Travel
Scams And The Unsuspecting Traveler
Fraudulent travel
promotions and offers consistently make it to the top of the list
of complaints that the FTC, or Federal Trade Commission, receives
every year. These scams are relatively low cost to run, but they
lead to expensive mistakes and disappointments for numerous consumers
or would be travelers.
Unsolicited
travel offers arrive at many homes and businesses every day. The
offers arrive by telephone, e-mail, snail mail, and fax. Generally,
the offers are fraudulent travel promotions sent or called by
unscrupulous travel promoters.
Disguised to
look familiar and similar to companies that the consumer might
have contact with or knowledge of, the fraudulent offers look
legitimate at first glance. Faxes, letters, and e-mails with letterheads
designed to look similar to the company the individual is working
for further encourage the consumer into thinking the offer is
legitimate.
The travel packages
are enticing enough to encourage people to act quickly before
they have time to think about it or talk to others about it. Anxious
to take advantage of the good deal, people often respond immediately.
This is exactly what the phony promoter of the travel package
wants.
Vacations are
offered with deluxe accommodations that include air conditioning
and king size beds, free meals, special outings, such as cruises
or casino trips, free spa packages, and other assorted perks.
Consumers are enticed to place a deposit to hold the offer and
its wonderful components. A full refund is offered in the event
that they cancel; but then, they are told the deposit is non-refundable.
Customers have unwittingly paid for the purchase in full, but
never receive the tickets or paperwork for the trip.
The best way
to avoid a travel scam is to follow a few simple rules. Consumers
need to know what signs to look for to discern the legitimacy
of the offer. Likewise, consumers need to follow their instinct
and realize that if it looks and sounds too good to be true, then
it probably is. People are in the business of making money. If
it appears that they are giving the trip away, then how is the
company making any money? Look at the following tips and use them
to guide you when planning a vacation.
How To Avoid
A Travel Scam
Always deal
with a reputable company. Select a company that you, or someone
you know, have had personal contact with before. Ask for the company’s
full name, address, and phone number.
Contact the Better Business Bureau where you live and where the
company is from. If there is a history of complaints, steer clear.
Ask to receive the details of the trip in writing prior to payment.
If the company refuses, then do not pay.
Verify your reservations and the level of accommodations by acquiring
the telephone number and calling to make a few inquiries.
Ask for specifics. If the agent uses the word “luxury,” ask exactly
what that means. One person’s idea of luxury may simply be a soft
bed and a full bathroom, while most vacationers are probably thinking
hot tub, king size bed, cable television, etc.
Use a credit card to make your purchase. If the vacation package
does not meet your expectations, you may be able to dispute the
charges.
Never deal with a company whose representative uses high-pressure
tactics. For example, if you don’t sign on now, it won’t be available
later.
Don’t believe something that seems too good to be true. If the
trip is advertised at well below market cost, then it simply isn’t
legitimate.
Never deal with a company that insists on verifying your identification
with additional credit card and social security numbers.
Avoid any offers for fantastic vacations that require overnight
service for payment.
Avoid responding to unsolicited offers for vacations. Reputable
companies can rely on word of mouth to acquire business.
How Travel
Scams Rack Up The Price
Hidden fees
that are not revealed until after the consumer commits with a
payment. Suddenly, extra fees are added to the cost for incidentals
and upgrades that were not mentioned previously.
Hidden fees that do not materialize until the traveler arrives
at the destination. Once the customer arrives at the destination,
the desk clerk might notify them of additional charges that were
not previously mentioned.
How Travel
Scams Deceive
Some of the
offer is unavailable to the traveler until after they attend a
special presentation. Many times these presentations involve sitting
through lengthy timeshare overviews and sales pitches.
Refunds are promised for cancellations, but refunds are rarely
processed.
Many details are often left out of the sales pitch.
Sometimes, the unscrupulous travel marketer will actually lie
about the actual components of the offer in an attempt to deceive
customers and entice them into signing up for the vacation package.
Travel marketers use vocabulary that hints at something, but never
comes right out and says it. For example, “being selected to receive
a trip” only means that you will be given the opportunity to pay
for the trip. Moreover, words such as blackout dates and subject
to availability will create loopholes that lead to the unavailability
of the vacation package that the consumer has paid for in advance.
In most cases,
using a reputable travel agent, who has a good record with the
Better Business Bureau and some evidence of being around for a
while, is the best way to go to schedule a vacation. When in doubt,
ask questions.
Author Ian White
helps home owners match with like minded home lovers in your area
to care for your home, gardens and pets while you take a vacation.
HouseCarers.com House Sitting Directory offers free membership
and confidential matching services for home owners.
Exchange free
accommodation for live-in house and pet care.
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