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Certs review: Certs is a huge scam! 77

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12:00 am EDT
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This is the biggest scam incentive company ever! If you send in a bank cashier's check or money order instead of a POSTAL money order - the certificate is canceled. NO second chances. And - if you send in all the requested documents - they lie blatantly and tell you that you didn't even if you have proof. Please avoid this company - they will find a way not to honor their certificate!

Update by CJ Bostic
Dec 20, 2007 8:36 pm EST

The Owner's name is Gregory Peaden.

Their phone number is [protected]

PLEASE... complain to the Better Business Bureau AND the Attorney General of Florida about this guy and his company.

How do you spell Scam? C-E-R-T-S!

77 comments
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Ted Chavis
Jun 04, 2007 10:23 am EDT

That is so true. You think their cruises will help your business when you give out the certificates until you get EVERY person complaining about the hoops and then they get denied when they do everything right. Certs Inc. is an unethical company.

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Paul Marks
Sep 28, 2007 7:24 am EDT

I just was taken by the fuel redemption program where they void the entire program if one of the 10 certificates is received prior to 30 days from the last one. I mailed # 2 & # 3 exactly 30 days apart, but the USPS delivered # 3 quicker than # 2 by 2 days, so Certs voided the entire program!

The free travel is equally as bogus and virtually impossible to comply with.

If a company offers you free gas, travel or vacation time, check first to see who is providing these "free" items. If it is Certs, don't even bother to go to the sales promotional because what you will receive will be worthless!

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alena
Nov 27, 2007 11:16 am EST

I just got scammed by this company as well. I guess if It's too good to be true, it's a scam, don't believe it.

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S. Torbeck
Nov 27, 2007 11:25 am EST

Run as fast as you can if you receive this offer. Run as fast as you can if you are invited to hear information on Timeshares in Williamsburg, Virginia. Both company's are huge scams and a huge waste of your time and energy.

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patricia baham
Nov 29, 2007 2:00 pm EST

We attended a travel presentation and received the Certs activation form but it was so convoluted that I decided to check it out online. I've read the [relatively few] negative comments and am wondering, "Are there any people who have had a positive experience?

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Dave Cunningham
Dec 04, 2007 11:17 am EST

Even jumping through every single obvious hoop -- I managed to lose any conceivable goodwill for Certs. They managed to use a clause in a PRIOR piece of paper to disallow an attempt at booking following every single iota of rational requirements and irrational requirements in the booking request!

The mere fact that they proudly proclaim that NO customer complaints sent by email will even be read , and that their phone people are the EPITOME of the David Spade "No!" commercial should be warning enough.

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Sarah Bolt
Dec 06, 2007 12:25 pm EST

THIS COMPANY IS FULL OF CRAP!

Through Vacation Network we were offered a gift of "two free plane tickets" if we go and listen to some pitch about buying a vacation package... BEWARE OF VACATION NETWORK as well- and when we went through the process (mailing in the initial voucher to receive the second step of paperwork and send them the money) we never received the second step. So- we called about 25 days after mailing in the voucher to say we hadn't heard anything back and Vacation Network said to just wait it was on the way but it takes about 30-60 days to receive your 2nd step voucher but it was on its way to us. SO WE WAITED...AND WAITED...and WAITED some more... and nothing. Finally- my husband calls back to Vacation Network and they finally give us the number to Certs, Inc. and that they are the ones responsible. So he calls Certs and says.. "What's the deal?" and basically they told him that they had already sent us the second step and we hadn't responded within 60 days so the voucher was invalid and the offer withdrawn. THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE ORIGINAL VOUCHER THAT SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT "MAKE SURE YOU CONTACT US WITHIN 30 DAYS IF YOU DON'T RECEIVE THE SECOND STEP OR YOUR OFFER WILL BE WITHDRAWN!"
My husband hashed it out with "Stupid" for 45 minutes and he refused to transfer my husband to his manager and said that there wasn't anyone else to talk to- that he was the manager and that basically we were screwed and it was OUR FAULT for waiting so long! Then he sent us BACK to Vacation Network to complain...

