800-413-5613
Did you get a call from 800-413-5613? Read the posts below to find out details about this number. Also report unwanted calls to help identify who is using this phone number.
Laura Gunderson31 Jul 2007My name is Laura Gunderson and I'm a consumer affairs reporter with The Oregonian newspaper and I'd like to talk with you about your experience with Utopia Travel/Vacation Travel Club of Beaverton.
I can be reached by phone (wk 503-221-8378) or email, lauragunderson@news.oregonian.com weekdays until around 6:30 p.m.
Look forward to speaking with you and please feel free to forward my contact information to anyone else you know who has done business with Utopia.
Thanks so much,
Laura Gunderson- Travelers say club took them for ride
Complaints - A Beaverton firm is accused of bogus offers and threatening members
Friday, March 07, 2008LAURA GUNDERSON The Oregonian Staff
Utopian Travel's sales pitch -- free airline tickets in exchange for sitting through an evening presentation on a vacation club -- sounded familiar to many of the estimated 400 customers who paid an average of $4,500 to join.
But some said what came after surprised them. When customers who felt duped by the vouchers or memberships asked for refunds, they said, the Beaverton firm's operators refused to tear up contracts and return money -- even within a state-designated cooling-off period. Customers also said Utopian employees made threats of lawsuits and used unsettling language in response to complaints.
By Thursday, 22 Oregon consumers had complained to the Oregon attorney general's office, spokeswoman Jan Margosian said. The complaints, she said, assert that Utopian made bogus offers not only of free travel vouchers but also of airfare discounts and club travel savings. Margosian said the complaints also contend the firm categorically refused refunds.
"Everybody seems to think people in a business like ours are just making a ton of money," Wilson said. "But a business like ours is very expensive to operate. We just can't have people calling and changing their minds on a large purchase."
Wilson said she wrote much of the BBB rebuttal, but one of her employees must have written the stray-bullet line. Wilson said she was unaware of a Utopian representative threatening lawsuits.
Utopian sells memberships in Vacation Travel Club, a separate company headquartered in Michigan.
Scot Ender, who owns Vacation Travel Club, said he can't help Oregon customers get refunds. He said that he doesn't collect the large upfront membership fees and that his club makes its money from $169 annual dues.
Ender said he can't control the claims of his 14 associated distribution firms. He discourages them, he said, from touting cut-rate airfares or quoting percentages for club discounts.
"We offer substantial savings," said Ender, who put the membership of his 18-year-old club at 35,000.
Utopian Travel has solicited customers in Oregon and Washington through postcards exclaiming, "We've been going crazy trying to contact you," and promising free airfare or cruises for hearing the pitch.
Wilson said she and her 25 employees hold gatherings in various Beaverton locations to pitch Vacation Travel Club to about 80 people a week.
Customers said Utopian employees pitched club membership as a lifetime access to exclusive travel and lodging discounts ranging from 10 percent to 50 percent.
The state is investigating the operation that's done business in Beaverton for six months.
Most of the 14 customers interviewed by The Oregonian said they were too afraid to comment publicly.
They pointed to the alleged threats, along with online postings of news articles about a 2002 capital murder case in Arkansas. Utopian owner Janet Wilson and her husband, Troy James Wilson, were charged with murdering a descendant of the Marshall Field's department store founder, although charges were dropped against Janet Wilson and her husband was acquitted.
Customers also said they were rattled by the firm's response to at least one complaint.
"You drew your guns and fired before the dragon even showed his ugly head," went a response signed "Janet Wilson, President, Utopian Travel LLC," countering one recent complaint to the regional Better Business Bureau. "This is a good way for people to get wounded with stray bullets."
Janet Wilson, who operates Utopian with her husband, said she has many happy customers and doesn't pressure anyone. "We take pride in our business, and we have nothing to hide," Wilson said.
Wilson confirmed her business must provide customers with a cooling-off period. However, she said, she doesn't grant every refund -- even those requested within three days. Wilson said she takes requests on a case-by-case basis.
"Everybody seems to think people in a business like ours are just making a ton of money," Wilson said. "But a business like ours is very expensive to operate. We just can't have people calling and changing their minds on a large purchase."
Wilson said she wrote much of the BBB rebuttal, but one of her employees must have written the stray-bullet line. Wilson said she was unaware of a Utopian representative threatening lawsuits.
Utopian sells memberships in Vacation Travel Club, a separate company headquartered in Michigan.
Scot Ender, who owns Vacation Travel Club, said he can't help Oregon customers get refunds. He said that he doesn't collect the large upfront membership fees and that his club makes its money from $169 annual dues.
Ender said he can't control the claims of his 14 associated distribution firms. He discourages them, he said, from touting cut-rate airfares or quoting percentages for club discounts.
"We offer substantial savings," said Ender, who put the membership of his 18-year-old club at 35,000.
Utopian Travel has solicited customers in Oregon and Washington through postcards exclaiming, "We've been going crazy trying to contact you," and promising free airfare or cruises for hearing the pitch.
Wilson said she and her 25 employees hold gatherings in various Beaverton locations to pitch Vacation Travel Club to about 80 people a week.
Customers said Utopian employees pitched club membership as a lifetime access to exclusive travel and lodging discounts ranging from 10 percent to 50 percent.
Joel Glick of Southwest Portland didn't buy a membership, but he said he attended a pitch to obtain the vouchers. When they did not pan out, he said, he complained to the attorney general's office and Better Business Bureau.
In a response to Glick's complaint, Utopian's rebuttals, which the BBB invited, went to the bureau and Glick. One included the stray-bullet line. Glick posted the statements on several consumer Web sites.
The rebuttal says that because independent vendors supply the vouchers, Glick's complaint about Utopian was misguided.
"Your very first step in this effort, and the most rewarding for you, would have been to contact Utopian Travel first before you blew your whistle to the Attorney General and to the BBB," the rebuttal says. "You drew your guns and fired before the dragon even showed his ugly head. This is a good way for people to get wounded with stray bullets. I guess you did not understand that Utopian is not responsible for denying your gift."
In at least two cases, Oregon customers of Utopian said the firm's operators threatened defamation lawsuits when they spoke of filing official complaints.
"I think that's absolutely ridiculous," Wilson said. "That's not how we do business."
At least one of the consumer Web sites featured copies of newspaper articles from Arkansas about arrests of Troy and Janet Wilson in New Mexico on suspicion of capital murder in 2002.
Troy Wilson stood trial and was acquitted in the shooting death of Bettine DeDubnic, who had been letting the Wilsons live rent-free in Arkansas.
Wilson said the dismissed Arkansas allegations have no bearing on her business in Oregon.
