Expo Lodging Division Convention Housing Authority Convention Housing Services Misrepresents as Official Vendor for Firefighter show, scammed $2800 from me! Nationwide
Warn all of your registrants about this SCAM. This agency systematically targets large conventions. I had to cancel my credit card and I will now have to file fraud paperwork to be sure my card is not charged.
This agency claims to have an official relationship with the conference you register for, and is assisting registrants with reservations on their behalf. They insist that other area hotels are sold out, and that a room needs to be booked and paid for immediately in order to secure lodging. You are then sent a digital contract which flashes on the screen for a moment, and then a box appears for you to insert your digital signature.
Once you sign the contract, you are agreeing to give this agency a 25% cancellation fee (once you realize you've been duped and you try to cancel), and you are also signing up for a "Preferred Client Club" membership which will automatically charge your credit card $42 a month.
When I contacted the agency to cancel my "Preferred Client Club" membership, I received an email indicating that my subscription to this membership allowed me to book at the "discounted" rate in the first place (still $100 more per night then the other hotels in the area), but not to worry because of the "free 15 day promotion" I will not be charged at the higher rate which would in turn increase my 25% cancellation fee. I'm not sure if this is their way of appeasing those who have fallen victim to the scam, or if they truly believe they are providing a service..
Hopefully, others will not make the same mistake.