Tradewinds Vacations
Reviews and Complaints

Tradewinds Vacations, I can't decide if they are just a scamming company or they really are just run this terribly. I think it may be the first since so many people are also recently experiencing this.

We purchased a membership in October of 2011, in a location in the East Bay of Northern California. We were assured it would save us lots of money on vacations that would normally be out of our price ranged. We used the services three times, Once in 2011, and twice in 2012. Well, it saved nothing, and we were highly disappointed. In 2014, we decided we were done. We sent in one last payment and wrote with that payment to cancel our membership. We also had spoken with someone of the phone who assured us we were cancelled. Fast forward to either 2020 or 2021 (During pandemic) and we started getting phone calls saying we owed from 2015 on. We explained that we had cancelled and the gal on other end send she would look into it and hung up. Phone calls kept happening and we told our story to each and everyone that called. We ignored the mail as junk because we had cancelled and didn't want to deal with the company any more. We finally got "Juie" to acknowledge that yes, we stopped paying dues in 2014 and had not availed of the service since 2012 and were not active in their system, yet the phone calls persisted. This was really starting to take a toll on our mental health, as it was the pandemic, we hadn't seen our kids who were stuck in different states, and we knew that we had cancelled. The last phone call, we asked what it would take for them to stop calling us. They told us to pay them $596.00 and we would be done. It seemed more like extortion, but we see no choice as to just pay. We have always paid what we owe, so the fact that this was looming over us, and besides taking them to court, which would cost more, what choice did we have? We paid the money, but we have no idea if this will be the end of it all. I also wish that there could be a class action law suit against the horrible company. The worst part, since we cancelled in 2014, I had purged all the paperwork for it in 2019 (five year statute) so the only documentation I have is what they can us. Which is also basically nothing. We bought when we had young children, it was a bad purchase, but now we are older and cannot afford to just "settle", but had to take mental health into account

In February of 2010 we attended a Tradewinds Vacation presentation. We never used it, we were never sent a bill for any kind of dues or fees. We spoke to one of their representatives explaining that my health problems were preventing me from traveling. We came to a mutual agreement that ended our membership in 2013. For the next seven years, 2014 thru 2020, we did not receive any billing for dues, nor any certified letters, nor any voicemails… not anything! And why was that? Because our unused membership had been terminated in 2013! On 12/19/2020 we received a letter from Tradewinds demanding $1620.00 for dues from 2014 through 2020. After seven years, Tradewinds Vacations started contacting us looking for revenue. With Covid-19 raging around the world, people weren’t traveling and so their income stream must have suffered dramatically. First, they wanted seven years of dues, and now they want to “work out a finalized agreement to either settle or close the account.” This is nothing but a scam, as the account was already closed; and under Arizona law, there is a statute of limitations of six (6) years for litigation concerning written contracts.

We attended a presentation back in 2011 or sometime back then. We were told in the presentation that we could get vacations very cheap. We signed up, but quickly found that it was hard to book and prices were not any cheaper that we could get on-line or through the resort.

I called to cancel less than a month after the presentation and went round and round with the person on the phone. We never used their vacation club and had not heard from them until I received a letter in the mail in 2022 saying that I had a significant outstanding balance and that they made numerous attempts to reach me. Not true! I called the number on the letter, telling the person that I had cancelled over a decade ago and cancelled. The person on the phone said I couldn't. I said I was calling my lawyer and she hung up.

I receive a threatening letter every 3 - 4 months in an envelope with the name Corporate Consulting Services, Inc. I just ignore them. These guys are a scam and fraudulent! Don't pay them anything.

In April of 2010, my husband and I attended a Southwest travel center event in Tucson, AZ and met with a salesperson. Unfortunately, the company was a scam which we found out after paying almost $6,000 to them. They also closed the doors of the location where they were representing Travel Center after multiple people realized they were scammers. During the event, they had us sign multiple pages acknowledge membership for Tradewinds Vacations. It was shortly after attending the event that Southwest Travel closed their doors. Based on this situation, we assumed all transaction were gone, as we never received any membership information via a phone call, email or mail. Now in December 2022, we received a letter from Corporate Consulting Services, advising a Trade Winds Vacation Travel Club is in serious arrears. I spoke to a CS and she said the balance was over $2,000 but they would accept a payment of $199.99 to close the account. We have never used this membership and had no awareness that it was still active based on the scam.