"What the state of Arkansas did was a bad thing," Wilson said. "I feel that I am a very good person, an earnest person -- regardless of what you read."
Laura Gunderson: 503-221-8378; lauragunderson@ news.oregonian.com- Janet Wilson states to the Oregonian that one of her employees must have written the statement to JG with the quote about "This is a good way for people to get wounded with stray bullets.". However, on January 24th JG posted a letter in which Janet Wilson's name is written on the letter to him as the composer of this letter on 11-27-07. You can read this letter on 800 notes.
- Customers Say Travel Agency Offered Phony Vacation Deals
http://www.kptv.com/news/15531400/detail.html - Take time when under pressure of sales pitch
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Vacations are supposed to be relaxing.
Yet the trip many local folks have taken with a Beaverton travel agency has been anything but. The Oregonian reported Friday that 22 consumers who plunked down thousands of dollars to join a discount vacation club had complained to the state attorney general's office to say Utopian Travel hadn't delivered.
Utopian owner Janet Wilson, who sells memberships to Michigan-based Vacation Travel Club, said unhappy customers simply didn't understand what they were buying.
Wilson said there are many bad eggs in the business -- though she insisted she wasn't one of them. In a quick online search of the term "travel scams," The Desk dug up dozens nationwide over the past 20 years at least.
Questionable travel firms can be tough for states to track down, said Jan Margosian, spokeswoman for the attorney general's office. Such businesses and sometimes their owners, she said, often go by several names with financial ties to several states.
The office said it is investigating the firm, along with a similar and possibly related business, Suncoast Vacations, which also has sold discount travel memberships in the Portland area.
High-pressure tactics
Several states have taken careful aim at the industry.
In December 2006, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon won a state-record $1.9 million court order against Vacation Travel, a firm that, like Utopian Travel, sold memberships to Vacation Travel Club. Nixon said the company used high-pressure sales tactics, misrepresented the club's savings, consistently refused refunds and failed to inform consumers about a three-day cooling-off period when they could pull out.
Oregon consumers made similar accusations about Utopian, according to the state attorney general's office.
Missouri busted another firm selling Vacation Travel Club memberships in August 2004. Branson, Mo.-based Vacation Services of America was required to pay $10,371 in restitution for refusing to cancel memberships for customers who requested refunds within three days.
The feds also track travel-related scams.
In "Operation Travel Unravel," the Federal Trade Commission secured a $5 million settlement from Florida-based Med Resorts International and five related companies. The commission said the company misled consumers to believe they could "travel worldwide whenever and wherever the consumers chose."
Read the fine print
So, listen to The Desk here, folks. Slow down.
In considering major purchases in high-pressure situations, don't be afraid to ask for time -- 24 hours, let's say -- to read the contract. The fine print in Utopian's contract, for instance, spelled out that it did not guarantee exclusive discounts for all airlines or hotels.
Utopian owner Wilson said that for an average membership of $4,500, the travel club provides deep discounts for resorts and cruises at certain locations at particular times, especially trips scheduled within 45 days of departure.
Such an outline does not jibe with pitches that the nearly two dozen consumers who've contacted The Oregonian said they heard.
"That's the opposite of what was sold to us," said Paulette Poulson of Longview, Wash., who expected discounts at any time on travel options throughout the world.
Poulson said she spent $8,000 on a membership and tried for two weeks to schedule a 24-day European cruise. She finally gave up on Vacation Travel Club and booked the trip through Costco Wholesale in two hours.
Poulson and others also worry about future problems. Many Utopian customers provided credit card and bank account numbers, home addresses, copies of their driver's licenses and partial Social Security numbers.
"I'm just so bothered about this," Poulson said. "We might as well have taken our $8,000 and thrown it into the river." For federal and state consumer tips on how to research travel clubs, go to blog.oregonlive.com/complaintdesk.
Laura Gunderson
- Please check out this expose on Utopian Travel that ran on KATU in Portland, OR.
http://www.katu.com/news/specialreports/16372721.html
Travel club's 'exclusive' deals don't exist, many say
By Thom Jensen and KATU Web Staff
Video BEAVERTON, Ore. - Did you get one of those 'travel itineraries' in the mail promising free airline tickets? Lots of people did and many are saying they were duped into giving away thousands of dollars for exclusive travel bargains that don't exist.
The travel vouchers have logos that look like they come from the airlines but don't be fooled. Everyone who gets one of the itineraries is told that if they attend a Utopian travel seminar at a business center in Beaverton, they will get two free airline tickets.
However, while there many are persuaded into buying travel club memberships that cost anywhere from $3,500 to $12,000 with promises of free cruises and exclusive member bargains.
Once Larry and Nila Butler got home from Utopian's seminar, they said they realized the promises did not exist and tried to cancel their credit card payment. But by then it was too late, the payment had already gone through and the money was gone.
Customers like Ross Villegas paid thousands of dollars for lifelong bargains. But when KATU News logged onto Utopian's Web site using Villegas' customer ID and password (with his permission), we did not see any real deals, like exclusive hotel bargains.
In fact, the prices were $20 to $30 more on Utopian's Web site than what we found on free Web sites. And the same was true for airfare, cruises and tropical resort packages. You can find the same or better deals on Web sites like Orbitz, Travelocity, Hotels.com and Priceline.
We found the owner of Utopian Travel, Janet Wilson, at the company's Beaverton office and she swore several times she would sit down and give us answers for the customers who felt they were scammed.
After we never heard back, we returned to look for her. We were confronted by her son, Bryan, a Utopian salesman who said she was in but still had no time to talk to us despite her promises that she would answer our questions.
At one point, we finally did catch Wilson in the doorway and she said she would reimburse anyone who wanted their money back.
However, those who bought the expensive packages aren't so sure that will happen. The Butlers received a letter from the company stating they could not obtain a refund and that refunds were not offered simply due to buyer's remorse.
Under Oregon law, refunds are supposed to be available within three days of purchase. The Butlers applied for a refund within one day and were still denied.
The Attorney General's office in Oregon has received more than 20 complaints against Utopian and is investigating. Meanwhile, Utopian's attorney said owner Janet Wilson will not be answering any of our questions.
The company has had problems in other states. The Attorney General offices in Indiana and Wisconsin also investigated complaints against Utopian's vacation travel club and fined them. In Missouri, where Wilson used to work in the vacation travel club's home office, the company received a record $1.9 million fine.- Beaverton's Utopian Travel accused of scam
Here's one more, this time from KGW in Portland, OR:
http://www.kgw.com/video/?z=y&nvid=225094
- Meekster331 Jul 2007
- Please read the following before responding to any postcard offering you two free airline tickets....
