Complaint Review: Cheap Trips

In October of 2007 I received a phone call from a cheap trips representative who offered me a lifetime membership to cheap trips. She ensured me that by signing up I would get the very best travel deals, and would also receive 2 complimentary round trip airline tickets, as well as some other coupons for vacation deals. I told the lady that I was NOT a "high end" traveler, and that more often than not I camp or stay in hostels to save money, as I am a student. I was reluctant at first, but she insisted that the company had been around for a long time, and it's customers were extremely satisfied because they save a lot of money. She said if for any reason I was not satisfied than I could cancel my membership by returning the free travel vouchers and other materials for a full refund.

So I agreed to have the $108.00 deducted from my bank account in exchange for the lifetime membership. I was supposed to receive the package with all my membership details and free flight voucher within 10 business days. It took over three weeks, and when I opened the package I realized that in order to take advantage of the free flight coupons I had to go to specific locations and stay in specific (and very expensive) resorts at full price. So I returned everything immediately at my own expense. I called cheap trips a week later to ensure they had received my returned package and were possessing my refund. A lady named Teresa said that I would see the refund on my next billing statement.

I forgot about the refund for a while because it never showed up. I called again 2 months later and was told by someone named Frederick that it would be on my statement in 14 business days. . . never happened! Since then it has been a losing battle to get my money back. They never return my phone calls, supervisors and managers are never available, and sometimes when I call they will hang up before even answering to evade speaking with me. At this point I don't know how to get my money back, and I don't know how to get help with this fraud!!! It's not the money its the principle!

Serena
Bisbee, Arizona
U.S.A.