Vip Travel Nc - I was defrauded of $7596 by VIP Travel
I was victimized by VIP Travel. My wife and I attended a presentation by them in St Augustine Beach, FL on November 15, 2007. I attended the presentation in response to inducements of $100 in free gasoline and round trip airfare for two to anywhere in the country. I signed a contract for a โPlatinumโ VIP Travel Club membership (#14472) entitling us to 4 weeks per year of โ1/3 costโ vacation condominiums for us and four family members. I paid $7596 on a credit card on that day.
I tried to use the service once, in September 2008. I paid for a week in California (Riverpointe Napa), but was unable to travel during that week (September 19-26.) VIP Travel refused to refund the money, and I ended up after a great deal of effort giving the week away.
I diligently kept receipts for $100 in gasoline, and sent them in. I never received a response. I tried to redeem my two free flights โWingsโ certificate in February 2008, sending in $100 โdepositโ, but finding that with extremely dense blackout dates, extraordinary conditions and restrictions, and lack of service to Orlando FL, I was not able to use them. Upon completing a form releasing them from the offer, I got my $100 back.
VIP Travel filed for bankruptcy in Columbia, SC, on July 25, 2008. US Bankruptcy Court District of South Carolina Case #08-04363-hb. Subsequently my account was taken over by Resort Reservation Services of Fort Mill, SC, which has done nothing for me but bill me yearly for a $199 membership fee.
I recently reviewed my VIP Travel file and found the contract I signed on November 15, 2007. It is called โAcknowledgement of Benefits and Servicesโ, and I believe it is fraudulent. Statement 14 is: โThe South Carolina General Statutes does not provide for an automatic period in which this contract can be rescinded or cancelled. This contract is intended to be binding form (sic) the date of signing. South Carolina Law does not provide a three day right of cancellation for travel club sales. This is not a timeshare interest.โ
This clause is what discouraged me from acting upon my โbuyerโs remorseโ and cancelling the contract. I am contemplating legal action to try to recover the $7596 I paid for this worthless membership.
Monetary Loss: $7596.
Location: Lawrenceville, New Jersey
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Since posting this I have sent complaints to the Departments of Consumer Affairs in SC and FL. SC said it could not do anything, as the offense took place in FL. FL (to which I had sent a copy of the contract with the fraudulent statement) was sympathetic and followed it up, but finally communicated that as VIP Travel is no longer in business, they can do no more.