Mr. James Wilson
Utopian Travel
1315 185th Avenue #113
Beaverton, OR. 97006
November 17, 2007
Dear Mr. Wilson:
In September, 2007, I received a postcard in the mail that had a Northwest Airlines logo "NWA" and stated “In celebration of our anniversary...we've been going crazy trying to contact you! Call us immediately for details at toll free 1-800-582-6054. The postcard stated "You will receive at your request two round trip airfares to anywhere in the US!" as well as a free rental care for one week. The postcard also read "This is not a solicitation for a time share. *Certain restrictions apply. Travel Provider: Utopian Travel 1315 185th Avenue #113 in Beaverton, OR. 97006.”
I called the 800 number, and made an appointment for my wife and I to attend a presentation at 8:00 pm on September 19, 2007. At the presentation, we watched a PowerPoint presentation about the Vacation Travel Club, which I learned is a company based in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The cost of joining this club was approximately $8000. Following the presentation my wife and I informed a saleswoman that we were not interested in joining this club. Through my own investigation, I have found that the managers of Utopian Travel are James Wilson (417) 230-0997 and Andrew Loraditch (417) 593-5626.
Before we left, we were given two certificates, one from VIP Travel Reservations for the rental car and the other from CERTS, Inc. for two free airline tickets. We did not redeem the car rental certificate, but we did attempt to redeem the airline certificate, which is the subject of this complaint.
The Wings Across America Vacation Getaway certificate had very specific terms and conditions for its use. My wife and I made every good-faith effort to meet each one of these terms and conditions exactly as required.
1)Within 30 days of the issue date, we sent, by Certified Mail, the Activation Form to CERTS Inc. (424 East Central Blvd., #413, Orlando FL 32801) along with copies of our passports.
2)CERTS, Inc. then sent us a Travel Request Form. On October 25, 2007, we returned the Travel Request Form (See attachment B) with a Postal Money Order for $100, along with our requested destination and departure airports (Denver, CO and Portland, OR respectively), and two travel date choices, with departure dates 30 days apart (June 17, 2008 and July 17, 2008).
3)On November 13, 2007 I received a check in mailbox. The check was from CERTS, Inc. in the amount of $100. It arrived with no explanation or other documents.
4)On November 14, 2007, I called the office of CERTS, Inc. (866) 292-0099. I spoke to a representative. I gave him my name and certificate serial number (Wings22-37298) and asked him why CERTS had sent me the check. He informed me that the reason was that I had not met the terms and conditions of the certificate because I “did not have 30 between departure dates.” I told him that I had counted the days the very carefully and that there are 30 days from June 17 to July 17. He told me that was incorrect, and that there are only 29 days between June 17 and July 17.
I told him that most educated and reasonable people would interpret “30 days between” and “30 days from” to mean the same thing. I did not, and do not concede that their interpretation was correct and mine incorrect. However, I asked him why a CERTS representative didn’t just call me and ask me if I would change one of the two dates by one day, given that they had my telephone number. He said that CERTS does not call people who make mistakes filling out their Travel Request Forms. Then I asked if I could resubmit a copy of my Travel Request Form, with another Postal Money Order, given that the expiration date on my certificate is 12/9/2007. He said that would be impossible; the certificate is now void because I had not met the terms and conditions.
I asked the representative if I could speak to his manager. He told me that the manager is named Seneca (though I’m not certain of the spelling), and that he is in the office from 11 am to 2 pm ET every day. I attempted to call Seneca three times, but each time I was placed on hold for 15 minutes. I am a classroom teacher who teaches students every morning, so I can not spend time waiting on hold.
I demand the following remedy from Utopian Travel and CERTS Inc.:
Two airline tickets from Portland, Oregon to Denver, Colorado leaving June 17, 2007 and returning July 1, 2008 or leaving July 17 and returning July 31. If CERTS Inc. prefers other travel dates, immediately before or after our requested dates, we will accept them. Upon request, we will send CERTS Inc. another Postal Money Order and a photocopy of our original Reservation Request Form.
Sincerely,
J____ G_______
Cc’s: Better Business Bureau, Central Florida
Better Business Bureau, Western Oregon
CERTS, Inc.
Office of Attorney General Bill McCollum, State of Florida
_________________________________________________________________________
Utopian Travel, LLC
1315 NW 185 Ave. #113
Beaverton, OR 97006
503-729-3993
Mr. J_________ G______
Dear Mr. G_______, November 19, 2007
I am in receipt of your letter dated November 17, in which you complain about the treatment you suffered at the hands of a marketing company named Certs, Inc., in the State of Florida, I believe. Let me briefly clarify my position in all this so you won’t think me one of your tormentors.
This business requires many warm bodies weekly in our presentation. In this country marketing companies have evolved to fill the needs of companies such as mine. I find a marketing company and I pay them for every person they send to my presentation. I paid somewhere close to $400 to have you sit through our presentation whether you purchase or not. I am a consumer, just as you are, in this regard. I use several different marketing companies, under the theory of never putting all my eggs in one basket. All I do is purchase their product (which is you) and I do not know these companies until someone like yourself makes me aware of them.
I totally sympathize with your plight. Your letter angered me greatly and I will send copies of the letter to the marketing company responsible that used Certs, Inc., to lure you in with an impossible-to-attain gift. I absolutely stand against such marketing tactics as you have described. You have my permission to use this letter in any future correspondence with anyone.
Please be aware, however, that your demand for satisfaction as directed to Utopian Travel is misplaced. We have given out over seven hundred of these Certs you speak of and we carefully explain to everyone to follow the directions implicitly. You are the third complaint we have had. My normal response is to help people obtain their gift, but you seem more interested in getting me in trouble with the Attorney General and Better Business Bureau. I honestly don’t feel compelled to help people who set out to harm me, as you have done here.
Sincerely,
Janet Wilson,
Utopian Travel, LLC
_________________________________________________________________________
November 27, 2007
Johanna Moorer
Consumer Affairs
Better Business Bureau
1600 S. Grant Street
Longwood, FL 32750
Re: Joel G______, Case#: 63A2-9DC&
Dear Ms. Moorer,
Certs, Inc. is a promotional incentive company that works with companies such as Utopian Travel. Certs, Inc. creates, distributes, and processes many types of certificates. Utopian Travel purchases our certificates and distributes and markets them to their liking. In return, Certs, Inc. fulfills the certificate if and only when the Terms & Conditions are followed.
