Complaint Review: Sun Country Travel

After reading the reports online here, I am very relieved that my husband and I followed our instints. We were recently called and told that we had been chosen to receive a vacation package to San Diego, CA. The package was for a free vacation 3 days 4 nights airfare and lodging. We were to sit through a 90 minute presentation when we arrived and they mentioned the typical income requirements and credit card holding status.

We have been through a few timeshare presentations before and we thought this was probably one of them. So, we decided not to bring our credit card or check books in the building. This would give us a break to go out to our car by ourselves and talk before we would make any final decisions. We have found this to be an excellent strategy.

When we checked in we were asked to fill out a survey. The survey asked if we had a checkbook, debit card,or credit card in our possession. We were used to being asked if we owned one but felt like this wording was a little invasive so we left it blank.

That's when they got rude. First a lady came out and asked if we had one on our possession. We said we owned one but didn't bring it in with us. Then, a man came in and asked the same question. He then told us that it was a requirement that we have it with us when we came or he couldn't show us his presentation.

This made my husband mad and he informed the man (politely but firmly) that all he was told was that he needed to own a credit card not bring it with him. The guy got really beligerant. He spoke to us like we were naught school kids who didn't bring in our homework. He insisted that he said differently in the conversation.

Both of us felt like it was a real red flag. Instead of going out to get our checkbook or credit card, we felt that the desperation and beligerance in the guy must mean that they had a crappy scam. So we talked briefly in the parking lot and then left. We were only there for about 10 minutes.

Out of curiosity I did some research on the web (which I really should have done before we wasted time driving over there). There was an icon for MVI vacations. I did some further research and discovered that this company was giving away MVI certificates for the reward. My guess is that we would have heard a high pressure upsale for the vacation and then been subjected to a timeshare presentation once we reached our destination. I'm not sure.

MVI's website brags that it provides vacation packages as incentives to companies. Then, it makes money on upsales. AFter reading about them on this site, I"m very relieved we avoided the situation altogether. However, I wanted to let others know that Sun Country travel's incentive is really an MVI certificate.

I can't vouch for what we obviously never heard at the presentation but my guess is that they must be pretty high pressure to have treated us this way before even giving their pitch. WE've been to a few of these things before and i"ve never seen anything quite like it.

Also, thought we'd pass on the idea about leaving your credit cards and check books in the car. It really helps you cut to the chase fast and you don't have to tell them its just in your car. It really takes them offguard and throws off some of the seedy operations if you simply say that you didn't bring it with you. Of course if its just in the car you can always go get it if you really want to hear what they have to say.

The semi-more legimate ones will ask if you own a card but not if you actually have it with you on your person. This gives you and your partner a break to run out to the car and get the payment items. Sometimes fresh air and a minute to talk to each other , or even escape, helps you make better decisions.

Jenna
Bedford, Texas