money but provided no services. Travel Clubs; Results. Our Travel Club knows what it means to vacation well. 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. Director of the Attorney General’s Fraud and Consumer to fulfill promises of complimentary cruises and airfare used to Copyright © 2021 Consumers Unified LLC. There are also several travel clubs that coordinate professionals, like doctors and teachers, with professional services related travel opportunities. enjoined Turner from any involvement in the business operations of Vacation Travel Club ranks 79 of 312 in Travel … To date, New Jersey has identified more than 700 affected consumers, the majority of whom paid between $995 and $9,995.00 for the Global Travel memberships, plus a $29.95 monthly fee. travel club. The lawsuit further charges Turner and his companies with using in their promotional materials the corporate logos of airlines, hotels, and car rental companies without those companies’ permission. Exclusive Travel Club Scam: How It Works. He said any consumer who receives a similar solicitation should be extremely skeptical. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuse every day at SmarterTravel. The civil complaint, filed in Morris County, was amended several times as Consumer Affairs investigators uncovered additional travel club companies owned or controlled by Turner throughout New Jersey. Acting New Jersey Attorney General John J. Hoffman charged. Destinations Unlimited, Blue Water, Vacation Clubs LLC d/b/a La When consumers contacted the "800" telephone number listed on the mailings to claim their gifts, they were informed that they had to attend a 90-minute sales presentation for vacation packages. Should consumers wish to pursue reimbursements from their credit card companies themselves, they may obtain an electronic copy of the Final Consent Judgment by contacting Consumer Affairs Investigator Murat Botas at murat.botas@lps.state.nj.us or(973) 273-8038. Evans probably isn’t travel club … The The alleged violations of the Consumer Fraud Act include inducing consumers to attend presentations for memberships by offering a complimentary cruise and airfare that are, in fact, not complimentary. Club promoters may not accept a return, even for a reduced price, and some timeshare-based clubs may limit your ability to resell. practices.”. The idea of a “travel club” covers a wide range of organizations and activities, from scam-like timeshares to legitimate memberships that can save you money. They’re selling pie in the sky, and Marie Callender is better at making pies. He is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004), the first step-by-step guide specifically written for small business and self-employed professional travelers. Don’t take them at face value—promoters can easily satisfy enough travelers to elicit a few genuine rave reviews, which the company will then highlight. I booked under the Armed Forces Vacation Club. “As we allege in our lawsuit, Turner is in clear violation “Travel scams, offering free amenities and big discounts for cruises and airfare, can be shockingly effective at separating consumers from their hard-earned money,” Eric T. Kanefsky, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, said. Unsubscribe easily. Travel Club 360 Members have access to over 5,000 luxury resorts, 144,000 hotel properties and every major airline, cruise-line & car rental agency worldwide. It is important to watch out for these deceptive bait-and-switch tactics.". These businesses had previously operated out of locations in Parsippany, Sewell and Westampton. “Consumers complained that they were told membership in the travel club would entitle them to deep discounts on condos and cruises,” said Attorney General John Suthers. A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams. The Office of the Attorney General is also seeking civil penalties of up to $20,000 for each instance the defendant violated the DTPA. Evans probably isn't travel club material, which is yet another reason she's so outspoken. In May, the state sued Daryl T. Turner and his businesses, Dreamworks Vacation Club, Five Points Travel Company and Bentley Travel. Let friends and family use it. Here’s what you need to consider: Many large travel “clubs” are nothing more than conventional timeshare operations, operating as clubs to avoid the unsavory reputation of timeshares. Travel Club Scam: How It Works. As a member of our club… Dow says the alleged scheme is similar to the one that was the consumer complaints between June 2009 and May 2010 alleging the Don't give your debit card or credit card number to a company you don't know or don't trust. travel products if they attended the companies’ marketing I’m only familiar with one legitimate travel club: AAA. Unfortunately, most of them are. packages, which as alleged in the State’s new lawsuit, turned All Rights Reserved. the services the clubs advertised. Others, however, ask you to pay big up front for some promised future benefit. I am sure there are legitimate Travel Clubs, but they are not likely to offer you a free trip and then try to sell you the trip you thought was free. yet another of Turner’s companies that dangles Royal Palm Vacations, World Travel, and Capital Financial. Instead, check with review and complaint sites like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Google reviews (which usually now appear simply by Googling a business), and any other online review source you like. "Some unscrupulous companies take advantage of consumers' desires to get a good deal on travel," said Ohio Attorney General Cordray. refunds they had not yet paid along with additional penalties for A lot of robocalls are currently making this pitch. The defendants urged other prospective customers to join Sealand Travel Club, which claimed to provide significant discounts and the lowest prices for travel. Even if they attended the presentations, consumers were not provided with the gifts. 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. And the questions you need to ask about them are the same as for a timeshare: Examine the offer in detail to find out exactly what it promises, in specific terms. If your … From the complaints on-line, it looks like Grand Travel Worldwide sells products from "Executive Travel" ETTSI. The deal sounded too good to be true. alleging a pattern of deceptive business practices carried out by 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. Scam Clue 4: A promotion demanding that you “act now” or lose the deal. namely Dreamworks Vacation Club a/k/a Dreamworks Vacations a/k/a After discovering that the memberships did not provide the represented deep discounts and availability of accommodations and other travel services, consumers attempted to cancel their memberships but were unable to do so for varying reasons. In May, 2010 the companies agreed to reimburse within 30 days Travel Smarter! 