The program that Mr. G____ has participated in provides two adults with round-trip airfare from the major airport nearest their home to any other major city in the continental United States. In order to participate in this program, users are required to fill out the activation form and send it to Certs, Inc. along with a copy of a valid photo ID for each traveler. Once Certs, Inc. receives these items, a Travel Request Form is issued. With this form, users are to indicate where they would like to travel to and from; along with two separate travel dates they wish to depart on. They are also to include a US Postal Money order in the amount of $100 to pay for taxes and surcharges associated with the flight.
Certs, Inc. received Mr. G____’s activation form and ID’s on September 29, 2007. Mr. G____ was then issued a Travel Request Form. Certs, Inc. received Mr. G_____’s filled out Travel Request form and $100 deposit on October 29, 2007. The reason that Mr. G_____ received his $100 back is because Mr. G_____ failed to adhere to one of the original terms and conditions associated with this offer. Both the original activation form and the Travel Request Form state that your first and second departure date choices must have at least 30 days between them. Mr. G_____’s first departure date choice was June 17 and his second departure date choice was July 17. There are only 29 days separating these two dates and therefore, Mr. G_____’s offer was voided. As the letter that Mr. G_____ received states, “We are unable to process your travel request. . . Please do not resubmit any documents to re-instate your certificate. The offer remains void.” [This is untrue. No letter of explanation about why my $100 had been refunded was ever sent to me. I only received their "explanation", or pretext, when I called CERTS Inc. JG]
Certs, Inc. goes to great lengths to make our terms and conditions simple and easy to understand. We have very few restrictions, but we do require adherence to be able to serve all participants who are in compliance. We are sorry that Mr. G_____ did not choose to follow all of our terms and conditions of this program; however, there is nothing that can be done.
Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Lauren Gallo
Certs, Inc.- Dear JG,
Thank you for your informative letter. I sympathize with you, as I, too, had to deal with these unethical companies. (I posted my experiences earlier on this forum.)
As far as I can tell, the companies you dealt with are different from the companies I dealt with, though the tactics and products are very similar.
In my case:
Company with main product: "Global Services" a.k.a. "Global Connections" in Overland Park, KS
Main product: $4275 to join + $395 per year for resort discounts
Marketing company: ? (they hide this, probably to avoid liability)
Marketing company phone: 800-413-5613
Promotion: two roundtrip airfares to anywhere in US + 2 nights at a hotel
Promotion fulfillment company: "World Wide Travel" in Blue Springs, MO
In your case:
Company with main product: "Vacation Travel Club" in Benton Harbor, MI
Main product: $8000 to join, for ? benefit
Marketing company: ?
Marketing company phone: 800-582-6054
Promotion: two roundtrip airfares to anywhere in US + 1 week rental car
Promotion fulfillment company: "Utopian Travel" in Beaverton, OR
Since the postcards that you and I received are extremely similar:
- "In celebration of our anniversary"
- "we've been going crazy trying to contact you!"
- Fraudulent use of airline logo (Delta for me, NWA for you)
- "two roundtrip airfares to anywhere in US"
I suspect that the marketing companies are one and the same.
Tracing the ownership of the 1-800 phone numbers might confirm that.
In each of our cases, the marketing company is either very close to, or the same as, the promotion fulfillment company. They must be tightly tied together because the details of the promotion are (at least supposed to be) stated on the postcard and by the marketing person whom you talk to when you call the 1-800 number. The marketing company cannot claim not to know the details of the promotion.
In your case, the promotion company, Utopian, appears to be the one who hosted the presentation for Vacation Travel Club! I say this because the reply you got from Utopian states "I paid somewhere close to $400 to have you sit through our presentation".
So, putting it all together for your case, it looks like this:
"Vacation Travel Club" is the main company.
They contracted with "Utopian Travel" to host a presentation to try to get you to buy "Vacation Travel Club"'s product.
Utopian Travel supposedly (according to "Janet Wilson") contracted with some unnamed marketing company, who contracted with "CERTS, Inc." to induce you to attend a presentation.
CERTS was responsible for receiving your promotion paperwork and giving you the airfare.
Utopian claims to be independent of the unnamed marketing company, and therefore not responsible for its admittedly unethical behavior.
I believe that that is a lie. I believe that Utopian _is_ the marketing company, or that they are complicit in the marketing company's scheme.
I think that you will not get anywhere by arguing with Utopian or CERTS. Writing them letters was a good start, but when they refuse to take action, just go over their heads. Keep working through the BBBs and the Attorneys General. If you do not get satisfaction through those channels, you'll have to file in Small Claims court (which is easier than you may think).
I believe you have a valid claim against Utopian if they didn't tell you all the material terms and conditions of the CERTS travel certificate PRIOR to you agreeing to attend the presentation. Under contract law, they cannot modify the terms of the original oral agreement (made over the phone) without giving you, and you accepting, some new benefit. (An oral contract is still legally binding. Besides, they almost certainly have a recording of the call.) Utopian still owes you roundtrip airfare for two to anywhere in the US. Just because CERTS tried to screw you doesn't reduce Utopian's obligation. But don't argue with Utopian over this. They've already indicated an unwillingness to cooperate. Just file a small claims case against them if you don't get anywhere with the Attorney General or the BBB.
I believe that you also have a valid claim against CERTS, though it is more tenuous: CERTS violated their contractual "duty of good faith and fair dealing" when they voided your application (without giving you a chance to remedy what they perceived to be your error) and then refused to provide the roundtrip airfare for two. I have a feeling that a judge would view their behavior as ridiculous and rule in your favor.
You can go down to your local courthouse and ask how to file a small claims case. The fee to file is usually under $50, and you can collect it when you win. Companies like these often won't bother to defend themselves, since their behavior is so despicable. In that case, you win by default when they don't show up.
You might also ask around for a lawyer who would take this case on a contingency basis. In my state (Virginia), the consumer protection laws that these companies violated specifically say that plaintiffs can recover attorneys fees when suing people who violate these laws. So, you may not have to pay an attorney at all to take your case.
Check out this article:
http://ago.missouri.gov/newsreleases/2004/082404.htm
which describes how a travel club, Vacations Services of America, a former partner of Vacation Travel Club of Benton Harbor, was found to be violating the law and was pursued by the Missouri Attorney General.
Please keep me posted about your progress.
You can write to me directly at r_q_einstein-700notes@yahoo.com , but replace the digit seven with the digit eight. - I think they are all pointing the fingers at each other and they have had that planned all along. I say sue them and make them answer to it all. If they do not show up and lose by default and you have your judgment then file a complaint with the copy of your judgment against thier bond company. The BBB should have a record of thier bond company. Go ahead and send them your own post card called a Summons... Good Luck you
- I got the same postcard in California .. I looked to find the "World Wide Travel" agency it appears to come from, and no listing for this agency in Blue Springs, MO, where they say they are from. I wonder if they have the permission of United to use their logo? If any company isn't completely forthright and has to hide behind gimmicks like "presentations" without letting you know right up front what they are asking for, I don't bother with them.
