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Tradewinds Vacations

Tradewinds Vacations review: Fraudulent travel club membership 10

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6:30 pm EST
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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.

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elizabeth ann romel
Las Vegas, US
Mar 08, 2023 9:01 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I brought into this also. never received a thing. And now they want more money to cancel me. I think this is a Ponzi scam. If you pay money for something you should get something in return. I tried to cancel after 3 days and they said I could not. I think something should be done about them. I am 82 and living on SS. I could not afford to take a trip if i wanted to . It sounded good at the time.

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JamesHai
Heath Springs, US
Feb 28, 2023 10:37 am EST

I'm in the same scam as everyone else. They say $2500 to settle account.

Never used the membership.

What can we do ? Can they go after our credit ?

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gmchumble
Humble, US
Aug 05, 2022 12:18 pm EDT

How can we get out of this scam, after 10 years?

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raescar
ft madison, US
Jul 27, 2022 4:05 pm EDT

Just got a letter in the mail saying an audit of my membership is past due,that I have been billed 3 times per year(which I called 6 years ago to cancel as I found out how fraudulent they were after joining for a year)they have called me a dozen times(no as I have caller id)They have sent me twice weekly emails(no as I checked my spam and junk folders)and I have not kept up my obligations on my side! Yea right. I threw the letter in the garbage and not responding to their junk mail. Stay away from this scam. This needs to be reported and I am to the better business bureau as you should also

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Klftitan
Lebanon, US
Dec 07, 2021 11:27 am EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Same thing for my husband and I. We joined in2012 and then canceled a few years later. Last week received a bill for late fees. Miranda was very rude and hung up on my husband twice when he called for an explanation. She said we had to pay the late fees in order to cancel. This is definitely a FRAUDULENT COMPANY. We're not paying any more money to them. We payed enough to join it. We haven't received any annual bills either like contract states 30 days prior to anniversary date. Is there someone we all need to contact for a class action lawsuit?

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Walter Schweizer
, US
Jul 28, 2021 5:50 pm EDT

Has any further legal action begun against this company?
We are in the same situation as everyone here and I agree a class action lawsuit is necessary here.

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T$M
, US
Sep 05, 2021 8:26 am EDT

We had a lawyer write them a cease and desist letter, then they sent us a note dismissing all charges and released us from our contract. They have no legal grounds to collect past due membership fees. Once you stop payment, your membership was suspended. You have no obligation to reinstate your membership. This is a total scam. Tradewinds is no longer in operation. These individuals have the Tradewinds records and are using them to extort money.

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FnTB
, US
May 11, 2021 9:42 am EDT

We received the same letter today. When I called and tried to talk to their reprehensive he denied that we cancelled our membership many years ago and went so far as to claim that we have been using their services. When I let him know that we have not had anything to do with them since we cancelled, he hung up on me. After saying he was turning us over to a collection agency!

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dicostal
, US
Mar 23, 2021 9:28 am EDT

I am in the same boat. Same scenario, were you able to to resolve the issue? did you end up paying them?
Can they go after our credit if we do not pay? I also called and canceled in 2016. Now 5 years later I am getting a bill, i never heard from them for years.

Thank you

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JoannaV
SaddleBrooke, US
Mar 20, 2021 6:19 pm EDT

We were scammed too. Never used them. They promised the moon. Haven't heard from them since 2012, now they say we owe them over $2, 000. What about the money we lost up front in 2012? They are crooks.
We lost over $5, 000, and they promised they would sell our Hyatt Timeshare, that was a lie! Now they contact me 9 years later and want money!