EVERYONE IS RIGHT- THIS COMPANY WILL DO WHATEVER IT CAN TO GET OUT OF HONORING ITS "GIFT" OFFER. BEWARE!

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Nigel Francis Barton
Dec 10, 2007 10:49 am EST

I have also been taken by this scam. Is there no way that they can be sued/ out out of business? Although the award is supposedly a gift, its availability does swing people who are deciding whether or not to take up a particular offer as is apparent value is around $1000 dollars (two free air tickets anywhere in the US )plus $100 worth of gas. The rules are so convoluted that very few applicants must succeed, and they only have one chance.

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Casandra
Dec 11, 2007 5:34 pm EST

Yes, one more story to share about Certs!

I did everything that we were supposed to, completed the form, sent the postal money order within the required time frame, etc. Guess what, the form got mailed with my signature but without my husband's signature. You guessed it, that invalidated the offer. Interestingly enough I found out only because I called to check on the status of the reservation. I have received nothing from them, no notification of any kind, and they are still holding my deposit. The manager, Seneca not only refused to give me his last name, he also refused to give me the name of the Certs president. He was outrageously rude and pretty much told me that we had nothing to discuss. We did not follow instructions and that was the end of the conversation. He concluded by saying that I had nothing to claim as I had paid for nothing, it was a free offer and I did not follow instructions. Amen. I faxed a letter to the president of Certs and I anxiously await his response. Will keep you posted on the outcome. I will escalate as needed. Dishonest companies need to be reported so that they do not get away with this unethical way of doing business and continue to impact others. I will definitely pursue this and suggest that everyone does the same. Hang in there for part 2 of my story.

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Hector Herrera
Dec 20, 2007 6:33 am EST

This company is infuriating! Our travel certificate was rendered invalid because one of the two dates that we selected was past the expiration date of the certificate. Why can't they use the good date? I believe every complaint I have read about Certs, Inc. RUN, DO NOT WALK away from this company.

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Doubter
Jan 14, 2008 10:16 am EST

Yes, Certs, Inc. (VIP Travel Reservations) and others that promote all those "free travel incentives are all SCAMS. The businesses that they use as outlets for their "promotions" or "gifts"-- those businesses that advertise to purchase vacation travel clubs, time shares, etc.
are the agents. In other words, the businesses that have these 90 minutes presentations to persuade the consumer to purchase these are in partnership in SCAMMING with businesses such as Certs, Inc.

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Jerry Schlotter
Jan 18, 2008 3:53 am EST

I was held by Wyndham against my will for 5 hours by a 'holiday' I bought from 'Central Reservations'.

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Joel Glick
Jan 20, 2008 4:51 pm EST

In September, 2007, I received a postcard in the mail that had a Northwest Airlines logo "NWA" and stated “In celebration of our anniversary...we've been going crazy trying to contact you! Call us immediately for details at toll free [protected]. The postcard stated "You will receive at your request two round trip airfares to anywhere in the US!" as well as a free rental care for one week. The postcard also read "This is not a solicitation for a time share. *Certain restrictions apply. Travel Provider: Utopian Travel 1315 185th Avenue #113 in Beaverton, OR. 97006.” I have since learned that the company that sent out the postcard was actually Perfekt Marketing, 3015 S. 48th Street, Tempe, Arizona 85282.

I called the 800 number, and made an appointment for my wife and I to attend a presentation at 8:00 pm on September 19, 2007. At the presentation, we watched a PowerPoint presentation about the Vacation Travel Club, which I learned is a company based in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The cost of joining this club was approximately $8000. Following the presentation we informed a saleswoman that we were not interested in joining this club. Through my own investigation, I have found that the managers of Utopian Travel are James Wilson [protected] and Andrew Loraditch [protected]. The owner is Janet Wilson, [protected].

