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Unbelievable! I managed to find at least 12 related complaints on Google about this company, its many agency representatives (other companies that funnel money to Travel Service Network), or affiliated companies (Infinity Incentive Group). They have operated under the name of Travel Service Network, TSN Travel, 123Free Travel, and many, many, more. They've taken (s**kered) consumers in the states of AZ, MO, IL, FL, TX, and many more to now include CA. I might be the first CA residence who has caught on to their scam. They are operating as Star Vacation Club in San Diego, CA.
Let’s take a step back and explain the events leading to today’s email. Like some of you, I received the typical marketing call guaranteeing a prize, in this case 1 of 5. I attend the sales presentation that promises club membership with too many good benefits to be true. I fall for the scam and we start talking price. Membership starts out costing me $8,500 (discounted from the standard price of $10K) and is dwindled down to $2,295 because I get sticker shock. After charging my card and having me sign several agreements, they give me a scratcher with a “lucky” penny to help reveal one of the 5 prizes I’m guaranteed to win. I scratch and say "darn" because it's not the Cadillac Escalade. It’s a voucher from Infinity Incentive Group for a free vacation, the voucher scam that hit some Complaints.com complainants.
Everything in the information package that I received after being duped out of $2,295 this evening showed the name of Star Vacation Club, even their member website (starvacationclub.com). Notice the similarity to Travel Service Network's site (tsntravel.com), of whom some of the Complaints.com complaints are directed. Everything showed Star Vacation Club, except the sales receipt which showed Travel Service Network. So, I got home and noticed this and said "huh?"
That's when the online research ensued and I’m just dumbfounded by the amount of activity this company has been engaged in. Several BBB chapters show unfavorable ratings for this company and some of its “affiliates,” as well as numerous documented court cases brought on by state attorney generals.
The San Diego Better Business Bureau has no complaints filed on record. Even though the San Diego BBB shows this company's file open in 2002, the sales person told me that they opened up shop three months ago, maybe too early for victims to be the wiser.
I’m going to follow Star Vacation Club’s three day cancellation policy written in the agreement. I expect that they’ll give me the standard run around Illinois consumers received by Travel Service Network .lip service and no refund. I’m prepared for that. My credit card company will be informed not to pay that charge and I’ll show good faith by following their cancellation policy. By the way, I’m not going to submit the travel voucher. Fool me once, and thanks to some of you, not twice.
I hope to prevent other Californian’s from being duped too. A complaint was filed with the CA State Attorney. I’ve filed a scam report with the Chicago BBB in hopes that they’ll share their information with the San Diego chapter. I’ve filed a consumer fraud alert with the local TV station to investigate them, hopefully on the air. And finally, I’m educating ya’ll here who helped me realize how stupid I was. By the way, thank you to the folks at Complaintsboard.com for an availing this forum to us.
I recently got a call which I would have normally hung up this caller. She said I won a GREAT PRIZE in a STATE sweepstakes. (1 in 5) All I had to do was watch their presentation for 90 minutes. I am SO glad I brought the baby with me and told them I could not find a sitter that night or stay for their presentation that turned out be be 2 hours+ when I got their. They let me scratch my prize and go. She says "OH, YOU GOT THE VACATION" that consists of airfare and hotel with lots of terms and conditions they still have told me about, and a 50.00 fee per person. At least that's all they're willing to tell you about UP FRONT.
These customers thought they we "duped" before they even tried to use the service.
People are mixing up the "complimentary gifts" with the company, the gifts are from the telemarketing company ( not related). They do not understand the membership.
I just went to Star Vacation Club today for their 90 minute presentation. They sounded really legit, a great presentation, but I am thankful that I did not have money to invest in a vacation plan with the Club. I received my 3-day vacation scratcher prize and a $1,000 internet shopping spree with www.pickyourgifts.org. As soon as I got home, I began checking the internet for any complaints about Infinity Incentive Group and FindYourGifts. I found a number of complaints. I then checked for complaints about Star and found this. I am going to forward this to the Arizona Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Division. The only good thing I can say about the Star presentation, is that they did not in any way pressure me to buy a vacation plan.