Attorney General Chris Koster is suing a Taney County travel-club company for allegedly deceiving consumers about the benefits of memberships.
The suit in Taney County Circuit Court alleges that Anytime Vacations promised consumers discounts on airfare, hotel accommodations, cruises, and other travel
benefits for joining its travel club and paying fees of hundreds and
even thousands of dollars. After joining, however, consumers found the
“discounts” were nonexistent, and that they could get better deals going
through standard, free services such as Travelocity and Orbitz.Koster said his office received 50 complaints against Anytime Vacations
,
alleging that consumers paid fees to the companies totaling more than
$140,000. In one case, a consumer paid $6,995 to join the club. Anytime
Vacations refused to cancel the consumer’s contract and refund his money
after he discovered it cost more to book a flight through Anytime
Vacations than through routine travel websites.The lawsuit also alleges that the company violated Missouri law by failing to register with the state or provide proof of sufficient reserve funds
to provide the services it promised. In addition, the travel-club
company told consumers they had just three days to cancel contracts,
when consumers legally had three years to cancel because the club was
unregistered.Koster is seeking restitution for consumers, as well as civil penalties and the costs of the investigation and prosecution. "Some travel clubs use high-pressure tactics to make it difficult for consumers to say ‘no’, and then put up roadblocks for consumers to cancel,” Koster said. “My office will pursue travel-club businesses that cheat Missouri consumers and violate our state’s laws.”
Koster said that before signing a contract, consumers can check with his Consumer Protection Hotline at
800-392-8222
to determine whether there are complaints filed against the travel
club, if the travel club is registered in Missouri, and if it has
demonstrated the financial ability to provide the discounted benefits
they are offering.The second suit, involves Red Rock Travel, LLC, doing business in Missouri as Endless Travel Vacations, and its owners, Jack Keefe and Sherri Wolff, in St. Louis County Circuit Court for the same type of fraudulent business practices.
The Attorney General's office received five complaints about Endless Travel Vacations, totaling $19,000 in fees paid.
