|
Recommended:
books
Recommended
AV product:
| |
Travel Frauds and Scams - Horizon Travel
VIP Travel Incentives and Travel Club International (TCI)
Horizon Travel / TCI has apparently gained notoriety for it's
"deals" . Here are several cases, including a case of a woman who signed up for the travel package,
attended the requisite sales presentation, paid the deposit, and couldn't them
to approve her travel dates. And yet, she says, they are still holding on to her
deposit. Write us if you have
any experience with travel scams or Horizon Travel! See the
What to do section below for help!
Example Travel Scam emails and experiences
Feb. 13, 2007
Re: refund due
Horizon Travel
3 Red Roof Lane
Unit 2A
Salem, NH 03079
Cert’s Number 62058
PKG Code: CRBOS
and
VIP Travel Incentives
7272 Broadway Blvd STE 264
Tucson, AZ 85710
Dear Sir or Madam:
As an incentive for my husband and I to attend a lengthy
presentation at Horizon Travel in Salem, NH, we were promised a free cruise to
the Bahamas. On their instructions, on June 7, 2006 I sent VIP a check (#3371)
for $100.00 as a deposit for a cruise to the Bahamas. As they were unable to
fill my request for the date of travel requested, I asked for a refund of my
deposit, as promised.
To date, I have not received my refund, nor have I been able to
reach either Horizon travel or VIP Travel Incentives by telephone.
On Dec. 14, 2006, I wrote to both companies asking for a refund
of my deposit of $100.00 and stating my intent to report Horizon Travel and VIP
Travel Incentive to all appropriate Consumer Fraud agencies if I did not receive
my deposit..
Yours truly,
Rita
March 2, 2007:
We are from NH and were recently scammed by Horizon Travel/ aka
TCI in Salem NH in August 2006. We paid $4,995.00 for this membership which
included 2 weeks of condo usage per year. We won a so-called trip for 3 days 2
nights to Cancun, Orlando Florida or Las Vegas. We sent in a check for $100.00
for this trip and have not heard from the company. We also booked a hotel in
Boston Mass. in November, had to pay the full amount and are still waiting for
the discount. My husband has called the company many times, either they gave him
a run around or no answer or answering machine saying they would return our
phone calls. My husband received a phone call today (3/1/07) from a person
claiming he was a consumer relations representative from TCI...phone number was
602-438-6526, (when I did a reverse phone number look up on the internet, it
came up as TCI in Tempe Arizona). However when I called the number back, no one
answered. This person told my husband that they were no longer associated with
Horizon Travel. He said that they only charge $175 per year for a membership and
not the astronomical amount we paid. He said that they never received any of
this money from Horizon and said if we still wanted to be members they would
reimburse us the money we were waiting for (the $128 from the hotel booking). We
sent a complaint report to our NH attorney generals office. We also recently
found out that the Salem Office is closed, that Horizon Travel left overnight
and no one knows where they went. We want the public to know what this company
is doing and to stop others from being scammed. We know we may never see our
money again, but feel justice would be served if the public was made aware of
this company.
Suzanne
March 2, 2007:
I also had a negative experience with Horizon Travel out of New
Hampshire. I didn't buy any cruises from them - but it seems like I have only
lost $100. I had a similar experience to that describe by a lady from
Massachusetts - no need to repeat. I have already filed complaints with FTC, BBB
of NH, and NH Attorney General's office.
Vlad
March 3, 2007:
I followed every rule so I could get my free cruise. I was denied every request
I requested in for a year. I was told if I didn't get the cruise I would get my deposit back.
Now my money has been stolen and for a year I paid for a travel club that never
delivered. I never got answers back and I found better deals somewhere else.
They go by 3 different names:
- Horizon Travel.
- V.I.P. Travel and
- T.C.I. Travel
When ever I called them, they would say they were someone else! Please
help!
March 19, 2007:
This is to all consumers who have been scammed by Horizon Travel/TCI/VIP
Travel Incentives. If you are interested in joining a growing group of
similar individuals who are in the process of seeking justice by these
companies (who are one in the same), please go to
www.thesqueakywheel.com and do a search for "Travel club
scam- watch out!!!" and ask the author of this scam to add you to our group.
