Here's What's Hot On CBS11TV.COM:
Nov 4, 2009 6:22 pm US/Central
BBB Warning Consumers About Dallas Travel Club
Reporting
Jack Fink
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Customers of a North Texas travel club spent thousands of dollars hoping to get future vacation bargains. Instead, they claim, all they received were headaches. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is now warning consumers about the company.
Amy Bullington says it started with the lure of free airline tickets. Now, nine months later, after signing up with the Royal Palms Travel Club of Dallas, she says she and her husband are out about $4,500. "It's been very upsetting," she said.
According to Bullington, right after listening to a high-pressure sales pitch, they paid the membership and other fees to join. "We thought well if we can get some pretty good discounts on cruises, then that's the way we can take it."
Bullington and her husband say they realized the same bargains are available for free on other websites and that arranging for Royal Palms travel was a hassle. "For me, it didn't feel like I was getting a discount. It wasn't clear."
Bullington isn't alone.
The BBB says it's received 42 complaints against the Royal Palms Travel Club. "People say there was misrepresentation, high pressure, problems getting memberships activated or using it, difficulty trying to get a refund or a cancellation," BBB spokesperson Jeanette Kopko said of the club.
The state attorney general's office has received 32 complaints against Royal Palms.
CBS 11 News contacted Royal Palm Travel's president, Adrian Miller, and he said there's no reason for anyone to investigate how his company operates. Miller claims that he and his firm have always acted above board and have worked diligently to resolve customers' complaints.
Royal Palm Travel faxed CBS 11 nine agreements in which they settled with customers and sent them full refunds.
But the Better Business Bureau says it's still concerned. "The BBB met with the company on October 19th, and since that time the situation has not improved. It's gotten worse. Additional complaints have been closed as not answered," Kopko said.
Bullington says Royal Palms Travel won't give her a refund and her credit card company won't challenge the charge because the travel club has a no cancellation policy.
The BBB suggests consumers do their homework and closely look into any travel club before signing up.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Hollywood Hair
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