- Don Dietrich
Regulatory Specialist III
Division of Consumer Services
2005 Apalachee Pkwy.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-6500
Dear Mr. Dietrich,
In reference to case #0712-35920/DD, please accept this letter as notification that I do not accept the response of Certs, Inc. to my complaint.
There are two reasons that I find the response of Lauren Gallo (representing Certs, Inc.) unacceptable:
1) I do not believe that there are only 29 days between June 17 and July 17. Rather, there are 30 days between June 17 and July 17. If there were only 29 days between June 17 and July 17, there would have to be zero days between June 17 and June 18, or any other two days on the calendar. Between any given hour, noon for example, on June 17 and that same hour on July 17, there are exactly 720 hours. 720 hours divided by 24 hours equals 30 days. Gallo’s assertion that there are only 29 days is disingenuous and absurd.
2)Gallo also claims that “…Mr. G_____ did not choose to follow all of our terms and conditions of this program; however, there is nothing that can be done.” The fact is that I made good faith efforts to follow every one of the numerous terms and conditions established by Certs, Inc. It was Certs, Inc. that chose not to inform me that it has a different way of calculating 30 days than I do. As I stated in my initial complaint, changing one of my travel dates was not a problem for me. All Certs, Inc. had to do was call me or send me a letter asking me to move one of the dates forward or backwards by a day. That is what any honest and legitimate business would have done. Instead, Certs Inc. chose to void my certificate. Contrary to Gallo’s claim, Certs Inc. never sent me an explanation for why my $100 was refunded. All I received was a check for $100 in an envelope.
The remedy I demand from Certs, Inc. is “Two round-trip airfares from the major airport nearest [my] home to any other major city in the continental U.S.”, as promised to me by Certs, Inc.
I am most grateful for all the work you have done on my behalf, and on behalf of consumers in Florida and throughout the United States.
Sincerely,
Joel G- Hi, Mr. Joel G____:
Looks like we both attended the same presentation by Utopian Travel in
Beaverton, the business ran by James Wilson and Janet Wilson--
a business selling the Travel Club and then whether or not one purchases, one is supposed to be "eligible" for 2 free tickets anywhere in
the U.S. (redeemable through Cert, Inc), and a bonus rental car
(redeemable through VIP Travel Reservations, Inc). The promotion
company--Utopian Travel, Inc and the marketing companies such as Certs
and VIP are all complicit in the scamming business. They feed on each
other and all have reciprocal relationships.
I did NOT buy the Travel Club (the one that Utopian was selling/promoting)
$11,000 to join
(minus $3,000 if one joins right away after the 90 min
presentation)
$199 (?)/month for membership
$259 for administrative fee.
I thought that the entire operations suspicious and smell like a
scam right away.
I DID NOT send in the certificate to Certs for the free airline tickets.
After reading all the terms and conditions and all the convulted rules
and the maze of instructions, I believe the company wants you to fail
and has set up a system in which you will fail and therefore, the
offer will be invalid. Businesses such as Certs have set up some
"loopholes" which seem legitimate under the law in which to continue
practicing their unethical business practices. The same goes for
Utopian Travel or for any promotion company such as Utopian Travel.
I encourage you to pursue your case against BOTH Utopian Travel and
Certs for breach of contract with you.
Good luck and I will be following on this case on this website.
Also I would like to see businesses such as these exposed through the
media of televsion and newspapers for their unethical business practices. - I strongly urge you to check into a history that leads back to the death of Marshall Field's granddaugher Bettine Reisky DeDubnic,in Tucker Hollow, Arkansas.The Wilsons were susequently arrested for that murder and extradited from Taos, NM back to Arkansas.Charges were later dropped against Janet, however, Troy stood trial for the murder but was found not guilty. From there, Troy and Janet Wilson went back to Taos, N.M and became the Mgrs. of the El Pueblo Inn. They opened the Utopian Travel office at the Inn.
The business did not last long because of the death of the owner and heirs of the estate informed the Wilson family their services were no longer needed. However,without permission or any legal claim of right, the Wilsons had obtained an open ended merchant account based on the original owner's credit. This in turn enabled them to open another travel club in Hillsboro,OR.,needing only a backer to finance the venture.
Next,enters Eric Ginn with United Network Vacations and his marketing partner Donna Loher both from Largo, FL. The Wilsons formed a partnership with Eric Ginn and the club opened in Hillsboro, OR.The relationship ended because Eric Ginn demanded a return on his investment. Donna Loher was also owed money for her marketing efforts, but was never paid the full amount due her.
On November 19,2007 Eric Ginn was charged with the murder of Donna Loher. She was murdered in a San Antonio hotel. So if anyone is finding out about United Network Vacations, that is the status of that company. This is a story that makes fiction seem more like the truth. Intrigue, mystery and murder. How long will the state of Oregon operate in their state.- 1) Man found not guilty in slaying of Field heiress
Chicago Sun-Times, Dec 18, 2003
HARRISON, Ark. -- A man accused of killing a Marshall Field's department store heiress was found not guilty Wednesday after jurors deliberated for much of the day.
Troy James Wilson, 54, was tried on a capital murder charge in the killing of Bettine Reisky de Dubnic, a great-granddaughter of department store founder Marshall Field.
The Boone County jury deliberated for more than seven hours after hearing closing arguments Wednesday morning.
De Dubnic, 54, was found shot to death March 21, 1999, in bed at her home near Bull Shoals, Ark.
Wilson and his wife, Janet, were arrested last year in Taos, N.M., and were later returned to Arkansas. Janet Wilson had been accused, but prosecutors withdrew the charge in September with the option to re-file it.
The Wilsons were living near de Dubnic's home in a caretaker's house. The couple had been living rent-free on property that either belonged to de Dubnic or to her friends. But officials said at the time of the couple's arrest that the Wilsons had been asked to leave.
Copyright The Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
2) Man Arrested In Murder Mystery At Hotel
Reported by: Demond Fernandez
Email: DemondFernandez@woai.com
Last Update: 11/21/2007 1:13 pm
A man has been arrested in connection with a woman's death at a four-star hotel in downtown San Antonio.
Houston police arrested John Eric Ginn, 44, at a motel. They were acting on a murder warrant out of San Antonio.
Ginn was wanted after his girlfriend, Donna Loher, 47, turned up dead Tuesday at the Hotel Valencia off East Houston Street.
The hotel's staff passed by the woman's room for two days before her body was discovered. Police said there was a "do not disturb sign" on her door.