The Better Business Bureau is a good start and is often
quite effective at getting companies to refund deposits. Otherwise, the
complaint is lodged and unresolved; something most companies don't want on the
public record. The BBB complaint form is on this page:
https://odr.bbb.org/odrweb/public/GetStarted.aspx If you get a
security announcement, just click OK and then "next" and fill out the form.
Also:
More Information about HORIZON TRAVEL
Better Business Bureau Report (see this page on the
Fort Worth BBB website,
DATE: May 25, 2006, text repeated below:)
Horizon Travel of Arlington has an unsatisfactory record
with the BBB due to a pattern of complaints regarding selling practices and
service issues. The Bureau received 137 complaints against the company
during its three-year reporting period. While some consumers complained
about high-pressure sales tactics, the biggest source of complaints revolved
around misrepresentation of the travel packages offered by the company.
Consumers put up as much as $5,000 to become members of a travel club which
the company claimed would provide special, "member only" rates on all travel
packages. Members found it difficult to make travel arrangements and
discovered that the so-called "special rates" for members were available to
the general public on the internet. Consumers also complained about a lack
of responsiveness on the part of the company to their concerns, citing the
difficulty of making contact with company representatives. One of the
principal officers of Horizon Travel was also a former officer with Sun
Country Travel of Carrollton, Texas which was the target of a successful
lawsuit by the State Attorney General's Office for using deceptive marketing
practices. At least one customer was told in a letter from the company that,
to resolve the complaint, the customer would have to furnish documentation
that the consumer had closed out the complaint with the BBB as resolved
satisfactorily. The owner of Horizon Travel claimed incorrectly that the
company had a satisfactory record with the Better Business Bureau. He has
also promised to make refunds to dissatisfied customers.
Travel clubs, vacation packages, and promotions promising "free" trips are
frequent sources of inquiries and complaints to the BBB at Fort Worth.
Before joining a travel club, buying a vacation package, or taking advantage
of a free trip, consumers should remember that travel fraud costs consumers
billions of dollars each year. Even if the travel offer is legitimate,
consumers need to be alert to potential problems. Before becoming involved
in any of these travel offers, read the rules carefully. Find out what is
covered by the offer in terms of transportation and accommodations; offers
can vary considerably in coverage. Determine the exact costs involved and
which costs will be met by the company. Check to see if a deposit is
required and what the provisions for its refund are. Read any agreement
carefully before signing it. Conditions affecting the travel offer are often
found in the fine print; this includes such things as price changes,
cancellation penalties, refunds and availability of accommodations. For
example, the agreement with Horizon Travel stated that the company could not
guarantee the availability of condos. Check with the Better Business Bureau
for a reliability report on the company involved; don't depend on the
company to tell you that they have a good record with the BBB.
The LA Better Business Bureau recorded at least 8 complaints and
says:
"The Better Business Bureau has
received eight complaints against TCI so far, complaining about the
company's failure to honor its guarantee. According to these complaints, the
company denies refunds for such reasons as that the cancellation is not
received within 30 days after "enrollment," whereas the complainants, who
may not even receive their materials until several weeks after enrolling,
say the refund period was to begin upon receipt of them. One complainant,
who felt the operation was a pyramid scheme, said he had requested his
refund five times. TCI finally denied his request, saying the refund period
had expired. Another says he sent letters and called to request a refund
some three weeks after joining but could not get a response. After he
complained to the Bureau, TCI quoted its refund policy as stating that fees
are "fully refundable, minus commissions earned, if written cancellation . .
. is received . . . [by] Corporate Office within 30 days from the date of
this Agreement." Although they deny receiving this complainant's
cancellation at all, they point out that in spite of the fact that he did
not earn any commissions, people in his upline organization did. Thus, the
amount of their commissions would be deducted from his refund. But the
remainder of what he paid, they claim, was also ineligible for refund for
other reasons. And still another complainant's refund request was denied
because the materials he returned to them were "slightly damaged" and he did
not return his identification card nor an airline fly-free certificate.
See this page for their complete report.
A site visitor tells us that TCI Travel is affiliated with:
Charisma Travel dba Discount Travel Shop
Carson City NV 89701
phone 775-887-1118
ConsumerFraudReporting.org's advice:
Avoid Horizon Travel / VIP / TCI: The sheer volume of complaints going
back for years speaks volumes. There are plenty of travel agencies with no
complaints you can use!
* |
