- Report: #953702
Complaint Review: REKO TOURS/SUNNY VACATIONS/CARIBBEAN ESCAPE - BROOKLYN New York
Reported By:
TravelQueen64 -
, Virginia, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
REKO TOURS/SUNNY VACATIONS/CARIBBEAN ESCAPE
1670 E 17TH ST #2D BROOKLYN, 11229 New York, United States of America
Phone:
800-251-0230
Web:
http://www.cevacation.com/
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
REKO TOURS/SUNNY VACATIONS/CARIBBEAN ESCAPE GEORGE TSAPELAS SCAMMED OUT OF $43,000.00 BROOKLYN, New York
Report Attachments
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to I inform you of illegal and fraudulent actions that a Travel Agency that has a current IATA and/or TRUE number and does business as Reko Tours/Sunny Vacations/Caribbean Holidays as well as the websites listed below at the end of this email.
The agency is currently located in Brooklyn New York. It's " managers " are George Tsapelas and Vicky Stephaneau.
I had a contracted with Reko Tours for 26 rooms at the Riu Palace Aruba Resort May 24-28, 2012. After being in constant contact with the agency and the reservation specialist at Riu corporate and after making full payment of over $43,000.00, I was assured everything was in place for my group.
Upon arriving at the resort and shortly after my group began to check in, I discovered thru numerous phone calls, emails, text messages, and faxes that Reko Tours' check payments to the Riu Palace Aruba for my group had bounced and my entire group had been canceled for non-payment.
I paid Reko Tours in full and they never paid the resort. I was made to secure the group's stay that weekend using my personal American Express Credit Card for which I am disputing, for the second time. I was in a foreign country with 48 clients, a wedding ceremony, and a anniversary celebration with the threat of being locked out of rooms for non-payment. I have emails, text messages and voice mail from George Tsapelas indicating he was having trouble with the resort, but him making payment to Riu Resorts on behalf of my group has nothing to do with me. I have since retained an attorney, contacted the Better Business Bureau, the Brooklyn Attorney General's Office Consumer of Protection Affairs and the Attorney General's Office of Internet Fraud. I wanted to make the travel agent/agency/consortium/host agency community aware of this criminal activity. He continues to do business using the above names and has also scammed others. I am in contact with an agent who also had to repay once she arrived at the Riu Resort in Mexico. Ms Geraci and other agents were on a FAM trip booked by Reko Tours/Sunny Vacations/Caribbean Escape. They too filed with American Express to retrieve their money back. A Vice Principal from Tennesee booked air travel using Reko Tours for a group of students traveling to Europe. He was scammed out of $25,000.00 due to the agency not booking the flights/changes to the flight. Mr Kimbrough has filed a complaint with the Tennesee District Attorney regarding the agency. The agency is still doing business.
I am still pursing a civil case as well as a criminal case. I am seeking to involve the US District Attorney since he has scammed people using the internet and across state lines. His information is below, PLEASE WARN AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN about his criminal activity. The below is an email sent to me regarding his taking my $43,000.00 and trying to repay me. The $4,000.00 check that he sent to me bounced! I can provide documentation and other proof of the above charges. Please contact me if you are willing to help me with my case or need additional information to ban this agency from doing business with you or your clients.
I am writing to I inform you of illegal and fraudulent actions that a Travel Agency that has a current IATA and/or TRUE number and does business as Reko Tours/Sunny Vacations/Caribbean Holidays as well as the websites listed below at the end of this email.
The agency is currently located in Brooklyn New York. It's " managers " are George Tsapelas and Vicky Stephaneau.
I had a contracted with Reko Tours for 26 rooms at the Riu Palace Aruba Resort May 24-28, 2012. After being in constant contact with the agency and the reservation specialist at Riu corporate and after making full payment of over $43,000.00, I was assured everything was in place for my group.
Upon arriving at the resort and shortly after my group began to check in, I discovered thru numerous phone calls, emails, text messages, and faxes that Reko Tours' check payments to the Riu Palace Aruba for my group had bounced and my entire group had been canceled for non-payment.
