Complaint Review: The Universal Travel Network - Houston Texas

The Universal Travel Network, (General Manager is Ed Mazre), (Phone Number 888-400-0155) and Travel by Centennial, (General Manager - Mark Harris), Phone Number 888-609-5515) are all the same company and use the same Customer and Refund Services to handle their business affairs.  I found this out in recent phone call when the Same Customer Service Rep, on two seperate phone calls - (one using 0155 and the other 5515) answered for both.

On or about 5/13/2013 my wife received a fax invitation, at her Government Office, from The Universal Travel Network for a 8 Day 7 night Carribean Cruise. This fax was sent over Intersate Telephone Lines from telephone requesting a Propsective Customer Call The Universal Travel Network - 888-400-0155 to book travel arrangements.  My wife and did so and were supposed to receive Airfare and Cruisefare Vouchers to take the desribed Western Carribean 8 Day 7 night Cruise out out Orlando Florida March 16-23 2014.  Deposits of $500- and $138.00 were paid respectfully to each of these companies in May and June 2013. I have copies of Cancelled Checks. I stressed a specific booking date was required because I worked for a government agency and I had to have a specific date in order to have a vacation approved.  I was assured by both Ed Mazre and Mark Harris there would be no problem meeting Jet Blue and Royal Carribean Travel requirements.  Oh there was.

It turned out that The Universal Travel Network, (the General Travel Contractor) after charging me, $500-,  turned me over to its Subcontractor Travel by Centennial, supposed in Houston, Texas, for Airfare and Cruise Travel Vouchers. Travel by Centennial then charge me $138- and sent me travel vouchers issued by Vacation Passport - a division of Prestige Travel Services in Tampa, Florida.  Prestige in turn wanted me to pay another $125- Service fee to put their Airfare and Cruise Vouchers in to effect. 

Before doing so I contacted Prestige's Tampa Office and was advised that they could not guarantee the 3/16-23/2014 Travel Dates, They did not Use Jet Blue Airlines, nor did they even no who Travel by Centennial was.

I subsequently contacted Ed Mazre and Mark Harris of my above finding and their Breach of Contract Services and that I was canceling my Travel Service Contract with them.  They Both Agreed to issue me, so stating in repeated emailings between the two of us, they would issue me full refunds of $500- and $138- respectively upon receipt of the unused Vacation Passport Vouchers issued by Prestige Travel Services. 

The Vacation Passport Vouchers, # FC-017894, were returned to Travel by Centennial Certified Mail and the Certified Green Card was returned to me signed by a Travel by Centennial Staff Member.  Further, by my subsequent contacting of Prestige Travel Services, Prestige Travel Service Blocked Cancelled them so they could not be used by anyone.

These two travel Agencies, (actually one agency), are trying to renege on their refunds claiming they did not receive travel Vouchers FC-017894 back, I used them when I did not as verified by Prestige Travel who upon me telling them what Centennial by Travel and The Universal Travel Network was claiming, when I had the signed certified return receipt in my possession, block cancelled them so no one could use them.  Further these two agencies are claiming they issued refunds when actuality they have not.

This issue has been going on since 8/1/2013 and continues to be a problem despite the fact that the Matter is in the hands of the Internet Fraud Unit of the NYS Attorney General.  Unfortunately, this office is so far behind in its case load no date can be assign to pursue my case and I fear more innocent individuals we be scammed by all the companies working under the roof of the The Universal Tavel Network.

Anyone reading this ripoff report please avoid The Universal Travel Network Companies and take steps to put them out of business.