- Report: #328673
Complaint Review: VIP Travel - Lexington South Carolina
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VIP Travel
322 West Main St. Lexington, 29072 South Carolina, U.S.A.
Phone:
877-7270779
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VIP Travel Also Known As Vacation International Professionals No right to cancel and South Carolina Consumer Affairs filed suit in April 2008 Lexington South Carolina
*REBUTTAL Individual responds: VIP Travel sued by South Carolina Consumer Advocate Department - and the list grows
*Author of original report: Also see over 7500 inquiries on "The Squeaky Wheel" regarding VIP Travel
*Author of original report: VIP Travel refuses Membership Refund yet claims they have refunded membership-more false claims
*Author of original report: North Carolina Attorney General Stops VIP Travel from doing business in North Carolina!
*Author of original report: VIP Travel Lexington SC Filed Chapter #11 Bankruptcy 7/25/08 Case #08-0A/K/A South Carolina Resort Properties, LLC d/b/a Elite Escapres international
Purchased a membership in Sept. 2007 - tried to use it several times, without success. Asked for money back, was told flatly, you signed a contract. Later this, which indicates lots of people are having problems with this company.
As reported by Chanel 7 Television Station in South Carolina Consumer Affairs files Lawsuit against travel company
Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008 - 03:34 PM
By Heather Sullivan
E-mail | Biography
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs has filed a lawsuit against VIP Travel, based in Lexington, South Carolina, saying the company has used unfair and deceptive practices in its solicitations. An attorney for VIP Travel says the company is cooperating with Consumer Affairs and taking steps to address those concerns.
When Cheryl Rich wanted to plan a trip to Europe, she says she attended a seminar in Greenville for VIP Travel based in Lexington.
Said Rich, "They were giving us information that were similar trips and cruises that we had taken, yet they were much less expensive than what we had paid."
But Rich says after paying VIP about $3500, she wasn't getting booked on the trip she wanted. Said Rich, "I started calling about one particular cruise and I was getting put off. I was not getting information I needed."
Said Danny Collins, an attorney with the Department of Consumer Affairs, "They promise quite a few things that they don't deliver on."
After receiving about 50 complaints from customers in the Carolinas and Georgia, Consumer Affairs filed a lawsuit against VIP Travel in Lexington, accusing the company of offering free rewards that the Department says were not really free, and not offering customers a three day right to cancel their contracts.
Said Collins, "A lot of people tried to cancel the contract but the company told them they did not have such a right. But that is not true under the law. The law does give a person a three day right to cancel when a presentation is made any place other than the regular place of business."
VIP Travel's attorney Robby Birnbaum told us by phone the company is cooperating with Consumer Affairs and taking steps to address concerns and make sure it's complying with the law. Birnbaum says some customers may receive refunds, but did not have details at this time.
A refund is what Cheryl Rich is hoping for. Said Rich, "We have lost a lot of money for something that I felt like was going to be something really fun."
The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice to protect yourself when using any travel company.
- check for complaints filed with the BBB or Consumer Affairs
- get offers and travel arrangements in writing
- get copies of cancellation policies
- pay with a credit card. Many credit cards will refund your money if you don't receive the trip you pay for.
Rick b.
summerville, Georgia
U.S.A.
As reported by Chanel 7 Television Station in South Carolina Consumer Affairs files Lawsuit against travel company
Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008 - 03:34 PM
By Heather Sullivan
E-mail | Biography
The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs has filed a lawsuit against VIP Travel, based in Lexington, South Carolina, saying the company has used unfair and deceptive practices in its solicitations. An attorney for VIP Travel says the company is cooperating with Consumer Affairs and taking steps to address those concerns.
When Cheryl Rich wanted to plan a trip to Europe, she says she attended a seminar in Greenville for VIP Travel based in Lexington.
Said Rich, "They were giving us information that were similar trips and cruises that we had taken, yet they were much less expensive than what we had paid."
But Rich says after paying VIP about $3500, she wasn't getting booked on the trip she wanted. Said Rich, "I started calling about one particular cruise and I was getting put off. I was not getting information I needed."