I paid Reko Tours in full and they never paid the resort. I was made to secure the group's stay that weekend using my personal American Express Credit Card for which I am disputing, for the second time. I was in a foreign country with 48 clients, a wedding ceremony, and a anniversary celebration with the threat of being locked out of rooms for non-payment. I have emails, text messages and voice mail from George Tsapelas indicating he was having trouble with the resort, but him making payment to Riu Resorts on behalf of my group has nothing to do with me. I have since retained an attorney, contacted the Better Business Bureau, the Brooklyn Attorney General's Office Consumer of Protection Affairs and the Attorney General's Office of Internet Fraud. I wanted to make the travel agent/agency/consortium/host agency community aware of this criminal activity. He continues to do business using the above names and has also scammed others. I am in contact with an agent who also had to repay once she arrived at the Riu Resort in Mexico. Ms Geraci and other agents were on a FAM trip booked by Reko Tours/Sunny Vacations/Caribbean Escape. They too filed with American Express to retrieve their money back. A Vice Principal from Tennesee booked air travel using Reko Tours for a group of students traveling to Europe. He was scammed out of $25,000.00 due to the agency not booking the flights/changes to the flight. Mr Kimbrough has filed a complaint with the Tennesee District Attorney regarding the agency. The agency is still doing business.
I am still pursing a civil case as well as a criminal case. I am seeking to involve the US District Attorney since he has scammed people using the internet and across state lines. His information is below, PLEASE WARN AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN about his criminal activity. The below is an email sent to me regarding his taking my $43,000.00 and trying to repay me. The $4,000.00 check that he sent to me bounced! I can provide documentation and other proof of the above charges. Please contact me if you are willing to help me with my case or need additional information to ban this agency from doing business with you or your clients.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Jack Nills
New York,New York,
USA
report number #953702
#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Mon, August 22, 2016
Respons to report #953702
"Submitted:Wed,Oct 10,2012
Reported by:TRAVEL QUEEN 64 - Virginia USA
Updated: Wed,Oct 10,2012
Report #953702"
"CARIBBEAN ESCAPE"
The travel agent that booked with us a group travel to ARUBA.In the past four years they have been using our service for a group travel and as you may see in our website WWW.CEVACATIONS.COM their good testimonialy twice how happy they were when we upgraded their both groups.
They get granted that we will not be charging for those upgradings additional money from them once they checked out.
Upon their check out,hotel asked them to pay $43.000.00 for the upgrading cost.(which was made by their own without our authority)
And they asking us to pay $ 43.000.00 to avoid getting bad (fake,unsatisfied) feedbacks on the intrenet because of their decision for upgrade.The amount that hotel was asking was way too high and we tried to negotiate,unfortunately no settlements with the hotel and they asked him to pay $43.000.00 the cost of their upgrading.
The unnecessary decision that they did and threatened us for fake feedbacks is not good for our business and this is not funny!!!
Our customer are so happy with our service and if you go to our website WWW.CEVACATIONS.com you will see thousands of our satisfied customers that has no hesitation to do business with us.
From: Josif & Raisa Bakhirev (646) 881- 2763
Date: 1/19/2016
Hi George,
The vacation to Melia Caribe Tropical was super. We liked the hotel and price you gave us.
Thank you very much for your service one more time.
From: Lubov Kontorovich (718)300-0875
Date: 12/07/2015
Dear George!
Vacation was great. For this excellent price that you gave me for air and hotel for single room in George Town only for $1255.
Thank you and I am ready for my next trip with your company!
From: Yulia Pole (718)213-5445
Date: 11/30/2015
Dear Caribbean Escape!
Thanks for our trip! The hotel - BelleVue Dominica bay was good. Food , entrtaiment and services were great!Also view from this hotel is really amazing!
Hope to travel again with Your company!
Thanks again!
From: Irene Ramirez ([email protected])
Date: 11/12/2015
Dear Caribbean Escape!
Our wedding group came back from Riu Paradise Island Bahamas with fully satisfaction.
Thank you for upgrading all of us to ocean view rooms.
We had wonderfull time and best price!
We will call u soon!
From: Leo Landau (212)-475-2450
Date: 10/30/2015
And I am back!
We had a wonderful time
I appeciate you making it happen
I will send my friends and family!
From: Tess Vladimir [email protected]
Date: 02.24.2015
Good morning Caribbean escape, I really appreciate your help arranging our trip to Punta Cana at Natura Park Eco&Spa. Me and my friend we really enjoy our stay. Thanx again.