Before we left, we were given two certificates, one from VIP Travel Reservations for the rental car and the other from CERTS, Inc. for two free airline tickets. We did not redeem the car rental certificate, because the terms and conditions were obviously ridiculous, but we did attempt to redeem the airline certificate, which was the subject of our complaint.

The Wings Across America Vacation Getaway certificate had very specific terms and conditions for its use. My wife and I made every good-faith effort to meet each one of these terms and conditions exactly as required.

Within 30 days of the issue date, we sent, by Certified Mail, the Activation Form to CERTS Inc. (424 East Central Blvd., #413, Orlando FL 32801) along with copies of our passports.
CERTS, Inc. then sent us a Travel Request Form (see attachment C). On October 25, 2007, we returned the Travel Request Form with a Postal Money Order for $100, along with our requested destination and departure airports (Denver, CO and Portland, OR respectively), and two travel date choices, with departure dates 30 days apart (June 17, 2008 and July 17, 2008).

On November 13, 2007 I received a check in mailbox. The check was from CERTS, Inc. in the amount of $100. It arrived with no explanation or other documents.

On November 14, 2007, I called the office of CERTS, Inc. [protected]. I spoke to a representative. I gave him my name and certificate serial number (Wings22-37298) and asked him why CERTS had sent me the check. He informed me that the reason was that I had not met the terms and conditions of the certificate because I “did not have 30 between departure dates.” I told him that I had counted the days the very carefully and that there are 30 days from June 17 to July 17. He told me that was incorrect, and that there are only 29 days between June 17 and July 17.

I told him that most educated and reasonable people would interpret “30 days between” and “30 days from” to mean the same thing. I did not, and do not concede that their interpretation was correct and mine incorrect. However, I asked him why a CERTS representative didn’t just call me and ask me if I would change one of the two dates by one day, given that they had my telephone number. He said that CERTS does not call people who make mistakes filling out their Travel Request Forms. Then I asked if I could resubmit a copy of my Travel Request Form, with another Postal Money Order, given that the expiration date on my certificate is 12/9/2007. He said that would be impossible; the certificate is now void because I had not met the terms and conditions.

I asked the representative if I could speak to his manager. He told me that the manager is named Seneca (though I’m not certain of the spelling), and that he is in the office from 11 am to 2 pm ET every day. I attempted to call Seneca three times, but each time I was placed on hold for 15 minutes. I am a classroom teacher who teaches students every morning, so I cannot spend time waiting on hold.

I have demanded the following remedy from Utopian Travel and CERTS Inc.:

Two airline tickets from Portland, Oregon to Denver, Colorado leaving June 17, 2007 and returning July 1, 2008 or leaving July 17 and returning July 31. If CERTS Inc. prefers other travel dates, immediately before or after our requested dates, we will accept them. Upon request, we will send CERTS Inc. another Postal Money Order and a photocopy of our original Reservation Request Form.

I complained to the BBB of Florida and Oregon, as well as to the offices of the Attorney Generals of Florida and Oregon. The BBBs were unsuccessful at persuading CERTS, Inc. to honor my certificate.

Below is the response of CERTS to the BBB and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services:

November 27, 2007
Johanna Moorer
Consumer Affairs
Better Business Bureau
1600 S. Grant Street
Longwood, FL 32750
Re: Joel G______, Case#: 63A2-9DC&
Dear Ms. Moorer,
Certs, Inc. is a promotional incentive company that works with companies such as Utopian Travel. Certs, Inc. creates, distributes, and processes many types of certificates. Utopian Travel purchases our certificates and distributes and markets them to their liking. In return, Certs, Inc. fulfills the certificate if and only when the Terms & Conditions are followed.
The program that Mr. G____ has participated in provides two adults with round-trip airfare from the major airport nearest their home to any other major city in the continental United States. In order to participate in this program, users are required to fill out the activation form and send it to Certs, Inc. along with a copy of a valid photo ID for each traveler. Once Certs, Inc. receives these items, a Travel Request Form is issued. With this form, users are to indicate where they would like to travel to and from; along with two separate travel dates they wish to depart on. They are also to include a US Postal Money order in the amount of $100 to pay for taxes and surcharges associated with the flight.
Certs, Inc. received Mr. G____’s activation form and ID’s on September 29, 2007. Mr. G____ was then issued a Travel Request Form. Certs, Inc. received Mr. G_____’s filled out Travel Request form and $100 deposit on October 29, 2007. The reason that Mr. G_____ received his $100 back is because Mr. G_____ failed to adhere to one of the original terms and conditions associated with this offer. Both the original activation form and the Travel Request Form state that your first and second departure date choices must have at least 30 days between them. Mr. G_____’s first departure date choice was June 17 and his second departure date choice was July 17. There are only 29 days separating these two dates and therefore, Mr. G_____’s offer was voided. As the letter that Mr. G_____ received states, “We are unable to process your travel request. . . Please do not resubmit any documents to re-instate your certificate. The offer remains void.”
Certs, Inc. goes to great lengths to make our terms and conditions simple and easy to understand. We have very few restrictions, but we do require adherence to be able to serve all participants who are in compliance. We are sorry that Mr. G_____ did not choose to follow all of our terms and conditions of this program; however, there is nothing that can be done.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Lauren Gallo
Certs, Inc.

Here was my response:

Don Dietrich
Regulatory Specialist III
Division of Consumer Services
2005 Apalachee Pkwy.
Tallahassee, FL [protected]

Dear Mr. Dietrich,
In reference to case #[protected]/DD, please accept this letter as notification that I do not accept the response of Certs, Inc. to my complaint.
There are two reasons that I find the response of Lauren Gallo (representing Certs, Inc.) unacceptable:
1) I do not believe that there are only 29 days between June 17 and July 17. Rather, there are 30 days between June 17 and July 17. If there were only 29 days between June 17 and July 17, there would have to be zero days between June 17 and June 18, or any other two days on the calendar. Between any given hour, noon for example, on June 17 and that same hour on July 17, there are exactly 720 hours. 720 hours divided by 24 hours equals 30 days. Gallo’s assertion that there are only 29 days is disingenuous and absurd.

2) Gallo also claims that “…Mr. G. did not choose to follow all of our terms and conditions of this program; however, there is nothing that can be done.” The fact is that I made good faith efforts to follow every one of the numerous terms and conditions established by Certs, Inc. It was Certs, Inc. that chose not to inform me that it has a different way of calculating 30 days than I do. As I stated in my initial complaint, changing one of my travel dates was not a problem for me. All Certs, Inc. had to do was call me or send me a letter asking me to move one of the dates forward or backwards by a day. That is what any honest and legitimate business would have done. Instead, Certs Inc. chose to void my certificate. Contrary to Gallo’s claim, Certs Inc. never sent me an explanation for why my $100 was refunded. All I received was a check for $100 in an envelope.

The remedy I demand from Certs, Inc. is “Two round-trip airfares from the major airport nearest [my] home to any other major city in the continental U.S.”, as promised to me by Certs, Inc.

I am most grateful for all the work you have done on my behalf, and on behalf of consumers in Florida and throughout the United States.

Sincerely,
Joel G.

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Malinda J. Gallant
Jan 28, 2008 12:40 pm EST

I too have been scammed by Certs, Inc.
My husband and myself sat thru a promotional put on by Rangely Lakes Resort in Portland,Maine for selling time-shares. We received two certificates for free airline tickets within the cont. US. I have jumped thru every hoop and followed every stipulation to the letter and have yet to receive my tickets.
This company is reprehensible and the small print is rediculous. I called the main office of Rangley Lakes Resort and was told to plan my two departure dates 32 days apart to ensure I would'nt get bumped off. The certificate directions clearly state 30 days apart. If they want 32 days apart that is what they should say!I am taking this to the Att. Gen. of Florida and the BBB of Florida. PLEASE! PLEASE !PLEASE! Do the same if this has happened to you. If they get enough cmplaints they will shut them down. I don't quit that easily and they bank on people to give up without a fight!

