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Global Travel Alliance South Africa

Global Travel Alliance South Africa review: False and misleading information 13

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Author of the review
5:45 am EDT
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Resolved
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I joined KC travel 03/2011.

They phone you and tell you that you have won a prize and that to get it you must come to a presentation and that you don't have to buy anything. I told them that I am not interested in any holiday club stuff! But they assure you it is not about timeshare or holiday club stuff.
Getting there they give this exciting presentation of how much money you will be saving to go to many holiday destinations and not be limited by a few like with holiday clubs and timeshare.
They came on very strongly and won't allow you time to think about it and to then come back to them because the special ends today! If you say that you do not want to, they promise to give you an even bigger discount but you need to decide immediately.
I afterwards realised that they tell you that you may have won a free holiday, depending on the number of your credit card. With this ruse they manage to see which credit cards you have - thereby deducting what your financial position is.
We already belonged to a holiday club and told them that we are not able to afford both and that we will not be able to use both - time wise. They immediately assure you that you needn't worry about that because we just fill out a form which allows them to sell our Holiday points every year. The money that we get from that will be more than enough to pay for the annual levy payment at the said holiday club and would therefore not be a financial burden to us. They admit that they may sometimes not be able to sell all the points. But assures you that mostly they will.
So they got us to sign.
2 Months later when I tried to book a couple of days, I found that their website was terrible and that you have to phone a lady who will assist you in finding a suitable place. I then emailed her to find out what she could get us. She takes long to get back to you saying sorry they have nothing available for that time and area.

The next month I tried again, only to go through the whole frustrating business. no results.
I was getting more and more concerned. I did an internet search on the company and came across many disgruntled consumers.
I found out that they are not at all allowed to sell our timeshare points, that it is absolutely against the rules of the Holiday club, the rules of our Club prohibit the sale, cession or rental of our Points to any other club or
organization. They deliberately misled us with false information,
That was the only reason that decided us to sign on. We would never have signed up, thereby having to pay towards 2 holiday businesses, if they had not assured us that they will take care of it.
They knew that they are not allowed to sell our club points, because of all the other people that bought into their lies and complained.
I also read on the internet that they were in trouble for the same reason in the past but they are like a chameleon and just change their name and go right ahead with this bad practice.
I sent a letter of complaint and on the 17th of October I received an email confirming that they have received it and that they will come back to me on the issue.
On the 17th of May 2012 I sent them an email telling them that I have not heard from them (6mnths).
On the 22nd of that month, more than a year after joining they suddenly enquired about my Holiday club points so as to sell it for 2012.
On the 28th I answered that this is not allowed and that they have misled us and that they must give back our money because their contract was illegal.
The same day they replied that I have read an email that they have sent on the 17 th of October (as mentioned above) Including a letter that was supposed to have been in that email. Unfortunately for them, there was no such letter. They included the letter in this reply of theirs, but it is dated 17 January 2012. (You will see that the dates do not match this letter was supposedly attached to an email that I supposedly read on the 17th October 2011). I only got it on the 28th of May 2012.
This letter tries to dispute the facts. It is not addressing the issues that I have problems with.
I have instructed the bank a couple of times to stop paying the debit orders but they are not able to. 0n the 15th of March2013 they sent an invoice for a annual affiliation fee renewal payment of R1048.10.
I wrote back that they must not deduct this from our bank as they are not only in breach of contract but also got us to sign up with false promises.
On the 19th of March2013 the for the first time started sending all kind of info and specials an adds e.t.c! Before that there was only the above mentioned communication between us. They now bombard me with all kinds of notices (just about daily) after 2 years silence apart from my protests and their one answer.
In April they went ahead an deducted R1048.10 from our account.
I feel so helpless! This is so wrong. They just ignore my emails. They do not listen! They do not hear!
Please help. one of their names are: MyGate Communications. Previously it was also called Travel Club international and then Global Travel Alliance
Since my frustrating efforts to book a weekend in 2011, I have not visited their website. It is www.gtasa.co.za.