From: Edward Zinger 347 302 4496
Date: 02.27.2015
Hi George , thanks you found the best deal last minute for Feb 14-21 , to Boca Chica , Be Live Hamaca Beach. Price was very good for 2550,00$ two passengers with non stop flights. Hotel was ok, food and beach ok, but rooms very old. It's not your fault, you said to us about rooms , thank you and we will come to your company again for our next trip.
FROM:Edward Mordukhax (917)-846-9645
DATE: 9/5/2015
Hi George, I thank you very much for our last minute vacation pacakage you offered to my family to la romana. I called you friday evening to depart on sunday. Everything was super thanks. You have a custumer for life. regards Edward.
and if you go to our website we got a lot more
"CARIBBEAN ESCAPE"
Jack Nills
New York,New York,
USA
response to report #953702
#3UPDATE Employee
Mon, August 22, 2016
Respons to report #953702
"Submitted:Wed,Oct 10,2012
Reported by:TRAVEL QUEEN 64 - Virginia USA
Updated: Wed,Oct 10,2012
Report #953702"
"CARIBBEAN ESCAPE"
The travel agent that booked with us a group travel to ARUBA.In the past four years they have been using our service for a group travel and as you may see in our website WWW.CEVACATIONS.COM their good testimonialy twice how happy they were when we upgraded their both groups.
They get granted that we will not be charging for those upgradings additional money from them once they checked out.
Upon their check out,hotel asked them to pay $43.000.00 for the upgrading cost.(which was made by their own without our authority)
And they asking us to pay $ 43.000.00 to avoid getting bad (fake,unsatisfied) feedbacks on the intrenet because of their decision for upgrade.The amount that hotel was asking was way too high and we tried to negotiate,unfortunately no settlements with the hotel and they asked him to pay $43.000.00 the cost of their upgrading.
The unnecessary decision that they did and threatened us for fake feedbacks is not good for our business and this is not funny!!!
Our customer are so happy with our service and if you go to our website WWW.CEVACATIONS.com you will see thousands of our satisfied customers that has no hesitation to do business with us.
From: Josif & Raisa Bakhirev (((REDACTED)))
Date: 1/19/2016
Hi George,
The vacation to Melia Caribe Tropical was super. We liked the hotel and price you gave us.
Thank you very much for your service one more time.
From: Lubov Kontorovich (((REDACTED)))
Date: 12/07/2015
Dear George!
Vacation was great. For this excellent price that you gave me for air and hotel for single room in George Town only for $1255.
Thank you and I am ready for my next trip with your company!
From: Yulia Pole (((REDACTED)))
Date: 11/30/2015
Dear Caribbean Escape!
Thanks for our trip! The hotel - BelleVue Dominica bay was good. Food , entrtaiment and services were great!Also view from this hotel is really amazing!
Hope to travel again with Your company!
Thanks again!
From: Irene Ramirez ([email protected])
Date: 11/12/2015
Dear Caribbean Escape!
Our wedding group came back from Riu Paradise Island Bahamas with fully satisfaction.
Thank you for upgrading all of us to ocean view rooms.
We had wonderfull time and best price!
We will call u soon!
From: Leo Landau (((REDACTED)))
Date: 10/30/2015
And I am back!
We had a wonderful time
I appeciate you making it happen
I will send my friends and family!
From: Tess Vladimir [email protected]
Date: 02.24.2015
Good morning Caribbean escape, I really appreciate your help arranging our trip to Punta Cana at Natura Park Eco&Spa. Me and my friend we really enjoy our stay. Thanx again.
From: Edward Zinger (((REDACTED)))
Date: 02.27.2015
Hi George , thanks you found the best deal last minute for Feb 14-21 , to Boca Chica , Be Live Hamaca Beach. Price was very good for 2550,00$ two passengers with non stop flights. Hotel was ok, food and beach ok, but rooms very old. It's not your fault, you said to us about rooms , thank you and we will come to your company again for our next trip.
FROM:Edward Mordukhax (((REDACTED)))
DATE: 9/5/2015
Hi George, I thank you very much for our last minute vacation pacakage you offered to my family to la romana. I called you friday evening to depart on sunday. Everything was super thanks. You have a custumer for life. regards Edward.
and if you go to our website we got a lot more
"CARIBBEAN ESCAPE"