News 4 has learned a frantic call from Loher's son may have tipped off police that she was in trouble at the hotel. Loher's son told News 4 he knew the woman police found dead at the hotel was his mom when he described body markings and her unique jewelry.
Sources said Donna Loher was from Florida and was on a business trip when she checked into Hotel Valencia Saturday night. Loher's son said he called police late Monday, warning them she may be at the hotel with an abusive boyfriend.
Investigators said when they approached Loher's room, they could smell a foul odor. They said that odor got more intense once they made their way inside. Police spotted Loher's body on a bed inside the room. They said she had bruises on her face.
Investigators also found drug paraphernalia in her bathroom. They added that Loher's injuries make them believe she was the victim of a homicide.
Hotel workers tried to assure guests that the hotel is a safe place as police continued to look for more clues in the case.
Loher's family said she didn't use drugs and that Ginn was calling close friends, saying he did something wrong.
We'll let you know what happens in this case.
Loher's family believes her boyfriend, John Eric Ginn, has involved in her death.
Loher's family said she didn't use drugs, and that her boyfriend, John Eric Ginn, has already been calling close friends saying he did something wrong. - Here are links to the stories which appeared in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about the arrests of Troy and Janet Wilson and the trial of Troy Wilson for the murder of Bettine Reisky De Dubnic. All charges were dropped against Janet, and Troy was acquitted.
I have been unable to find any information on the internet regarding the alleged connections between Eric Ginn & Donna Loher and Troy & Janet Wilson.
Boone County : Couple arrested in death of heiress
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/4672/
Wrongful Death Suit Dropped
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/National/4795/
Pair plead innocent in slaying of heiress to Marshall Field’s
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/6076/
Only one of couple now held in murder
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/38280/
Boone County : Testimony ends in murder trial
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/47006/
Boone County : Jury clears man in 1999 slaying of Field heiress
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/47492/
Boone County : Woman charged in slaying sues officials
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/91625/ - Dear An Observer,
You are one very knowledgable person. You would make an excellent source for Laura Gunderson, the consumer affairs reporter with The Oregonian, who is currently investigating Utopian Travel.
Would you please call her and tell her everything you know about the Wilsons, Eric Ginn, Donna Loher, etc? Her number is 503-221-8378 - email, lauragunderson@news.oregonian.com- I heard, through the grapevine, that Andrew is writing a book, "90 MINUTES" and that he has a publisher. This book is "supposed" to be the truth and lies behind the Timeshare and Travel Club Industry. Does anyone know this to be true? Maybe Thom Jensen should contact him and put their heads together. I guess we'll see just how much "truth" is in his book!
- Joel: I am an attorney in Alabama who, along with an Oregon attorney, has just filed suit (literally, today) against Utopian and Vacation Travel Club in Oregon. Years ago, we sued the VTC players here in Alabama. It appears they move around and continue the same shenanigans. Please contact me at brockmurphylaw@live.com to discuss your situation. I would like to investigate your communications with these parties to see whether you could support my clients' claims in their lawsuit.
- Hi, Mr. JG,
A scam is a scam! Please pursue your case against BOTH Certs, Inc.
and against Utopian Travel.
Janet Wilson's letter to you dated Nov. 17, 2007, states: "I do not know these marketing companies until someone like yourself makes me aware of them." This is a bunch of B.S.!!!
They are all interconnected, complicit with each other, and operating
under different names. If you access the other pages on this website for other messages/comments on Utopian and Certs, you will read that Janet Wilson and Troy Wilson's business is registered in Nevada and New Mexico,
under false auspices. Now, do you think they just might have other
names, too? Also, the James Wilson's and Andrew Loraditch's cell phone
numbers area code are in Branson, Missouri. The trails they leave behind is as winding as their scams. I am sure the trail is long and they are
covering up their footsteps! Utopian Travel, a promotion company, is
tied with the marketing company (what ever that name may be).
Furthermore, they operate under different names for the promotion business and different names for the marketing business. Different address or PO boxes, and multiple telephone numbers. But they are
all eggs in one basket!!- Response to Scam Sniffer:
I wish that Janet Wilson, Jamie Wilson and Andrew Loraditch reads
the comments on this forum,especially your comment about the
tatoo of Loradith's cell phone.
I think that one day, these scammers will be in front of the
blast of a camera lights and the news media, but not before
they have scammed so many people of thousands and thousands
(if not millions) of dollars.- Janet Wilson has already been in the front of TV camera's,CNN and the national news because of their(Janet and husband Troy) suspected involvement with the murder of Marshall Field's granddaughter. Bettine Reisky DeDubnic. Andrew is all about the lights of the tanning bed and a chick in MN. that works for a bank that is making his credit look good so he can buy cars and motorcycles and toys. Guess that chick doesn't realize that it's a federal offense and she can get into major trouble for fraud. Since Andrew is so successful and shopping like Paris Hilton hope he is saving a little because he will be in trouble for not filing taxes for the last 8-10yrs. Uncle Sam wants his share...Since you are making $10,000. a week. You are a chick magnet. Let's review this,
Money-muscles and an inflauted ego and lots of motors (Rides). How's the Drug Emporium oh- I meant to say large expensive house that is full of the drugs of your groupies choice. I bet those muscles are growing with each injection. I heard grass was legal in Oregon I didn't know that steroid use was legal as well. I guess it's ok if you don't tell anyone.- Dear Robbie (or guy we fired because you can't sell),
I've always been muscular, I've been using tanning beds since they originated on a mass scale for years now, I rarely do drugs, and as far as my "sex life" is concerned, not that it's anyone's business --- I've been with two women in seven years, the chick in MN was trying to help me get a merchant account through a certain bank (my credit is good on my own.) Too bad you're so concerned about me, it's nice though. Thank you. Maybe you should concentrate more on your own pathetic life and things will get better for you.
- We purchased under pressure late Friday 1/4 and tried to cancel on Monday 1/7. Utopian is giving us the run around, Vacation Travel Club says they can't cancel it because we purchased from Utopian. The airfare requires that you send photo copies of your driver's license (can anyone say identity theft?) - All in all a BIG WASTE of time and so far, money.
DO NOT GO!- Uthinkidnobetter -
We purchased 1/5/08 and have talked with J. W. on the phone. We told him we want the contract cancelled and J. W. said 'That won't happen'. Since your post here has anything changed for you? Are they still giving you the run around like us. We along with Lynn who posted on here are going to contact local news stations in the Portland area & expose Utopian Travel Club - Vacation Travel Club - World Travel Club, All the same company. The note book binder thing with all the false mis-representation they gave us has all three names in it. You would think that right there it shows all three are same.- Nancy,
We received a telephone call from Janean Fortner, Office Mgr. at Utopian (2/2/08) saying the board of directors ruled in favor of a refund. She sent a fax summarizing our conversation. They requested that we retract our complaint with the BBB and all negative remarks on the internet. It is our sincere hope that this brings this matter to an end.- Do you really think that this family of scammers has a board of directors? Perhaps, the board is called the nightclub and the directors are the employees. Be careful, it might be a trick. You have every right to hold your complaint regardless if you get your money back or NOT. They haven't called us to offer my husband his money back.