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Informant
Feb 04, 2008 4:58 am EST

Don't count out all the incentive companies out there because we have worked with others that do well with fulfillment. This company and worldwide travel center are the two worst.

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Megan
Feb 04, 2008 12:58 pm EST

We to have been scammed by Certs. We filled out all paperwork with the assistance of a Certs representative because i transferred tickets to my daughter. I to was disqualified due to the 60 days out before the first flight selection. However, the representative did not catch it either. Makes you wonder if this is just the way they work! I also plan on writing to the Florida BBB, Attorney general and Ohio BBB. This company is not trustworthy and any company that uses them in my eyes is not reputable either.

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Thomas Wulf
Feb 07, 2008 6:10 am EST

I am currently in the middle of a business transaction with Certs, Inc. Anyone with a complaint against them needs to contact the Better Business Bureau of Central Florida and make a complaint. The BBB has received 90 complaints on Caerts, Inc. since they opend a BBB file on Certs, Inc. in February of 2006.

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Joe Maio
Feb 13, 2008 7:06 am EST

I just got taken in by the airline scam. 30 days means 31 days. Has anyone obtained a judgement against them?

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Pete
Mar 02, 2008 2:49 pm EST

I agree..My wife and I went to a presentation, given by DREAMLAND VACATIONS, for VACATION NETWORK INC.
Every thing that NVI is connected with is a scam. I was lucky and changed my mind and did not send in the certificate with a $100.00 postal money order. After learning about VNI , I figured any company that requires a Postal Money Order has got to be a problem. Apostal money order is almost like cash and very hard to stop payment.

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Michael Podoris
Mar 04, 2008 9:02 am EST

Count us in as another couple who has been scammed. These people begged and hounded us to attend their presentation with the promise of airline tickets. We followed everything to a "t" or so we thought. Our check was returned because it wasn't a US postal check but Western Union instead. We are not in the habit of using money orders and failed to realize there was a difference. They also claim there was not 30 days between dates when there was. We don't believe they ever had any intention of honoring their certificate. After reading all the above complaints, we feel completely duped.

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Thomas Wulf
Mar 05, 2008 10:25 am EST

I just received my $100 refund back from CERTS. I had completed all the bells and whistles and obstacles they threw at me and in the exact order. Then I hit another block. CERTS wanted another $50. They also refused to confirm either of the two dates that I had requested. I told them I had to put in for vaation time off from work. I had put in for both dates and CERTS said that they could NOT promise either date. I have since purchased the tickets on my own and the taxes and fees were half of what CERTS wanted me to pay them. This company is at the bottom of the barrel! Their mission is to do nothing. I will be contactting the BBB in Florida to file a complaint. I have telephone numbers for CERTS if you want to call them tool free: [protected]. Maybe we should all call them about 6 times a day for the next year. I would think they would have to pay for these calls. I attended my time-share presentation through Whitebirch Estates. So please watch out for that company as well as they use CERTS. Birds of a feather I would say. They are also tied in with Great Escapes. When I complained to them, they sent me another certificate for a buy one ticket, get one free. The buy-one ticket had a minimum purchase price of around $360 for the ticket. I only paid another $100 for the two tickets I already purchased on my own and was able to pick my dates, flights and so on. Don't gine these business a minute of your time as tey will just tick you off!

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Mike Grace G
Mar 06, 2008 7:47 am EST

We also went to the 90 minute dreamworks vacation in New Jersey. We decided not to purchase their deal. After receiving & reading the certificates 1 Wings across America by CERTS & 2 VIP Travel Resversations inc. We went on the internet & read the horrible stories associated with these companies. We decided not to send any money because our understanding was "we invest 90 minutes listining then receive a round trip ticket to anyware in the US & as a bonus 7 day car rental". We did not receive the airline tickets nor the car rental at the end. I beleive this is a scamM. PS threw the paper work out & will tell all my realetives & friends all about DREAMWORKS VACATIONS.

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Sydney W
Mar 07, 2008 12:54 pm EST

THEY ARE IN NEW JERSEY!

