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On June 2, 2009, my wife and I listened to a presentation by a young representative ("Zach") about the benefits of the Dream Vacations International, Inc. (DVI) travel club, a presentation hosted at Bentley Travel in Parsippany NJ. DVI purports to secure at a discount and resell, without markup, accommodations and trips sold by reputable travel organizations through DVI’s power of bulk buying. We specifically inquired about DVI’s ability to resell travel from a specific favored travel organization we have often used in the past. DVI assured us they could provide real discounts and we requested a quote. They quoted a specific trip, destination and date at about 30% below the catalog price. We also inquired into their affiliation with Five Points Travel (FPT) which had bad reviews on the web; they first disclaimed any knowledge of FPT and then conceded that they had purchased customer accounts from FPT. We signed up - because of DVI’s reassurances and significant discounts being offered only then. Yeah, yeah, I know.
The following day I called my preferred travel vendor whose trip was quoted to us by DVI. They explained that they do not sell their trips through anyone else and promptly asked their legal department to issue a letter, which I now have, explaining that any contrary representation by DVI was fraud. I put my concerns in writing and called Bentley Travel to ask for an email to which I could direct my concerns in writing. I was told to email my letter to [protected]@fivepointstravel.com, the company they had disclaimed knowledge of. I then asked if FPT was the same as DVI and was told they were. I e-mailed and faxed my letter and immediately confirmed by phone that the fax had been received.
In a few hours I had a call from Thomas Mayes, a senior executive, who said that he would be happy to help us since DVI is there "to reduce stress, not to create it" and after all "no harm, no foul". He directed me to contact the office manager, a Gintari Zubrut to undo any charges. I wrote Ms. Zubrut with specific instructions about what needed to be done to avoid the charge being posted to our credit card account. She ignored my instructions and took no action. I spoke to her the next day, cordially, and re-sent detailed instructions - which she also ignored.
Now the charge has posted and the process of unwinding this transaction has become more difficult. It is apparent that Bentley/Five Points/DVI has no intent to act or experience in direct or honest dealings and I urge all, most strongly, to stay away from them.
Fred R. Cohen, Esq.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
has anyone received there money back from this scam its obvious that they do not fulfill the contract agreement that we have a bought into i am out 5000. has any action been taken
K M
I too, was scammed by this company (for about $3, 300) a few yeras ago in Scottsdale, AZ. When I bought in, I was promised the lowest deals on all travel; rental cars, flights, hotels, cruises, everything. They also included a 1 week free condo per year. When I called to inquire about travel options, it seemed they were just a makeshift travel agent, accessing Expedia or Travelocity through their computers, since their "discounts" were no better than these online travel companies. Also, the representative I spoke with had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned the 1 week free rental.
Now, when I try calling, the phone is always busy. I don't even know if they are still in business or ever really were. Idon't think there is any way to get my money back but I just hope no one else gets scammed.
I was listening to a spanish radio station and the had a contest to say a name of a county that didnt have an "a " I called and I was told that I won vacations to dysney, florida and las vegas I shoukld have now it was a scam when they asked for a credit card. but i was so excited they misleaded me to believe it was free and immediatly they charged my credicar for more than 300 dollars I called immediatly and told them why they did that? and they told me that I accepted to be charged in my credit card which i never did so now im fighting to get my mney back.we need to put and end to this people that take advantage of consumers.
My wife and I were also cheated, not only the cost of membership($4993), but the subsequest fees for trying to cash in on the promotional bonuses, all to no avail. I ran into a stone wall to request a refund, t/p nos. were disconnected, websites no help. I, too, have been in touch with the AG of NJ and now my credit card company. Hopefully they can do something. We joined the club back in January of 2009. I can't believe they're still operating!
After I read all your stories, I say to myself someone got to do something! They are still cheating people every day!
Last Saturday (June 26th 2010) I was enticed by them (DVI Travel club) a so-called "Three years trial contract" after a nice presentation and many beautiful oral promises. Though losing $1500 is what I can be bear (today I called my credit company to suspend the payment after I realized they are nothing but a group of cheaters), I can't tolerate the fact that they are still doing such a ugly business every day!
Can you guys (all victims) contact me (Zhong Wu in Downingtown PA)? Let us together find a best lawyer to catch these, we are witness!
Here is my email address:
jzw428@yahoo.com
Please contact me, together we can stop them to continue cheating others.
Best Regards!
Zhong Wu
This is the most difficult and uncooperative company I have ever worked with. DVI Condo depart is totally incapable of doing anything correct. They don't return phone calls, they charged my credit card but booked the condo in another customers name. Remeber the saying if it is to good to be true it probably is not good.
on 2/4/10 i purchased one of DVI packages. when i check for promotional prices they either the same as the hotels i checked or even higher. last weekend i went to ny. price quoted by DVI was $179. 00 per night. i contacted the hotel directly and paid $149. There is a no cancellation clause but i will likie to get my money back. The promotional gifts of travel and car rental comes back at a higher price quote than if you booked it yourself
My name is Elvira Petrillo-Sabet and we purchused one of these dream vacation packages back in March 2009 - I made daily attempts to try to work with the organization to either book a trip or lastly get a refund of my $3, 500 not sucessful with either. This is a real scam! Can someone contact me to advise on any remedial steps which can be taken to get a refund?
I contacted the BBB and the Attorney General's Office in NJ.
My wife and I also were scammed by La Bonne Vie Travel. We even informed them that we are in the midst of adopting a child and would love to have this (now we know) truly unbelievable service for our future. They assured us it was on the up and up, but we lost trust after never getting prices for hotels, and not receiving the info about the service in the mail. We contacted our credit card company who reviewed it, and called the phone number they had for a contact. Our CC company told us it was a firework company, and started the process to cancel the charges.
We had to pay a small finance charge, but we were returned all of our money.
All, there is another forum going where there is a lot of information going on. Look under Five Points Travel Complaints - Vacation Travel Club. I wish the administrator would combine all the these, think its 5, complaints into one.. so everyone could have the same helpful information
They just got me as well on Friday, 6/12. Is there anything we can do to get out?
The scamsters now use the names La Bonne Vie Travel, also travelclub and operate out of 600 Park avanue Manalpan NJ and use [protected] as phone number. Me and my wife were also their victims.
NJInsuranceManager