- Linda -
Don't wait for a phone call from them, you call them - I am first thing come Monday am & won't let up until we get our money back. If they don't we will be busy with our plan to expose them. They have stolen from us & we won't give up. I am so disappointed there's so much fraud out there & these Scammers at Utopian have not been shut done yet. With all these complaints out there it tells me they are continueing to get away with theft. The BBB & AT are not really doing there jobs seriously & to the best of there ability. I feel they are letting us down somewhat. If they did there job to protect us comsumers in the first place we wouldn't be in this mess now. The complaints against Utopian Travel Club are Huge!!
- Thanks to everyone who has helped expose this scam.
One player that I don't think has been mentioned is
Perfekt Marketing
3015 S. 48th Street
Tempe , Arizona 85282
United States:
http://www.perfektmarketing.com/
Perfekt Marketing e-mailed me the directions to the presention by Utopian Travel in Beaverton, Oregon. That leads me to believe that Perfekt Marketing sent out the postcard, operates the call center and owns the 800-413-5613 phone number. Perfekt Marketing is most likely the company that Janet Wilson pays $400 for each warm body that shows up at her presentations. I imagine they also provide Utopian Travel with the worthless certificates from Certs Inc.- I thought you all might enjoy reading Janet Wilson's responses to the Oregon BBB regarding my complaint:
11/27/2007 WEB BBB RECEIVE BUSINESS RESPONSE : Mr. G: Your very first step in this effort, and the most rewarding for you, would have been to contact Utopian Travel first before you blew your whistle to the Attorney General and to the BBB. You drew your guns and fired before the dragon even showed his ugly head. This is a good way for people to get wounded with stray bullets. I guess you did not understand that Utopian Travel is not responsible for denying your gift. All Utopian did was pay a marketing company to bring you to our presentation. The gift comes from Certs, Inc., as you were told when it was given to you. You misdirected your original complaint to a Mr. Charles Mathias, my Oregon Registered Agent, who has nothing to do with any of this whatsoever, then for good measure you involve the Attorney General and the BBB here in Oregon. Essentially, everything you have done has been misdirected. Certs, Inc., is a Florida based company, or so I think, and their AG and their BBB would be in a far stronger position of power over them as far as getting the justice you so noisily desire.
I told you we have given out over 700 of these airline Certs and you are my third complaint out of 700+. One was because the person sent in a photocopy and kept the original was denied. I can't recall what the other person did wrong, but as with yours, it seemed harmless to me, too. And now your name is blacklisted. If I gave you another Cert it would be summarily rejected. But there have been hundreds and hundreds of successful applicants, too. Believe me, I am as sorry as you are that you didn't complete the application properly ~ then we wouIdn’t be sitting here jousting with each other. I just wish you had been a nice enough person to have complained to Utopian Travel first. I really am a caring person and, of course, I value my business reputation. I made that clear in my first letter. I sided with you in your complaint, but I am against your tacky methods of attempting harm to someone’s business before they even know they are under attack. You are not a very nice person in that regard. Since I am not the party who screwed up your application, and I am not the party who denied your application and lost your airline tickets, it amazes me you have the gall to demand that I furnish you with two round-trip tickets to Denver on a certain date. Wow... I am astounded? You need to figure out who harmed you and go after them. It sure wasn’t me. My company has been in business since 2004 and you are going to be my very first BBB complaint. What a sad shame.
Janet Wilson, President, Utopian Travel
I stridently object to the harm Mr. G is attempting to cause me. I have explained to him twice that I did not supply his gift and I did not deny his gift. As a consumer myself I simply purchased his warm body in my presentation. I paid almost $400 for his attendance. I have nothing whatsoever to do with the company that Mr. G is so mad at. I only hand out the gift that comes with his attendance. Mr. G screwed up his application and because of that Certs, Inc., denied his gift. I am not about to bow to his demands, which are tantamount to extortion — in other words, give this man 2 round-trip tickets to Denver and this complaint will go away...? It would seem to me that in all fairness you could at least wait until the Attorney General's report (or lack of one) before you saddle me with a complaint I really don’t deserve. This man is just one of those people who know exactly where to complain and how loud to cry out to get some attention to his own selfish needs. He even admits it himself - out of 700+ people he’s the only one so far who couldn't figure out what 30 days between flights means. There really is just 29 days between June 17 and July 17. That is a no-brainer. THIS IS NOT MY FAULT OR MY RESPONSIBILITY.
Janet Wilson, President, Utopian Travel, LLC 11/28/2007- Janey Wilson, The President of Utopian Travel is a big fat liar. Utopian Travel knows that Certs has no intention of delivering the airline tickets. We sent in our $100.00, and Certs is asking us for more money, as they say we want to fly too far. Portland, Or to San Diego (a 2 hour flight. Give me a break. These people are a bunch of thieves.
- Thanks for the heads up we have appt. for tonight in Scottsdale AZ got the same post card as you want free airline tickets but after mapquesting the address i google the phone number and found all this. so happy i did that. going home after work with nothing to do tonight ha ha ha they wont be getting a dime of my money or a minute of my time thanks.
- "OPERATION TRAVEL UNRAVEL" CONSUMER EDUCATION
The "Operation Travel Unravel" consumer education program includes a variety of materials, including several recently revised FTC products. The first, "Facts for Consumers: Telemarketing Travel Fraud" contains information on how telemarketers obtain consumers' names and the techniques they employ to convince people to purchase their products. It also explains how consumers can protect themselves from travel-related telemarketing scams. The second product, a Consumer Alert titled "Avoid a School Break Bust," is designed to help students and their parents identify and avoid travel scams when planning vacations. It includes a variety of tips regarding the companies that market these trips, as well as useful contact information on organizations such as the American Society of Travel Agents' Consumer Affairs Department and the Department of Transportation's Public Charter Licensing Division. Finally, it describes how individuals can file a complaint with the FTC if they feel their school break has been a "bust."
In addition, a Consumer Alert and two Facts for Consumers publications remain available to the public. They are: "Traveler's Advisory: Get What You Pay For," "Timeshare Resales," and "Timeshare Tips," respectively.
