WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- As you search for a chance to get away this summer, Contact 5 is issuing a travel warning for would-be vacationers.
Before you sign up for any discount travel deals, beware of offers that sound too good to be true.
Irwin & Sondra Forlader stumbled on one. It was supposed to be part of their retirement celebration. A travel club membership, giving them dream vacations at discount prices.
"It gives you the option to go on cruises and other trips at bargain prices, and that's lasts our lifetime,” said Irwin Forlader.
Forlader says he was assured the deal was a money back guarantee.
"They showed me Europe, Spain, Mexico. They showed me South America, they showed me Australia, Hawaii and Asia,” said Forlader “They offer you the world.”
The couple put down more than seven thousand dollars, packed their bags and got ready for their first trip abroad. But there was one problem. They never left home.
"The truth of the matter is, they never came up with tickets," said Forlader.
Instead of a discount deal, the company demanded more money.
"They wanted about 8 thousand dollars more per couple,” remembers Forlader. "That's a big difference. That's no deal at all."
But Forlader says when he asked a travel club representative for his membership money back, the salesman refused.
"He says they don't want to give you back your money, so I said well, we're gonna have a problem."
Contact Five found Irwin Forlader’s problem isn’t isolated. Florida's Attorney General has dozens of complaints on the same travel group. The Investigators found it operates under three names; Integra Marketing, World Adventures and Quorum Travel International. The Better Business Bureau has also heard about all of the companies and has given them an “F” rating.
"They are a discount travel club that makes tremendous promises to people, entices them to come on board for an extravagant vacation opportunity." said Mike Gavlin with the Better Business Bureau. "Unfortunately, these luxurious vacations that are promised don't live up to the expectation that the consumer has, and many times, they're left with thousands of dollars in debt and no vacation at all."
The trio has also left a trail of lawsuits, including a lien from the IRS. Contact 5 stopped by the companies’ headquarters in Boca Raton. The businesses were gone and another company was operating at Integra Marketing’s old address. The landlord told Channel 5, he’s owed back rent by the travel club.
The incident serves as the perfect reminder according to consumer advocates. Groups like the BBB are putting would-be vacationers on notice.
“Today, unfortunately, with this desperate time we’re face with economically, people are doing things that they normally wouldn’t do…trying to save money and benefit their family…have a little vacation. They have to be more cautious now than ever,” Mike Gavlin said.
THE FOLLOWING ARE RED FLAGS AND SHOULD SERVE AS A WARNING TO YOU WHEN SHOPPING FOR DISCOUNT TRAVEL DEALS:
1.) A salesperson uses high pressured tactics like:
-demands your credit card number before explaining all of the conditions of a travel offer
-refuses to provide all the information about the total cost of your vacation.
2.) You get a post card, fax promotional or mailing that requires you to pay a fee. You should never have to pay a fee to get more information on a travel deal.
3.) Super low rates on air travel are offered when you purchase a companion ticket.
4.) Offers are made by companies attempting to subvert U.S. postal authorities.
DON’T LET TRAVEL COMPANY DELIVER TRAVEL PACKAGE TO YOU IN EXCHANGE FOR YOU PAYMENT!
Here are some tips:
1.) Ask them to mail you the literature. If they don’t want to put the offer in writing, it’s a sure sign you’re about to be scammed.
2.) Be wary of great deal and low-priced offers
3.) Ask detailed questions. They should be able to answer every single one of your questions.
4.) Get all information in writing before you agree to buy
5.) Don’t give your credit card number or bank information over the phone unless you have confidence in the company you are dealing with.
6.) Check background of the company with the following ....
Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org
American Society of Travel Agents (703) 739-8739
Federal Trade Commission (202) 382-4357
National Tour Association (606) 226-4444
U.S. Tour Operators Association (212) 599-6599