They did the same "presentation" in NJ now under Dream Works in 122 Burrs Rd Mt Holly/Westampton. I just attended one recently but did not pay anything. And thanks to prior postings, I have no intention to send in the activation form.

Same thing - sending postcards, asking you to register, luring you to the presentation and selling you the membership for supposedly cheap condo week or whatever.

The $8,000 membership that could dropped drastically. They just wanted you to buy it before checking them out.

They put a BBB plague on the hallway. According to BBB, Dream Works membership had been revoked because of unresolved complaints. BBB classified it as unsatisfactory.

The company VIP (with many aliases) in Florida was listed unsatisfactory by BBB too.

These guys do not exercise good faith during the "counseling." They lied about the $50 on the activation form, saying that it is taxes.

They did not give a contract for me to read on the membership. They refused to let me to take one to home to let my lawyer to read. Actually they did not show me a copy.

they claimed that they have the best network and can book any place but they could not show me anything for a city I picked.

They claimed that the $499 a week condo will hold forever - $499 even 100 years later because the membership could be transferred to any one in perpetuity.

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Barbara Berger
Mar 18, 2008 12:38 pm EDT

After sending in a complaint regarding Certs a while back, we have recently received a refund check for the airline tickets we had requested, with an explanation as to why, which didn't make too much sense to us but, at least we got a refund of our $100.00. Am waiting now for a refund for their "Take a Break" two day vacation offer which we should be getting shortly. I don't know why they give out these offers if the public can't get some satisfaction as to the dates they desire. Especially since many people work and have to work around their vacations and waiting for confirmation from Certs really doesn't work out well.

Anyway, since all seems to be well with us, at this point, would you please remove our earlier complaint from this web site. Thank you.

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Laura McLaughlin
Mar 19, 2008 6:29 pm EDT

I was all but ready to mail in my"Activation Form" when I luckily decided to do a little research on the computer. I had access to the above complaints. I did a little further research, and found out the address to which the form is to be mailed in a UPS store in Orlando. Then I began to think that there is something fundamentally wrong with a company who asks for $100 up front to cover taxes, government fees, surcharges, et.al., when they could recoup these fees after the tickets have been issued, but before mailing them directly to the end user.

Try calling and asking directly for Mr. Gregory Peaden, company President. I was asked a truck load of questions. Didn't feel like it was worth my time to answer all the myriad of questions, so don't know whether one really has a chance or not of actually speaking to "Greg".

A visit to the Florida Secretary of State web site reveals that the physical address of the company is:
201 South Orange Avenue
Suite 1030
Orlando, Florida 32801

...just around the corner from the UPS store!

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S. Hill
Apr 05, 2008 10:13 pm EDT

My husband and I went to Direct Buy and were promised 2 free gifts for a 2 hour tour of Direct Buy. We received a gift certificate for $20.00 and a 3 days and 2 nights accommodations from Certs, Inc. Thank God I decided to check this site out on the internet! I would like to thank everyone that has written in for helping others avoid this scam.

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Tim
May 01, 2008 1:58 pm EDT

CERTS is a scam. I don't know what we can do, other than to complain to the FCC and the (presumable) timeshare where you got the certificate from.

This is a well oiled scam industry and we as consumers need to get better at reading the 23 pages of small print in order to get what we were promised.

Maybe a few hours outside the timeshare with a banner will help too

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pat
May 12, 2008 12:16 pm EDT

