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We purchased a membership in Sept. 2007 and tried to use it several times. We then asked for our money back and was curtly, flatly told we signed a contract. Then this happened. Chanel 7 major television station in South Carolina reported this, and we called South Carolina Consumer Advocate dept. and it is true. The law suit has been filed.
Consumer Affairs files Lawsuit against travel company
Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008 - 03:34 PM
By Heather Sullivan
E-mail | Biography
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs has filed a lawsuit against VIP Travel, based in Lexington, South Carolina, saying the company has used unfair and deceptive practices in its solicitations. An attorney for VIP Travel says the company is cooperating with Consumer Affairs and taking steps to address those concerns.
When Cheryl Rich wanted to plan a trip to Europe, she says she attended a seminar in Greenville for VIP Travel based in Lexington.
Said Rich, "They were giving us information that were similar trips and cruises that we had taken, yet they were much less expensive than what we had paid."
But Rich says after paying VIP about $3500, she wasn't getting booked on the trip she wanted. Said Rich, "I started calling about one particular cruise and I was getting put off. I was not getting information I needed."
Said Danny Collins, an attorney with the Department of Consumer Affairs, "They promise quite a few things that they don't deliver on."
After receiving about 50 complaints from customers in the Carolinas and Georgia, Consumer Affairs filed a lawsuit against VIP Travel in Lexington, accusing the company of offering free rewards that the Department says were not really free, and not offering customers a three day right to cancel their contracts.
Said Collins, "A lot of people tried to cancel the contract but the company told them they did not have such a right. But that is not true under the law. The law does give a person a three day right to cancel when a presentation is made any place other than the regular place of business."
VIP Travel's attorney Robby Birnbaum told us by phone the company is cooperating with Consumer Affairs and taking steps to address concerns and make sure it's complying with the law. Birnbaum says some customers may receive refunds, but did not have details at this time.
A refund is what Cheryl Rich is hoping for. Said Rich, "We have lost a lot of money for something that I felt like was going to be something really fun."
The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice to protect yourself when using any travel company.
- check for complaints filed with the BBB or Consumer Affairs
- get offers and travel arrangements in writing
- get copies of cancellation policies
- pay with a credit card. Many credit cards will refund your money if you don't receive the trip you pay for.
We purchased a membership in September 2007, and have yet to be able to receive any service. In fact, when I filed a complaint with the South Carolina Department of Consumer Advocate, and another complaint board their response was: "when Mr. B... asked for travel accommodations for Nov. 2007, I had asked for accommodations outside their "major areas of concentration", therefore, their service was not promised.
However, their membership pack reads as follows:
The VIP Travel plan is unique in the fact that "each" time you travel you will enjoy substantial savings. Whether you enjoy luxurious condos, cruising, all-inclusive resorts, 3, 4 and 5 Star hotels, discounts on theme park tickets, restaurants, golf or RV rentals, we can accommodate "all' of your travel needs while saving you and your family money.
And they claim over 20, 000 members, so they have had plenty of time to correct any misprints. It is hard to believe the printed word any more. But, if you will access this and other internet complaint boards, do a search on VIP Travel, you can decide if you wish to try to do business with VIP Travel.
We purchase a membership Sept. 17, 2007. Have tried to use our membership without success. Finally after months of trying, filed a complaint with Department of Consumer Advocate South Carolina, a TV station in SC, and several internet complaint boards. Here is part of their response to all three areas:They said:
'they had explained, and stated at the seminar where we bought the membership, and in their membership pack, any request for accommodation outside their 'major areas of concentration', was not promised their service.
Well, I am printing, directly from their membership packet:
'The VIP Travel Plan is unique in the fact that 'each' time you travel you will enjoy substantial savings. Whether you enjoy luxurious condos, cruising, all-inclusive reports, 3, 4, and 5 Star hotels, discounts on theme park tickets, restaurants, golf or RV rental, we can accommodate 'all' of your travel needs while saving you and your family money.'
