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Complaints on Royal Palms Travel Allege Misrepresentation

Complaints on Royal Palms Travel Allege Misrepresentation

11/2/2009

Dallas, TX, November 2, 2009 -- Tempted by offers of free airfare and bargain rates on travel services, customers of Royal Palms Travel, Inc., a travel club in Dallas, are complaining to the Better Business Bureau serving Dallas and Northeast Texas. Complaints allege failure to disclose all the requirements to receive the free airfare, which is offered as an incentive to attend a sales presentation. Complaints also allege misrepresentation of the promised savings on travel services through the club. The price to join the club is negotiated, with reported amounts from $1,148 to $4,995.

Royal Palms Travel, Inc., also does business as All Inclusive Excursions, Inc. The business has a BBB rating of F, due to a record of unanswered and unresolved complaints. There are 40 complaints, with 12 of those complaints unanswered by the company and 6 unresolved.

According to complaints, the business sends postcards offering “Two Round Trip Airfares to Anywhere in the Continental U.S.!” Consumers who respond are invited to a sales presentation. After the presentation, customers receive a certificate listing the requirements. One customer complained, “At the time of the agreement a ‘free’ trip was given to us as an added incentive. This trip had fees attached so was, in fact, not free. It also had many restrictions.”

The airfare certificate calls for a registration fee of $4.95, and fees of $15 to $20 per night for travel packages that include hotel. “Registration Activation Fees” are $25 to $50 per person. Certain dates are blocked out. The airfare certificate is fulfilled through Worldwide Travel Center, Deerfield Beach, FL, which has a BBB rating of F due to failure to respond to a customer complaint.

Complaints to the BBB also allege that the Royal Palms Travel sales presentation misrepresents the available discounts on travel services. One husband and wife in Grapevine said the business claims to offer “Wholesale travel with steep discounts for ‘do it yourself travel’.” However, the couple reports, “We were finding comparable pricing on other travel Web sites.”

One woman in Garland states, “During the presentation Royal Palms Travel explained about many advantages and great discounts in hotel & motel for the family … When I started to use it, we realized they do not have any discount for members. The quotes from Royal Palms Travel were the same price of market or more expensive.”

One customer in Royse City says, “The prices I was seeing are not nearly as discounted as was presented. We were told that by being a member of the club we would cut out the middlemen and receive savings that were substantially more than we could find anywhere else … Their prices were saving very little if any in some cases over the Internet travel Web sites.”

Also, customers complain about high pressure sales tactics along with price negotiations. A customer in Plano points out that “Product cannot be previewed and is only available the night of the presentation.” Another customer in Mansfield says, “I asked to be released from the presentation, as our 90 minutes were up, yet we had to go through at least 3 layers of upper management to get the voucher as promised.”

It’s not possible to comparison shop the travel prices offered through Royal Palms Travel before deciding whether to join, customers say, because the company’s actual prices are only available after signing on. Royal Palms Travel explains that “Booking reservations and price quotes are only obtainable through a reservationist at our travel department.”

Travel services for Royal Palms Travel customers are handled through SeaLand Travel, Kansas City, MO. SeaLand Travel has a BBB rating of F, due to 11 complaints, one of which is unresolved.

The BBB offers these tips on joining travel clubs:

•    Base your decision to attend a sales presentation on whether you may be interested in the product or service being offered, not just for a gift offered for attending. The gift may have fees, restrictions, or requirements.
•    Beware of high pressure to sign immediately. This may be a sign to evaluate the offer more carefully.
•    Be sure to understand the terms and conditions of the contract or agreement before signing, including the cancellation clause, if any.
•    Know the total cost of joining, as well as sample prices for services, and determine if you will save at least that amount by using the travel club’s services.
•    Check out the business with the BBB at www.bbb.org.

About BBB serving Dallas and Northeast Texas

The Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc., is an independent, non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's standards of ethical business behavior. BBB services include BBB Reliability Reports™ on businesses, complaint resolution services, advertising review, and information on topics affecting marketplace trust. The BBB serving Dallas and Northeast Texas was founded in 1920 and is one of 124 BBBs serving the U.S. and Canada. The BBB System evaluates and monitors more than 4 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information.

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