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. complained that Serenity has failed to change its marketing company owner Daryl Turner alleging deceptive marketing practices. Businesses may use giveaways to persuade consumers to call and then pressure them into buying an over-priced package or travel club membership. If you receive a postcard inviting you to a presentation on how to saving big money on travel, you might be wise to show some skepticism. “Every indication points to Travel Deals being and outside of New Jersey. vacations in front of consumers, defrauds consumers of their lawsuit, which named Turner and his travel companies as defendants, A travel club contract may include annual fees, maintenance costs or other unexpected charges. including purporting to buy consumers' timeshares in exchange for ... the space-A stays have been drastically limited to less than desirable travel dates, and the more desirable resorts and/or travel … It had been updated to reflect the most current information. The State of New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against travel encouraged consumers to attend the seminars and receive a free cruise. It's similar, he says, to other illegal travel scams he's shut down in the past. ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. In February New Jersey settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit Bonne Vie Travel, Dream Vacations International, Inc., and Away We ensure that customers receive the refunds they deserve and to The ones that charge minimal fees are no more than a nuisance; if they don’t work out, you won’t have to refinance your house. presentations, but then either failed to provide promised packages and/or complimentary items never provided. A few clubs that might suit you include: Fulltime Families — A group dedicated to families with children who are living the full-time RV lifestyle. If you receive a postcard inviting you to a presentation on how to saving big money on travel, you might be wise to show some skepticism. during the sales presentations. transfer the timeshare, and using major travel brands on The only outcome you’ve been selected for is a fleecing. Paula T. Dow. All you have to lose is the minimal initial fee. To avoid surprises, read the contract to find out exactly how much the membership will cost and how you can cancel it. renewal fees ranged from $199 to $249. The big-dollar travel clubs are the ones should be subject to your scam scrutiny. “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.”. Then Main Street’s Circle of Friends Travel Club is for you! the consumers who had filed complaints for the fees they paid to consumers, Serenity Travel and Destination Vacation International Daryl Turner, 42, stole millions of dollars from customers of his travel club, Acting New Jersey Attorney General John J. Hoffman charged. cruises were not free and included substantial fees, often over Being invited to attend a presentation on vacation travel packages is like being invited to a presentation on timeshares. Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Many are legitimate low-risk operations, such as AARP, AAA, and other independent travel promoters. … LLC's offer of a travel club with unlimited free travel was nothing It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers. By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London). The agreement bars Map Destinations, LLC and its owners, operators, and managers from marketing travel cl... Get expert buying tips about Travel Club Scams delivered to your inbox. But most mass-market vacation clubs offer no asset value to back up your initial “investment.” At best, you own your “membership” and can sell it or pass it along to your heirs. In April 2014, Four Oaks Bank settled with the Department of Justice for engaging in the types of activities that Operation Choke Point is intended to stop. Scam Clue 5: A promotion that poses as an investment. T... Suit Claims Vacation Travel Club Defrauded Consumers... Police have arrested the owner of numerous New Jersey vacation travel companies with a long history of consumer complaints. Congleton enticed victims to purchase travel club memberships for But too often those deals don’t come through. He was also the co-author of the annual "Best Travel Deals" series from Consumers Union. All Rights Reserved. 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. Club Wyndham owners for example can exchange points into RCI, use them for travel expenses, roll them over to next year and convert them into Maintenance Fees. I’m always looking for ways to save money on flights, so I was curious to check out Dollar Flight Club, which sends out instant alerts about the world’s cheapest flight deals leaving your home airport. According to state investigators, Royal Palms Travel and a related entity, All Inclusive Excursions, unlawfully misled potential customers and relied upon improper high-pressure sales tactics to sell worthless travel club memberships. Turner also allegedly used the corporate logos of airlines, hotels, and car rental companies in promotional materials without those companies' permission. But when they don't, they can be a major source of frustration and monetary distress. But when I went through to the final buy-it page, I found the initial prices did not include mandatory resort fees, taxes, and fees imposed by the travel club. individually and d/b/a Reservations, his wife Robyn B. Bernstein, Customers also complained of difficulty acquiring Some very high-end vacation clubs actually own a string of vacation properties; members share in the ownership of these properties, and the club operator agrees to repurchase for a reasonable price. Some require stiff membership fees up front—usually several hundred up to thousands of dollars—and they may commit you to big annual fees indefinitely. The suit also charges the company failed to book the complimentary cruise and airfare even after the consumer submitted the requisite paperwork and paid the requisite deposits.
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