(1) That's what we were told at the seminar, when we bought the membership;
(2) that is what is published in their membership pack.
It appears they do not abide by their own membership publications. I have not attaacked them anywhere. I have, however, stated fact, after fact, after fact.
Please review here and other internet complaint boards, do a search on
'VIP Travel' and you can decide for yourself if you wish to do business with them.
Also, VIP Travel was sued by South Carolina Department of Consumer Advocate in April 2008. Must say something about VIP Travel.
How funnyis this that I have "stumbled" upon. Does anyone notice the similarities in the all CAPS and the ...'s and all the the ( )'s to the poor grammar in 2 of the above comments?
Anyone who worked with YOU Marcia knows how to spell your name. Stop trying to set people up and it would be strongly advised that you stay OUT of any legal battles between the company, customers, and previous employees. Unless you want to be involved in any future suits. Because by you posting and then reposting things trying to set others up, you are only putting yourself right on the hot seat beside the suspects.
This to me is absolutley HILARIOUS and I can not wait to "pass it on".
My parents attempted a seminar back in Aug at which time they purchased a travel package for approx $2600. About a month ago the family attempted to use the travel plan to book a vacation with little to no luck. After a number of unsuccessful attempts we started to do some searching online and found that a number of other were having very similar issues.
I've since filed a complaint with the better business bureau, posting my dissatisfaction with the VIP product on a number of other sites. We've contact VIP asking for a refund as a result of their horrible service, with no response. We are now working with the Credit Card company, in hopes of getting a refund for the full amount as a result of fraud.
Does anyone know if there is a Class Action Lawsuit against VIP, if so I would like to get our name added to the list. I've found a number of individuals pretty much in the same boat, how many people have to bond together to initiate a class action suite..? does anyone know..?
I hate to see a company like this continue to strip people of their hard earned money, it's just a shame our society has companies like this making money on people who are just trying to get by..
I guess if they cut a big enough check, you will say good things about a company that is NOT what they are supposed to be. Too bad I wasn't paid off, and wouldn't take it if they offered. I will speak my mind freely because I walked out of that hell whole. When I found out the boss Dean Cross was a crack addict and his wife was a pill popper and the corporate "main man" Larry Lott wasn't going to fire either one because he was making him alot of money regardless of their drug addictions...I walked out. But not without giving them all a few choice words. And it was the best thing I ever did. I later got online and found out why they never wanted us to give them a direct number and address. They were taking people's money and were worried that someone would find out where they were. And I was first told that "there are no vacations, it's all a line of BS" by Marcia herself. Dean and his wife Mary "ran" the office I worked at. They moved overnight from Florida and stayed in a hotel room until they found an apartment. I eventually found out that the office has to continually change locations, in fear someone will find out where they are. I can't believe people can do others like that. I am not sure how the company is going now, but I do know that they still run there ad in the papers for "appointment setters". So if you call to get a position for this job...research it and make sure you know what kind of company you're working for. But then again, if you don't mind taking people money and screwing them over, this would be the perfect job for you.
I HEARD MY NAME WAS PRINTED HERE, SO I LOOKED AND BEHOLD, HERE IS A COMMENT THAT I SUPPOSEDLY POSTED...I HAVE SOME COMMENTS...
FIRST - WHO EVER POSTED THIS - MIS - SPELLED MY NAME - IT'S MARCIA STAACK...
SECOND - ONLY COURTNEY WALKER EVER HAD INTERACTIONS WITH LETTER TO CUSTOMERS ABOUT THEIR ACCOUNTS...NOT ME...ONLY SHE HANDLES THE MONEY...NOT ME...
