Complaint Review: Vacation International Professionals VIP Travel

Attended a program in Durham, NC, in September 2007 in response to an offer for two round-trip airline tickets. Were pressured to sign up that day in order to obtain a "highly-discounted" rate of $2000 membership with one condo week. Gave down payment of half, set up rest to draft monthly off debit card. At time of sign-up, asked about what we could do if we checked them out when we got home and felt it was not a good deal. We were told it was "no problem" but they "knew we would agree it was a good deal."

Checked them out that night, and needless to say, there were so many restrictions and limitations, and nothing offered during a time we could or would want to travel, that we stopped our down payment check that night and called the home office the next day to follow up on cancellation. Were told we would have to write a letter to the Board of Directors requesting the cancellation and explaining our reasons.

We sent the letter, citing grossly inaccurate representation of availability and preferred travel times. Several weeks later got a response that the board refused our request for cancellation. Since the monthly drafts were set to come off our debit card, we cancelled our debit card so they could not draft the account.

In mid-March, 2008, received a letter indicating that our check had been dishonored by our bank (since we stopped it) and that we had 10 days to pay the $998 down payment plus a $30 fee, or they would turn the check over to the magistrate for criminal prosecution. We filed a complaint with NC attorney general the same day.

Laura
Raleigh, North Carolina
U.S.A.