Wanna Get Away certificate is as useless as everyone else states theirs are..we responded to an invitation from KISS Golf to attend an opening of their store. their thanks to us was a free 2 night, 3 day lodging certificate good at numerous locations through CERTS. we followed every requirement to the T. sent in our refundable $29.95. sent in our 2 nights lodging tax. put down a 1st and 2nd choice of travel dates. spoke with both TARA and then ALIENA at CERTS to try to get some word if our 1st or 2nd choice was to be realized. got a call from SHANNA at DCI TOURS who offered our 1st choice if we would agree to sit through a 90 minute sales promotion on site. as we had already sat through a sales promotion to obtain this free lodging certificate, i declined. SHANNA told me i would get neither my 1st or 2nd choice and for me to call CERTS. i spoke with TARA at CERTS again and she confirmed what SHANNA had told me and said i could have my refund back or call back in 2 months. Certs knew from the get-go that unless i attended another sales meeting i would not get either my 1st or 2nd choice of travel dates. nothing in their literature was stated about attending another sales promotion to make good on this certificate. this is fraudulent.i said i would take my refund back and (get this now) she said she would send me a letter to sign and then she would send me my refund. so i am currently waiting on the letter to sign and fax back to them for my refund. i planned this outing for my 7 year old granddaughter to accompany us to Hershey, PA. i will not disappoint her so we will pay for the trip ourselves and have a great time but i will do all in my power to pass the word that CERTS is unethical and fraudulent. companies who purchase these certificates should be notified of the problems their customers are having in trying to make good on them. BBB should be notified as well as the attorney general.

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snorg
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May 17, 2008 10:53 pm EDT

Thank you, thank you, for the warning. You have saved me from much hassel. I now believe that if VNI is a scam, that any company that offers the voucher may also be a scam.

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Bill Potter
May 19, 2008 10:16 am EDT

If you like jumping through hoops and then being disappointed anyway then this is a good place to go. We were offered 2 free plane tickets plus 7 day car rental to go to a meeting. After leaving and reading through the information they basically said it would be impossible to work them both together so we didn't pursue the car rental. Sent the required certified letter for first step to get the free tickets, got confirmation and had to send money order to lock in for request. Money order wasn't the "right kind" and we had it sent back and were told offer was permanently voided due to our non-compliance. DO NOT PURSUE FURTHER.

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kathy
May 21, 2008 12:04 pm EDT

They did the same thing to me. I had been planning this trip for a long time. I sent them the first money order for $100 toward taxes. They requested $50 more due to my destination choice- the second money order was reutrn saying it was not a US Postal money order and the offer was void-no exceptions.
May karma serve them justice.

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Rebecca Smoldt
May 27, 2008 6:28 pm EDT

These people are crooks!

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Roger Ward
May 28, 2008 10:01 am EDT

Certs another name for Crooks

I have just been scammed by Certs just like so many others that have posted here. It's a shame that I couldn't have known who the rewards company was before I went for the two hour timeshare presentation. If I had, I could have looked them up on the net and saved myself a lot of grief, time and money.
The free gas coupon is a total joke, the free airline tickets are another joke. The fact that you must send them a money order in advance for taxes and fees is rediculous. Against my better judgement, I jumped through all of their hoops and with not enough time to get tickets for the first rquested date, they sent their customary letter stating that I must send them another money order for $50, because the airport that I wanted to use charged higher than normal fees. This is crap. They stated that if I didn't agree, that they would refund my original $100.00 any the whole thing would be voided. I sent them a letter stating that I was not in agreement and that I expected to be reimbursed for all of my certified mail to them as well as my gas to the timeshare presentation and mine and my wife's time. I just received a check from them for the original $100.00, I guess I'm luckky to get that. I am still out of $ 25.00 worth of certified mail fees, approximately $40.00 worth of gas and two hours of my life at the presentationas well as my wife's time. BEWARE THESE PEOPLE WILL RIP YOU OFF.

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Ben
May 30, 2008 10:33 am EDT

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE THE WORDS TO HOW TO THANK. I ALMOST FEEL FOR THIS SCAM - EVEN THOUGH I HAD A STRONG BAD FEELING ABOUT THEM. AFTER READING ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS, I CAN ONLY SAY - THANK GOD...

