Complaint Review: American Travel Network

Aka Diamond Escapes, Inc., Aka Mini Vacations, Inc., Aka MVI Marketing Deceptive telemarketing pitch .....

Be wary if you receive a telemarketing pitch from American Travel Network! On February 12, 2003 they left a recorded message on my home phone (which is unlisted), informing me that my contest form in "the PT Cruiser giveaway was pulled" and, although I had not won the car, I had been selected to receive a free vacation, including two nights' hotel accomodations plus airfare to either Las Vegas or Orlando. All I had to do was call before midnight.

Since I had never entered such a contest, and would never list my phone number on any contest form, I was immediately suspicious. American Travel Network's website lists no phone numbers or street address, but does identify "Diamond Escapes, Inc.," a travel agency based in Sarasota, FL, as its "fulfillment affiliate."

Diamond Escapes, according to their website, is owned by MVI Marketing, Inc., based in Tampa, FL. Readers of the Rip-Off Reports will find dozens of complaints of bad business practices by MVI.

I called the number in the phone message and was connected to a salesman in American Travel Network's Fairfax, VA office. The salesman wanted me to make an appointment for a meeting at their office. I asked him if his organization had any connection to Diamond Escapes or MVI or Mini Vacations. He claimed he was awared of no such organizations. At that point I told him I did not want to go to any meetings, and to put me on their "do not call" list.

Although I did not meet with any salesman, it appears likely that American Travel Network is a cover for potentially predatory business practices. Their link to MVI is incriminating enough, but more seriously, their deceptive phone message, with its false description of how they got my name and number, their failure to explain the purpose of the "meeting," and their denial of any links to MVI and Diamond Escapes is conclusive evidence that they cannot be trusted.

Mitchell
Washington, District of Columbia
U.S.A.