Sometime in 2012, we joined trade winds vacation. when we joined, i specifically asked the sales person if this was like a time share in which getting out of this was nearly impossible. she said that No it was not, in fact, when we no longer wanted the membership to just stop paying. We decided after seeing that we could get a vacation cheaper thru other means, that we no longer wanted this service...even though we paid a lot of money up front. In the last 5 years, we have been getting calls about our membership. When i told the person we no longer wanted to be a member, she said that we could not stop our membership as per the contract. i ask for a copy of the contract and never received one until the other day, 9/6/2022. Also, we have received several calls from tradewinds and each time we have expressed vehemently that we did not want this membership and was told we could not get out of this membership. Also, pretty much each time we ask for a copy of the contract. On 9/6/2022 we received some kinda contract, but It is not a full contract. there are no signatures or initials on one page. We were offered a mutual settlement and release agreement if we paid 710.00. We are retired individuals and cannot even think about affording 710.

Became member in 2012 & then cancelled in 2015 & stopped auto bill by credit card. Heard nothing from them for 6 years. Yesterday, 1-4-2022, received their letter (from account auditor) that we were in arrears & should call them. I called & asked for Joanne (Acct Auditor?) but receptionist Nicki said she doesn't take calls & transferred me to member rep. Cindy who later transferred me to Tom Lee, who said he was a 27 year employee. I was treated impolitely, rudely & given misinformation by everyone. No one would give me their contact information for their agent for process. They want a settlement of $199. (special rate for seniors who are retired) to give me a release document. I politely refused & asked for some details to confirm all relevant issues & Tom Lee hung up on me.

Same as the other complaints. Purchased membership in 2012 then canceled a few years later. Never received any bills for late fees until last week for almost $1000. My husband called to get an explanation and Miranda from member services was very rude and hung up on him not once but twice! Poor customer service if they were seriously trying to collect money. We're not paying another cent to them and their scam. No one else needs to either. Let's file a class action lawsuit to stop this. I even saw them on the news before too. This was after we had already purchased it.

This company has been a pain to work with from day one, I should have known better. They (Trade Winds Vacations - or whatever they call themselves) NEVER booked a successful trip for me, horrible to work with, tried cancelling for multiple years, no luck, no professionalism in their company. All the reviews I have read I agree with. They just have a different rep harass you and claim they have never heard from you on the subject before. When they finally sent me their "official cancellation form" after I showed them proof that I attempted to cancel years before, they still want me to pay $$. Thank You!

I signed up for a service many years ago, I want to say in 2006, which I was never able to benefit from. In 2016, I decided to cancel since we would not be using the services.
Thus, I called to Cancel and I was told by Sam R that I did not have to cancel and that if you did not pay you would not be able to use the services. I had no intention in using the services so I did not think that was an issue. Now 5 years latter, after not hearing from them, they send me a bill for $1, 100. I do not want this services and they are saying it cannot be cancelled. I do not want to pay them for a service I have not been using nor I would have been able too since I was not paying.
I called again last night 3/22/2021 and they said if I pay $725 they will agree to a mutual consent release.
Not only I had to pay an upfront fee to join and yearly membership for something that has never benefitted me, now they even want more money? I really feel that they are taking advantage of me. Can you please help me get out of it?
I do not want to pay another dime to them if possible.

Thank you

About 2013 my husband and I foolishly signed up for the Trade Winds Vacations paying about $2000. We were promised a free vacation which did not turn out to be true. We found that we could book our own trips for less than their service. I called to cancel our membership after less than a year.
Now I am receiving "Final Notice" bills for $1900 to pay for the years [protected] dues. This is a scam. How can you help me? We never used their service.

I'm my opinion this is a scam company. I canceled my membership for horrible service. You can save money making your own reservations. I'm still getting harassment and bills. Sent a cease and desist letter.

We got a final notice from Tradewinds Vacations stating that we were overdue from 2012 to 2020 in the amount of $2, 194. I thought this was a joke. But as a courtesy, I called the company asking what this is all about after 10 years later. Responds from the company representative Avi was like talking to the wall and broken tape recorder, telling me the same line over and over. We try to explain that we cancelled the membership back in 2012. She doesn't want to hear it and states it's a lifetime membership!? Did I hear this right?

Anyway, going back the history of our membership, we joined this company in Florida from independent distributor called Jandar Corporation (we were told this from Avi thru exchanged e-mail from Tradewinds Vacations, they are gone, can't find them in anywhere, It's been 10 years, can't recall all details). When we joined since 2011 paid initial huge upfront money and the fees for the year 2011, hoping we can use their vacation services. After receiving a package, reviewed it and try to use their service as much as possible. But, the turnaround time for the request was always coupled of days with no deals in comparison. Simply, no benefit of using the service they offer. So, the next year 2012, we cancelled our membership and signed some kind of paperwork putting our membership in inactive until we reactivate. No payment was due, no obligations further. After that, that was the end. We were done dealing with them since there was no future engagement from the company. In 5/02/2019, we received a surprise overdue invoice stating that they miss us and want us back in the membership and offered 1 to 5 year plan with discounts. Didn't bother, put it away. Mid-February 2021, just a few days ago, another surprise invoice came in asking to pay for the last 10 years of fees this time. Where they have been in the last ten years not invoicing fees if they were legitimate to collect the fees? This is a big fraudulent travel club membership company. I got no where by exchanging a few e-mails back and force with Avi. She is demanding for the full payment if we want to cancel the membership. I told her this is my last courtesy attempt and do not contact us again what so ever. This is a big fraudulent travel club membership company. I got no where by exchanging a few e-mails back and force with Avi. She is demanding for the full payment if we want to cancel the membership. I told her this is my last courtesy attempt and do not contact us again what so ever. We were scammed by this company! I have no plan to pay them any penny and you do the same. Do not pay! A class action lawsuit against them is what we need to do with a group of people who is scammed.