Said Danny Collins, an attorney with the Department of Consumer Affairs, "They promise quite a few things that they don't deliver on."
After receiving about 50 complaints from customers in the Carolinas and Georgia, Consumer Affairs filed a lawsuit against VIP Travel in Lexington, accusing the company of offering free rewards that the Department says were not really free, and not offering customers a three day right to cancel their contracts.
Said Collins, "A lot of people tried to cancel the contract but the company told them they did not have such a right. But that is not true under the law. The law does give a person a three day right to cancel when a presentation is made any place other than the regular place of business."
VIP Travel's attorney Robby Birnbaum told us by phone the company is cooperating with Consumer Affairs and taking steps to address concerns and make sure it's complying with the law. Birnbaum says some customers may receive refunds, but did not have details at this time.
A refund is what Cheryl Rich is hoping for. Said Rich, "We have lost a lot of money for something that I felt like was going to be something really fun."
The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice to protect yourself when using any travel company.
- check for complaints filed with the BBB or Consumer Affairs
- get offers and travel arrangements in writing
- get copies of cancellation policies
- pay with a credit card. Many credit cards will refund your money if you don't receive the trip you pay for.
Rick b.
summerville, Georgia
U.S.A.
5 Updates & Rebuttals
Rick B.
Summerville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
VIP Travel Lexington SC Filed Chapter #11 Bankruptcy 7/25/08 Case #08-0A/K/A South Carolina Resort Properties, LLC d/b/a Elite Escapres international
#2Author of original report
Mon, August 18, 2008
South Carolina Resort Properties, LLC d/b/a ( doing business as ) VIP Travel, d/b/a Elite Escapes International d/b/a Vacation Professional Services LLC filed Chapter #11 Bankruptcy Jukly 25, 2008 in United States Bankruptcy Court District of South Carolina 1100 Laurel Street, Columbia SC 29201-2423
Rick B.
Summerville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
North Carolina Attorney General Stops VIP Travel from doing business in North Carolina!
#3Author of original report
Mon, June 30, 2008
here's the link: http;//www.wral.com/5onyourside/story/2889334/ Read it for yourself.
Rick B.
Summerville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Also see over 7500 inquiries on "The Squeaky Wheel" regarding VIP Travel
#4Author of original report
Sun, June 22, 2008
VIP Travel continues to ignore growing inquiries on "The Squeaky Wheel", this Complaint board, and the "I'm pissed" complaint boards. Several posters have filed lawsuits, along with South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.
Rick B.
Summerville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
VIP Travel refuses Membership Refund yet claims they have refunded membership-more false claims
#5Author of original report
Sun, June 22, 2008
VIP Travel has indicated they have refunded our membership fee on some complaint boards. I promise I would know if I had received $3,596.00 from any source. Anybody would know if they had received $3,596.00. And they refuse to refund membership based on my actions. That I asked them to deliver the product they stated at the purchase of their membership. They state "any"time travel is requested, they can accommodate the request, and provide the best price. Words straight from their membership package delived to me at time I paid them for a membership. Not only that, they promised a credit of $586.00, in form of a check from their corporate account, which they later refused to send. That offer was to make amends for poor service up to that point. And then they just refused to respond to any communication until I stated I was sending a complaint to the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs. They claimed they were ready to "talk" with me. It seems to me its been pretty one-sided. They took our money and have done nothing they promised. Even the owner mike Mitchell promised personally time and time again he would look into our situation, which he did not do. He then promised to send our membership refund, saying, he was glad to be rid of us. Of course, he did not send our membership refund. So, you decide if this is the type of company you want to do business with.
Rick B.
Summerville,Georgia,
U.S.A.
VIP Travel sued by South Carolina Consumer Advocate Department - and the list grows
#6REBUTTAL Individual responds
Tue, June 03, 2008
VIP Travel, Lexington, South Carolina, was sued by South Carolina Consumer Advocate Department in April 2008. And, there are more and more posters filing complaints on this board, and other internet complaint boards. Please do a search on this and other complaint boards, search on: VIP Travel. Then you can decide for yourself if you want to do business with VIP Travel, Lexington, South Carolina.