If it is necessary I can send allmy communications with them.
Regards
CMLouw

Resolved

They first took note of my complaint on the 20th March2014 . Finally : Nicole Carstens Client Care Executive Customer Care Services Tel: 087 150 2482 Fax: 086 636 2804 Email: Nicole@gtasa.co.za Web: www.gtasa.co.za This lady made an effort to resolve the matter After many more letters back and forth, They wrote that I can cancel my contract but I must pay thousands of Rands from stop payments, a couple of months earlier. I then wrote a long(took me a whole day) letter giving all the facts and dates including the correspondence where relevant. I addressed it to the Consumer Protection Board.But I sent it to GTA, informing them that this was the letter that I was going to send to the Consumer Protection Board, if they do not resolve this matter quickly and satisfactorily. Only then did they suggested an acceptable offer. Now there advocate has been phoning me about taking off this complaint from your board. They sent me instructions on how to go about it on the 27th November. I haven't done it yet. They have not resolved the matter until April2014. I started my complaint already October 2011. Yesterday their advocate phoned me again, inquiring, whether I received their instructions. When I said I had, he asked my why I have not removed this complaint. I told him that I have not gotten round to it yet, but that I was not in a hurry to do so, seeing how long it took them to respond to any of my requests. He immediately threatened to take legal action. I asked him on what grounds. He said I will receive a letter. I will then see what their grounds are. What their grounds for suing me are. Well I have taken the steps they gave me, and came to this place on the board where I am supposed to be able to take off the complaint. I see no such options, but instead found this option to say that the matter was resolved and to describe how. Earlier this year when they started to respond they also threatened me and said that this letter I wrote, which finally got them to respond, bordered on slander : You must stop taking money from our account. we do not want to be members. Our membership was fraudulent. Stop immediately!!! I have told you so repeatedly. STOP It is against the consumer act to force people to continue against their wishes! You do not allow me to go on the website to the members area, Yet you want my money!! They said: With respect, we advise that slander is a criminal offence and is seen in a very serious light by GTASA. We are sure that you will understand that we cannot tolerate baseless slander intended to harm our reputation. Legal steps will be taken if deemed necessary. Anyway this was the beginning of the resolution of this matter. So yes the matter is resolved. But now they want to sue me because of this initial complaint on this board.. How do I go about taking this complaint off the board?

13 comments
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Grové Erasmus
, US
May 17, 2023 7:17 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

SCAM Alert. STAY AWAY from GTA.

This was an expensive lesson for me.

In 2015, I was lured into this scam with the promise of cheaper alternatives than online. The same as everyone else complaining here.

After the pressure presentation, the rep came to me and told me "Sir, I have spoken with my manager and he said we will give you an additional TEN years membership FOR FREE". My wife was with me, and she agreed that we go on.

When I paid the initial R30 000 “joining fee” I found out that I still had to pay an additional R20 000 'extension'.I paid this, plus thousands of rands more. For what? I never had any value from these crooks.

Except for the 'free' night we had when joining, I didn't use them again.

Accommodation on Airbnb and Booking.com were always cheaper, faster to book.

I tried to cancel several times, and they threatened me with legal action.

Such [censored].

F*CK off and get cancer.

The kept deducting HUNDREDS of rand from my bank account every month. I got ZERO value for my money. NOTHING.

They always respond to messages on Hellopeter with crap like Acting with Credit Act, or they are sorry or whatever. If you are sorry, you terminate the contract and give my money back. I

They threatened me with legal action.

Today, 17/05/2023, I finally paid these f*ckers what I hope to be, and never want to see them again. I asked to delete my name from their records.

I wish there was a way how I could warn other people not to be victims of GTA Global travel Alliance scam.

Not only that, but I am so angry at this SCAM organization, I hope they get uncurable cancer, especially the F*CKER who lied to me in the scam presentation.

GTASA, It will be a slow and painful. . Go away and get uncurable prostate cancer.

GTA708054SA

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CharlesNAM
, NA
Oct 08, 2020 4:29 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

We here in Namibia have the same problem.

GTANAM is operating under the premis that they have local offices in Namibia, THEY DO NOT!

We have tried calling the local numbers that do not exist on MTC's call list, the emails sent thus far have been completely ignored, we tried calling SA but get a voice message referring to a cell phone we have tried calling that and it gets put down and goes to voice mail on which there is zero response as well.

The number on a web search of GTANAM has never worked for this company but his cellphone number is attached to it, how is this allowed? Is this not a form of fraud? Taking a number belonging to another individual and claiming it to be yours?

This has wasted 85N$ worth of our money trying to get hold of this company in 10 minutes worth of phone calls to RSA.

We have tried to be civil in going about this in the proper manner and are being completely ignored. We can't afford to pay these monthly instalments anymore as COVID has taken it's toll. We would like to buy out the contract ASAP but nowhere on their site does one come across ANY documentation allowing you to opt out of a contract We have sent an email twice on their site but have had ZERO response.