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John
Jun 05, 2008 8:41 am EDT

I agree with all the above complaints...the free gas, the airline ticket, the free travel, it is all a scam.
Do not send them money...discourage your friends from even going to these "Festiva" 90 minute (that turn into 3 hr) sales promotions. I feel totally cheated by these people and all the deceptive scams they use in order to get you in the door. Why or how can this be stopped so others don't have to be abused by these people?
Don't do business with Certs, Inc. or Festiva Resorts (http://www.festivaresorts.com) They (Festiva) use these people (Certs, Inc.) knowing full well it is a scam. Doesn't that make them guilty by association?
Why would you buy a time share from a company that supports an out right scam?
Think about it!

Thanks to all that reported this scam company!

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Drucilla Matea
Jun 16, 2008 10:45 am EDT

VIP Travel, in conjunction with Certs is a SCAM. How are these people allow to operate and continue to scam people out of money? There has to be a law prohibiting business by either of these companies. I have had nothing but problems and stress since I first became involved with them. I charged $3998.00 to my VISA card and am in the process of trying to have my card company give me credit...good luck I hope this happens!

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Julie Falk
Jun 17, 2008 11:08 am EDT

My 'Offer" was voided because Certs said I did not have 60 days between when they received my travel request and the date of my request. From May 27th to July 26th is 60 days. In fact, it is 61 days. The flunkie I talked to on the phone said, I'm sorry, we've already voided the offer, there's nothing we can do.
I have contacted my lawyer.

Do not go for this. It is a waste of time. Certs, Inc is a money-sucking cheat.

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Julie Falk
Jun 17, 2008 11:11 am EDT

My 'Offer" was voided because Certs said I did not have 60 days between when they received my travel request and the date of my request. They returned my money order, but offered me a second chance for an addtional $50 re-processing fee.
From May 27th to July 26th is 60 days. In fact, it is 61 days. The flunkie I talked to on the phone said, I'm sorry, we've already voided the offer, there's nothing we can do. I have contacted my lawyer.

Do not go for this. It is a waste of time. Certs, Inc is a money-sucking cheat.

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Rick Kastel
Jun 17, 2008 2:22 pm EDT

I too had reservations (no pun intended!) about Certs, Inc. We were late for a travel agency resentation, but were given a certificate that we had attended. We were promised a 5 day, 4 night cruise. I have fulfilled all of their requests and I was about to send them the #398.00 (for 2 people) to day to honor their "must be received by" date.
Just went to the web to check them out and I found all of these complaints.
THANK YOU all for the comments. Althought we would have enjoyed the cruise, one that I had been on before, I have decided not to go through all the hops and I'll get my postal money order refunded.
THANK YOU all again.

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Certs Inc
Jun 23, 2008 8:28 am EDT

First, we'd like to apologize for any inconveniences you may have experience redeeming your travel certificate from our company. Keeping that in mind, we'd like to point out a few important details regarding the travel certificate business.

Our business is no different than any other business transaction in which both parties must comply with their agreement and adhere to the terms of service.

We highly recommend in the future if you receive a call or postcard from a marketing company promising you a travel certificate if you attend a timeshare presentation that you ask for the name of the company responsible for providing the incentive.

We further recommend if it is a Certs, Inc. incentive, that you visit our web site (www.certsinc.biz) where you can read the entire terms of service for each incentive we offer, and then make an educated decision on whether of not to move forward with the presentation.

Certs, Inc. has no control over the presentation by the marketing company or the sales tactics used by the vacation club representative. However, we do police their activities and from time-to-time will discontinue the sales of our products to these companies if we feel there is misrepresentation.

Certs, Inc. has never, and will never, change the terms of service on our incentives "after" it has been presented to our clients customers.

If you have not received a booking confirmation from our company for the travel date(s) you provided, you are entitled to a full refund of all monies paid to Certs, Inc.

Due to the inconveniences of a large cancellation rate for booked travel, your travel dates will not be confirmed until 14 days in advance. This is to benefit you by allowing a full refund in case you an experience a life event that keeps you from traveling on the dates you provided us.

If you feel you have not received a fair chance at redeeming your travel certificate, please contact our customer service department [protected]) so we can research your situation and act accordingly based off your incentive's terms of service.

Sincerely,

Gregory A. Peaden, CEO
Certs, Inc.

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