Bangkok--Sep 29--eTurbo news
Dennis Waldmann says the man on the phone should get some jail time. "He didn't kill anybody," Waldmann says, "but he sure put the hurt on us."
Waldmann, a roofer who lives in Webster Groves, is watching his pennies after recently losing his business. When a stranger called in February and offered to find a buyer for Waldmann's unused condo time shares, the deal sounded good.
The caller also convinced Waldmann to pay $499 in marketing fees.
"It was a scam," Waldmann recalled Tuesday. He never got his money back - and his time shares never were sold.
Waldmann is one of more than 150 people who lost money in recent travel-related scams. This week, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon sued nine travel companies he accused of scamming consumers across the country.
Many of the companies had sold trips to Branson, Mo., a popular vacation destination, or time shares to condos in that area. "People visit Branson to relax and have fun, not to get ripped off," Nixon said.
He said Branson's lure was the main reason there was so much travel fraud in Missouri. Some 7.2 million people visited Branson last year.
The state claims the travel companies deceived consumers in a variety of ways, including promising that joining travel clubs would save money; using high-pressure sales tactics to sell travel memberships then refusing to cancel orders; and charging upfront fees for selling time shares then not selling them.
One suit names Cherry D. Murr, National Vacation Sales and NVS.com, which took Waldmann's money, promising to rent his condo time in Branson. The state is seeking $16,000 in restitution on behalf of Waldmann and 30 other consumers.
Another suit names John Delgrosso and FunTyme Vacations Inc., of Branson, which offers memberships in a travel club for as much as $7,000. The suit says the actual value is less than $1,000.
A Branson business called Worldwide Dream Vacations LLC and managing partner William H. Large sold travel club memberships for as much as $5,644. The state says consumers could get better deals on their own.
Another business in Branson called Leisure Access LLC promised consumers discounts on airline flights and other travel services. The state is seeking $25,792 in restitution for nine consumers.
Another suit names Branson resident Tommy Tran and World of Vacations. Several consumers who tried to book vacations through the company's club found they could get better prices on their own, the state said in seeking $19,286 in restitution.
The state is seeking $10,371 in restitution from Vacation Services of America LLC of Hollister, Mo., and Thomas Aloysius Wood of Branson. Salespeople told customers the company's credit card machine was broken and suggested they get a cash advance on their credit card from a bank. Most major credit cards allow consumers to dispute charges but not cash advances.
Consumers bought what they thought would be a vacation to Branson through three individuals doing business as Tickets for Less. They got "certificates" for a three-day, two-night stay at a luxury hotel, tickets to shows and dinner vouchers. They paid $149 and had to listen to a 90-minute sales talk.
According to the state's suit, when consumers tried to use their travel certificates, they got a disconnected phone or were told the company had moved without a forwarding address. The state is seeking $3,425 for 16 consumers.
Susan Gannucci operated a travel agency in Hollister called Your Best Friend in Branson. She closed her doors and promised refunds. The state is suing her for $11,5000 in restitution to nine consumers.
At least 45 students paid for vacations to Cancun, Mexico, in June through a Colorado company called Student Express. The company canceled the trips. The state is suing for $42,750 in restitution.
Last year, Nixon's office got 1,060 complaints against travel companies; Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan got 605 complaints.
For more information, please contact
[email protected]
http://www.travelwirenews.com/medie End.
--InfoQuest (NT)--