When complimentary doesn’t mean free

Anita Dunham-Potter

Travel columnist

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California occupant Grace Thomas Augustus Watson just wanted to acquire away with her hubby a few modern times a twelvemonth to bask some much-needed rest and relaxation and to get away her authorities job. So when she received a flyer in her letter box for a price reduction traveling club, she was interested. The company was San Diego-based , somes traveling company that offers, among other things, a membership-based "VIP Vacation Plan" that promises members wholesale traveling rates not available to the general public. To fall in the "VIP Vacation Plan" program, clients are required to plunk down a one-time fee of $3,730 (in cash, recognition card game are not accepted); they must also pay an yearly fee (currently $199) to maintain the rank going.

"They said as members we would acquire condominiums, hotels, airfare or sail trades anytime at a 50 percentage discount," states Watson, who attended a grouping presentation about the programme in June. It sounded like a good deal, so Thomas Augustus Thomas Augustus Watson signed up.

Not long after she joined the very important person Vacation Plan program, Watson tried to book a trip to Las Vegas and was told that there were no trades for the years she wanted to go. Thomas Augustus Watson then tried to take advantage of a certification publicity from the company offering a complimentary sail to the Mexican Riviera. To her dismay, she establish that the "complimentary" sail wasn't free; in fact, she and her hubby would have got to pitchfork out $299 each, plus port fees. When she contacted Travel To Travel for an explanation, she got a semantics lesson. "Complimentary" doesn't necessarily intend "free," she was told, but the $299 menu was a "discount" rate. A calendar month after joining the club, Thomas Augustus Watson asked for her money back, but no 1 returned her calls. Thomas Augustus Watson had a awful feeling she was being duped by the whole program, so she contacted Tripso for assistance.advertisement