Tips provided in the Commission's consumer education material include:
Be wary of "great deals" and low-priced offers. Few legitimate businesses can afford to give away products and services of real value or substantially undercut other companies' prices;
Don't be pressured into buying. A good offer today will be a good offer tomorrow. Legitimate businesses don't expect you to make snap decisions;
Ask detailed questions. Find out exactly what the price covers and what it doesn't. Be sure to ask about additional charges, as well;
If you do decide to buy, get all information about the trip in writing. Once you receive the written information, make sure it reflects what you were told over the phone and the terms you agreed to;
Don't give your credit card number or bank information over the phone unless you know the company with whom you are working;
Be aware that when you place your business card or name into a drawing for a free vacation, you may be added to a telemarketing call-out list;
Know that your personal information also can be collected via the Internet when you are visiting travel-related sites seeking deals on trips or airfare;
Don't send money by messenger or overnight mail. Some "scam artists" may ask you to send them money immediately. If you pay with cash or check, as opposed to using a credit card, you lose your right to dispute any potential fraudulent charges under the Fair Credit Billing Act; and
When in doubt, say "no." If you have any doubts about the trustworthiness of a company, trust your instincts. It's less risky to turn down the offer and hang up the phone.
All consumer education pieces can be found on the FTC's Web site and from the FTC's Consumer Response Center (see address below).
NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has "reason to believe" that the law has or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. A complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendants have actually violated the law. The cases will be decided by the courts in which they were filed.
NOTE: Stipulated final judgments are for settlement purposes only and do not constitute an admission by the defendants of a law violation. Consent judgments have the force of law when signed by the judge.
Copies of the Commission's complaints and related documents are available from the FTC's Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357); TDD for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. Consumers with concerns about travel-related fraud or any other potentially fraudulent business practices may also report them to the FTC. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710.
Media Contact:
Mitch Katz,
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2161
Staff Contact:
Andrea L. Foster, Director
FTC Southeast Region, or
Valerie Verduce or Barbara Bolton (Discovery Rental, AITS)
404-656-1390
C. Steven Baker, Director
FTC Midwest Region, or
Russell W. Damtoft (Med Resorts)
312-960-5634
Collot Guerard,
Bureau of Consumer Protection (Epic)
202-326-3779
(FTC File Nos.: Discovery Rental, Inc. - 002-3259; Med Resorts - 002-3206; Epic Resorts - 002-3157; AITS - X990074. Civil Action Nos.: Discovery Rental - 6:00-CV-1057-ORL-19B; Med Resorts - 00C-4893; Epic Resorts - 6:00-CV-1051-ORL-19C.)
Attachments (List of Enforcement Cases)
Facts for Consumers
Telemarketing Travel Fraud
FTC Consumer Alert!
Travelers' Advisory: Get What You Pay For
ftc consumer feature
Travel Scams: Avoiding a Trip to the Heartbreak Hotel- I talked to the Attorney General's office last friday & told me Utopian Travel was closed for now. But guess what?? I got a letter back from Utopian telling us there NOT going to refund our money. You know why?? because I wrote on here (800Notes) and keep the ball rolling with my comments!!! AND also because I called the Attorney generals' office before calling them?? BUT we did call them 1ST - We are taking them to court!!
- Sounds like that is a poor excuse not to do the right thing and give you your money back. You have the right as a consumer to call ANY agency you want at ANY time you want regarding business complaints and it is our duty to protect other consumers from potential fruad, scams, etc. Check out the FTC for more information regarding your rights as a consumer.
- UPDATE:
Letter from Utopian Travel Club today. They are playing games with us and the Attorney Generals office!! And the AG is letting them do it!!
From: Utopian Travel
Date: 4/10/2008 3:45:55 PM
To: utopian-travel@comcast.net
Subject: Members Newsletter
Utopian Travel, L.L.C.
1315 NW 185th Ave. #113
Beaverton, OR 97006
Phone 503 729-3993
April 10, 2008
Dear Members,
As many of you know, there has recently been some negative media attention placed upon our business. We are writing this letter to reassure you that we are still here, still in business and ready to answer any questions you may have.
Right now we are swamped with phone calls and are trying to return every one of them. However it may take some time so please be patient.
Here are some facts about Vacation Travel Club of whom you are a member. VTC has been in business for nearly 20 years. It is a family owned business located in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Their enormous office is in the old Whirlpool Appliance building that is located next to the new Whirlpool facility.
It is unfortunate that the media has tried to lump us together with other travel companies and fabricated a sensationalized story out of it instead of doing true investigative work. We are not in any way associated with Suncoast Travel. We spent many months researching travel clubs before we chose to be a distributor for Vacation Travel Club. This decision was made by the value they place on vacations and the need for each of us to appreciate what life has to offer. We feel VTC offers the best values in the industry.
Another thing the media said was that the airline tickets we give out for previewing our travel club do not work. Yes, they do work, as many of you know who have already used them. They are not easy to use and require diligent attention to detail when applying. They are similar to a rebate form where if one little instruction is not followed, they are null. These tickets have nothing to do with Utopian Travel or Vacation Travel Club. They are sent to us by the marketing company that we hired to bring in potential new members. We are required to give out the “gifts” that the marketing company had promised to you for sitting through our presentation.
The Attorney General’s office was obliged to investigate our operation. We have been advised to address any consumer concerns, and are doing so.
We are here to help you. We want you to fully understand your membership and use it for many years to come. Your very best savings and where you will get the most for your dollars spent are with the: Hot Deals!
1. “Hot Weeks” Offer a variety of condos, cruises and vacation packages within the US and International. These condos range from $199 - $350 per week on average.
2. “Scot’s Picks” Also offer a great savings. Scot picks deals he feels are of substantial savings to VTC members.
3. “Condominiums” That ranges from $299 - $699 per week on average. These condos are located throughout the US as well as internationally. Please keep in mind that rates may be higher depending on where you are going and what time of year you go.
4. “Cruises” Offer a great savings to our members as well.
5. For Hotel accommodations, Airfare, Car Rental or Specific Vacation Planning call VTC’s #800. We want you to receive the best value from your program.
You also have in your membership binder to use while traveling or if you just want to get away for a night or two, a VIP Choice Hotel Membership card. To get the most benefit with this card you either at time of check in or on the phone while booking, ask the reservation personnel to enter the VIP # into the computer. This will give you an additional discount because you are a Vacation Travel Club VIP Member.
We appreciate your patience. Many of you have shown wonderful support and it reminds us that most people are understanding and not so quick to judge. Please be reassured that the product and service company is Vacation Travel Club. We, Utopian Travel are their distributors. Your membership is safe in their hands.
The Staff at Utopian Travel
Other phone numbers in the 800 area code