I got a telemarketing call to come in to attend a 90-min. presentation with my spouse at Simplicity Travel, 4835 N. O'Connor Rd #200, Irving, Texas. I was promised 2 free airline tickets and a $20 red lobster gift card. (I was more interested in the gift card because I'm familiar with all the fine print with the airline ticket promo.) I was asked to flash a credit card logo when I got there. It was just like the telemarketer said: I was under no obligation to purchase - which was true. What I was not expecting was such a professional and tempting presentation.

We started asking questions when we got there. The receptionist said she was new and just started the week prior. The first agent said that the company was in that business location since Jan 2012., the presentation was more tempting than I expected. It was very professional and well put together, and the agents there aren't new to this and very believable. The presentation include top vacation spots and cruises with unbelievable “member” prices. The membership cost for all these perks were set at a one time payment of $8995 for a lifetime willable membership. After thinking about all the places we could go as a family and take our kids my hubby and I were really excited, however, we have one rule: NEVER make big purchases the same day, without sleeping on the decision overnight.

After the presentation, we were told the 1st 2 ppl would receive a $1k discount. After the agent talked with us one-on-one and we explained our financial situation, he out of the air came up with a "Plan 2" that was not mentioned in the group presentation on how we could get the same package for $5K by put $2500 down tonight and then we would be billed the remaining half at a 0% interest. He confirmed that we could start vacationing RIGHT away without paying the full $5k. WOW. Then when we said we're going to sleep on it. Then the agent came back and said he talked with the owner and the owner wants him to "help those folks out!" Can you say "Favor"? Next we were given a deal could pay $700 tonight and receive a 5-Year trial with full benefits. Hubby and I really had to think about this, we asked for private time to talk it over and starting searching the internet. Then we thought if this deal dropped for $9k to 700, if it's that desperate then what's good today has to be good tomorrow, next week, etc. We left that office with our free gifts and we thought about all those wonderful vacations and how we could benefit by being a member.

After we left we had time to think and reflect on the meeting. The receptionist was there said she started last week and did not know much about the company. (I found the recent craigslist ad online). The first agent at the beginning of mtg said that SIMPLICITY TRAVEL operated out of the 4835 N. O'Connor Rd #200 office in Irving, TX since the 1st of the year. The 2nd agent at the end of mtg said they were there 11 years! I searched dallascad.org Property records and there business name was not listed. I also searched on that address and found that in 2009 that suite was a massage parlor and since then it's been a real estate agent.
I also came across reservations4u.com site, that looked very unprofessional as if an individual designed it using a free web tool. Not what you would expect from a company that's been in business 11-30 years. I also did a whois.net directory lookup on the domain simplicitytravels.net and saw that it was recently purchased and only for a one year duration. The site minimal information, a paragraph on the "About Us" and appears to be created with a opensource free web script.

I noticed none of their professional brochures are branded as “Simplicity Travel”. It is a common name used by business owners all over the nation. So you may search and find good reviews for that business name, but dig deeper and you’ll see it’s in a different state. I was only to find info on “Simplicity Travels” in Irving/Dallas business within the duration of the last 60 days. Brochures are branded with other business names such as branded as "Smart Travel" and "Tradewinds Vacations." Searching on Tradewinds Vacations also brings up multiple companies owned by different people across the nation, making it harder to verify validity. BE WARE. It is always better to do businesses that you can verify their reputation online. Also if it’s such a good deal you shouldn’t be pressure to pay your one time fee before you leave the office.

Vacation club benefits are basically worthless -I got scammed in Las Vegas through STS travel - Sea to Ski of Colorado - which are front companies -basically LLC's that change their names. constantly. Tradewinds Vacations is in Alabama -STS is in Colorado but they do their presentations in Las Vegas. Promises of refund are bogus and they never return your calls -sales agreement forms has 28 items that have to be initialed and basically lock you in so credit card companies will not help you in a dispute.STS travel -Sea to Ski of Colorado - the owners name is Stephen Wunder.