Why is it fair that a multimillion dollar owned company has the right to claim money that the people can't afford to pay, and they do not give you the means to buy out the contract with out claiming an exorbitant amounts of money?

I find GTANAM's manner on the evening of the launch also to be completely unethical as we declined their offers TWICE and were bombarded with another one, that we were forced to accept just so that we could get out of the offices, this was already 21H15 at night.

We find these actions grossly unethical on GTANAM's behalf that has absolutely NO office in Namibia. We have done all we can to civilly engage GTASA and GTANAM in this matter but have been completely ignored.

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Darryl Pillay
, US
May 13, 2020 7:45 am EDT

My name is Dharnie Young, and I also signed up in 2010 for GTA but never used any services.
I am a pensioner and have no form of income and during this time now with COVID--19, I am barely surviving with funds. I received a call from a lady on this number : [protected]. She didn't give her details but said that I must pay a cancellation fee of R27000 or make arrangements to pay R1000 per month. I advised her to please cancel as I am a pensioner and don't have any income and I cancelled in 2016 advising this already. She then sent me a sms from [protected], that they charging me R27000, cause my son told them I am unemployed and to not call me and cancel everything.

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LilyU
, ZA
Jan 29, 2020 10:21 am EST

Its 2020 and they are still at it. After trying to get out their stupid contract for years, I got screamed at over the phone by the woman trying to collect my cancellation fee. Not only did she phone me at work, she was incredibly rude. Stay as far away from these people as possible.

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Rebaamogetse Ncuku Sebatane
, US
Mar 16, 2018 7:51 pm EDT

I am suffering the same fate. Who can I contact for assistance. I curse the day I fell trap to this.

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tired of paying for bad service
, NA
Mar 17, 2018 2:23 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

If they don't respond and keep on threatening you, try lodging a complaint with the National consumer Commission. Just remember to have all your facts.

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tired of paying for bad service
, NA
Nov 19, 2017 1:29 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

What happened with regards to the legal action and them suing you? I have the same problem. I have been accused of slander, twisting facts and lying. Also threatened that if I do not remove the post by the 22nd they will put their lawyers on me. They also accused me of blackmail, because I told them of my intent to post a review if my matter wasn't resolved. As I understood in their clause you are suppose to notify them. I want to write a letter to the NCC, but not sure if I should notify them or not.

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Sommer n pot snert
, US
Jul 12, 2016 10:07 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

This borders on point systems and membership buy-inns. Huge accommodation discounts promised, but at the end of the presentation you are required to purchase membership. So-called free holiday (accommodation) is offered over the initial telephone call, but you need to still pay an amount for such accommodation. You only get the call if you have filled in a form of them at an Expo or the like, where you are promised there already a free trip!
One is in fact purchasing so-called discounts with membership fees.
I will definitely negotiate my own discount for me and my family with other travel service providers if and when we would like to travel.
Please see comments and responses previously posted. We were very reluctant to attend and were ultimately disappointed last night.

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Rodger Van Blerk
, US
Jul 04, 2016 10:57 am EDT

Rodger Van Blerk

To
Cherith Regue, admin@gtasa.co.za Global Travel, Suwaiba Abdul Wahib

Today at 19:23

Who should I contact? Every time somebody picks up the loose strings that person disappears. Why can I get no answer to my questions?

RODGER VAN BLERK

 Hide original message

On Tuesday, 10 May 2016, 21:32, Rodger Van Blerk wrote:

Hi Cherith

On 13 July 2010 I signed an agreement of membership to GTSA, invoice 564145, administered by Astrid, Manager and Sharief, sales consultant. The package price was R24 229. Membership type T20- 25 year, membership number 564145 SA.Added additional 5 membership years.

1. I've sent numerous mails to verify what was going on and why my mails were not responded to.

2. We supposedly received a voucher redeemable for 3 holidays either a week, midweek or weekend break for maximum of 6 and minimum of two people at hotels in South Africa., voucher No. 107203.

3. We had to pay another registration fee because we were told that this was an outsourced group, Travel clips, which was a different entity. Mails dated within the specified period (18 mths)were ignored, dated 21 September 2011, 05 October 2011 and 13 October 2011 where we tried to make arrangements for accommodation were bluntly ignored.

4. On 18 October I received correspondence from ZEE, Travel Clips 8, after my mail sent to them on 17 October 2011.

5. On 02 December 2011 I spoke to Yolandi, who referred me to Mrs Aziza van Wyk who told me that GTSA does no deal with Travel Clips. I indicated that I did not sign up with Travel Clips and that it was part and parcel of the original agreement.