I WORKED FOR VIP (MIKE & LARRY) UNTIL I WAS LAID OFF - BEFORE VIP TOOK OFF, THERE WASN'T MUCH WORK LEFT TO DO, THUS I WAS LAID OFF...NOT ONLY WAS I GIVEN SUFFICENT NOTICE, I WAS GIVEN A TERRIFIC SEVERENCE PAY TO LAST ME UNTIL I FOUND ANOTHER JOB...WHEN VIP GOT BUSY - I WAS RECALLED BACK TO WORK BY MIKE, BUT I WAS ALREADY SET IN MY NEW JOB AND HAD TO SAY NO...BUT LEFT THE DOOR OPEN FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE EMPLOYMENT IF I EVER NEEDED IT...I SPEAK TO MIKE NOW AND THEN TO THIS DAY...NOT ABOUT VIP, BUT HOW IS LIFE & MY DAUGHTER & GRAND DAUGHTERS, ETC...HIM AND LARRY ARE GENUINE, KIND HEARTED GENTLEMEN AND I HAVE NOTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT VIP TRAVEL...IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK. SO, WHO EVER PUT MY NAME INTO THIS POSTING, SHAME ON YOU...YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET MY NAME SPELLED RIGHT...NOW WORLD, YOU HAVE THE REAL STORY FROM THE REAL MARCIA STAACK...
No wonder you got bad service. You don't even have the correct website address. Rick Butler has posted on numerous websites and they all say the same thing. You really think a company is going to give your money back after you have slandered them all over the internet.
Idiot.
I WORKED FOR VIP AND STARTED THERE FROM THE BEGINNING FOR MIKE MITCHELL AND LARRY LOTT..I WAS EVENTUALLY LAID OFF, BUT I HANDLED ALL COMPLAINTS, (THERE WERE MANY) AND STARTED THE SO CALLED FREE TRIPS CERTIFICATES OFFERED WHEN YOU ATTEND A 90 MINUTE SEMINAR. I ALSO HANDLED WHEN YOU WANTED TO CANCEL WHEN YOU DIDN'T GET ANYTHING FOR THE MONEY YOU PAID. I SENT THE FAKE LETTERS FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, (THERE ISN'T ONE) WHERE MIKE SIGNED HIS DEAD FATHER'S NAME. CUSTOMERS WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT CANCEL.. NEVER WERE ANY CUSTOMERS ALLOWED TO CANCEL FOR ANY REASON. I HAVE STORIES YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE. AS FAR AS YOUR SUGGESTING TO PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD. MANY PEOPLE DID AND TRIED TO CANCEL THRU THERE CREDIT CARD. WE WOULD SEND A COPY OF THE SIGNED CONTRACT WHERE IT STATES IN THE 4 PAGES IN SMALL PRINT THAT IT WAS NON - CANCELABLE CONTRACT. WE WOULD WIN AND THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY PAID US IN THE END. SO, THAT DOESN'T WORK. VIP IS UNDER OTHER NAMES, THEREFORE NO COMPLAINTS LISTED AT THE BBB...THE CANCEL POLICY, ETC IS IN WRITING IN SMALL PRINT ON 4 PAGES YOU ARE EXPECTRED TO READ AT THE 90 MINUTE SEMINAR THAT OFFERS FREE TRIPS, CHEAP VACATIONS, ETC THAT CAN NOT BE DELIVERED...THE GIFT TRIPS I HANDLES AND STARTED AND RAN FOR VIP...ANY QUESTIONS, ASK ME...I KNOW IT WELL SINCE IT STARTED WITH 4 PEOPLE...
I purchased the vacation package on June 19, 2007, I tried to cancel the membership June 20, 2007 and they said that I could not. I tried several times to use my membership but it was very unsuccessful and I was not satisfied with the kind of accomodations I was given. Another incident me and my spouse tried to use our membership and the kind of accomodaton we were given were more expensive then me going online and purchasing them myself.
please read our story on [redacted] 328249, email me please anyone who would like to pursue something against VIP Travel Lexington SC thanks
Rick, I wasn't able to read your whole story, is something in the works against these people? I've got the Attorney Generals # in So. Carolina, please let me know, thanks Joni Spires.