Castaways Vacation Club
reviews and complaints

In April 2007 my wife and I join Castaways Travel Club. The decision was based on presentations and promises of discounts and privileges that did not materialize.

In 2008 we joined many friends on a two-week cruise beginning in Sydney, Australia and ending in Auckland, New Zealand. We tried to purchase air fare through Castaways, but were told they were out of business and another travel company would help us. The fares offered were not discounted and we did not use that company. Because we were told Castaways was out of business, had to pay near retail for airfares after joining this club, and not hearing from the company since 2007 considered the money we paid to join as a bad investment on our part.

Our contract says they will bill us annually and contact us 30 days in advance of the annual billing. This never happened. In June 2021 I received a letter demanding $1,937 in back dues. When contacted they would not allow a mutual release until they received $975.

I received more letters since then each wanting more money and now a collection agency has contacted me over this matter.

This appears to be an organized rip off the second time around. I have talked with an attorney about this he will look into it.

I believe we were scammed the first time around and now they are trying to bully their victims into more money.

I joined castaway's vacation club 10 to 12 years ago. After several months I decided that it was not for me. I called them to cancel my membership. They said I could not cancel for whatever reason I don't remember. I have never used the service and never will. They said they sent me five letters over the years and that may be so, but I have never received any emails or phone calls which they said they did. They have never told me how much I owe and have now turned it over to a collection agency. I have contacted a lawyer to get some advice.

Castaways claim they have sent bills and offered service for 16 years. But we have not had one word from them since 2007. Now in 2023 they say we owe $5000! But they will allow me to close the account for $597 or my account will be turned over to a collection agency to collect the full $5000.

This is not the way to do business with or to treat people.

Scam, horrifying, just flush 5-10K down the toilet! STAY AWAY!

Paid over 5K for this vacation club. All black out dates and of NO use. Did not use this service ONE time. They just contacted me 15 years later saying I did not request to break my "contract" therefore I owe another 500.00 to do so. Have not heard from them in 15 years. I can't afford nor am ok with paying them more money.

Thank you so much

Johna Rogers

[protected]

We received a letter stating that our account was past due. When I told Abby that the account read canceled she stated that all fees would be waived if we paid a cancelation fee of $498. I told her that I would call my attorney regarding this and she rudely stated that if I'd rather pay an attorney than to pay the fees, you do that.

We got duped into buying into this vacation club back in 2006. We used it very sparingly and decided it was not worth our time or money. In 2013 we contacted them to have our membership expire and not renew. We were told we needed to send an email asking to have it expire and to remove our card on file. I got a response saying the card was removed. I took this to mean our membership would expire. I continued getting emails from them but ignored them. I was also told to ignore any future bills as I did not want my membership to start back up. Then in 2021, I got a collections bill. They want all back dues, an extra 5% a year, and a $398 mutual release fee. I am livid! Stay away from this company at all costs!

Received a bill from Castaways Vacation Club. This is not mine. I am a disabled 87 year old divorced female and have been homebound for 3 years. If I hear anymore from you I will contact an attorney. This notice was received from Travel Department, P.O. Box447, Litchfield, IL 62056. It is trying to collect $3, 117.00 which they claim is for charges from 2006 to2019. It is 20 years since I have enjoyed vacation travel.

I bought a membership in Castaways vacation club in the 2008 time frame. Shortly after buying the membership we recognized two things. First that the club really didn't offer any "great deals" as was advertised, and second that the rates for membership could be expected to rise over the years, neither of which were covered during the sales presentation. I called and spoke to someone at Castaways to cancel my membership. That was the last communique up until now, 12 years later. Castaways claims the membership cannot be cancelled. It can only be transferred or sold. I received an overdue notice from them today that claims I owe them increasing membership fees for the last 12 years.

It seems preposterous that one can be committed to an ever increasing fee for the rest of one life to maintain membership in a "club" that doesn't live up to its promises.

I have not had any luck booking any vacations through the club. Whenever I try I am told that the pacakages are already used up for the location I am interested in or any deals they have offered me are often not any better then what I can book for myself. Takes forever for them to respond to you.