6. Thus far GTSA has collected its Annual Affiliation fee 10.3 in lieu of terms and conditions regularly as stipulated in the contract.

7.Conveniently point 9 under terms and conditions has been ignored for the nearly last 6 years.

Personally I feel that my money, R24 229 if paid into a unit trust account would have been of more value to me than the service I have received thus far from GTSA.

You are the first person decent enough to not only follow up, but also to contact me in this regard. Personally I feel cheated out of my money, had no benefit of this at all, and to top it all still pay an Annual Affiliation fee for a non existent benefit.

Due to this lack of closure to my requests I used Booking.com and Groupon because no response came from GTSA. I instructed my bank to cancel the fee last year, but GTSA simply deducted it under another code. This can be confirmed by the Master of First Rand Bank. Would you not have felt the same way I do?

I hope that you can bring closure to this issue otherwise I will have to refer this to the Ombudsman. I also do not want to rally other disappointed customers who went through the same ordeal as I did. All I want is to receive what was promised.

RODGER VAN BLERK

On Tuesday, 10 May 2016, 16:59, Cherith Regue wrote:

Good Afternoon Mr. Van Blerk,

Thank you for your responds,

I have tried contacting you at 16:43 today but unfortunately there was no answer I then left a voicemail .

Kindly responds to this email with the relevant information in order for Global Travel Alliance to assist you efficiently goes as follows:

For a reservation enquiry kindly send,

accommodation area, amount of adults/children, dates when you would like to check-in and check-out and membership number with an email address and contact details.

Or/and flights:

Destinations to depart and return

Departure and return dates

Lastly amount of adults/children

For any other queries kindly state the matter you need assistance with and I will have the relevant department to contact you.

Thank you Kindly

Rayghaan Toefy

From: rodger van blerk [mailto:rodgervanblerk@yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: 09 May 2016 04:56 PM
To: Cherith Regue
Subject: RE: RE:

Thanx. My number is [protected] after 16:30

From: Cherith Regue
Sent: ‎2016-‎05-‎09 16:51
To: rodger van blerk
Subject: RE: RE:

Good Afternoon Mr. Van Blerk,

Global Travel Alliance.

Thank you

Cherith Regue

From: rodger van blerk [mailto:rodgervanblerk@yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: 09 May 2016 04:50 PM
To: Cherith Regue
Subject: RE:

Hi there, which entity do you represent?

From: Cherith Regue
Sent: ‎2016-‎05-‎05 14:08
To: rodgervanblerk@yahoo.co.uk
Subject:

Good day

Please can you kindly provide me with your telephone number in order to assist you more effiently .

Thank you

Cherith Regue

Front of house (Reservation receptionist)

EZT Travel (Pty) Ltd T/A Global Travel Alliance SA (GTASA)

EZT Membership Services (Pty) Ltd

Twilight Sales & Marketing (Pty) Ltd

Tel: +[protected]/ +[protected]

+[protected] / +[protected]

Fax: +[protected]

Email:cheri@gtasa.co.za

Website: www.gtasa.co.za

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Ronell van Wyk
, US
Jun 30, 2016 7:00 am EDT

Same here, they assured us at the time that resale will be not be a problem and they assist in this - not true! Paid a lot of money plus now yearly fee and were never able to use this, when trying to book for family members they could always get a cheaper package elsewhere. I have tried in vain to sell this useless service even at half the price so as not to loose al my money to no aviai!

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Lesley s
, ZA
Sep 10, 2015 10:55 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

They have had initial deposit of R4489.00 plus R24603.36 in monthly payments from me over the last 4 years and now require a R5236.92 payment to cancel the contract. I tried once to book through them but were told that they couldn't do local bookings. Because of my business I will never be in a position to use their services so no longer require membership. What can one do about it?

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C Blanckenberg
, ZA
Apr 25, 2014 9:59 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

We are trying to get out of this contract because we have a similar
problem with them. They are taking our money but have not delivered as promised. We wanted to book a destination and they indicated that the establishment was full. We contacted another agency and booked for 3 families at the same place they indicated as full. So how must one go to work to let them give back our wasted money or just to get rid of these monsters?

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A S. DRAMAT
, ZA
Aug 28, 2013 4:04 pm EDT

I have been scammed as well .Joined in July 2011.July 2012 I tried to book overseas holiday, but with great dissappointment found out that i will not save any money because other 4 quotes from travel agents were about R3000 cheaper for same flights.
With regards to payments i put stop payments on my account, because im trying to cancel this contract.

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