We are new members who have tried unsuccessfully three times to book trips with VIP. They do not return calls. After a dispute with them they refuse to even try to resolve a very easy solution to a dispute that they originated. Their customer service trainer, who was recently promoted to that position, according to their operator, has lied to us on two occasions and we have her on voicemail with her promise of a return of our "investment". I would like to join a class action suit against this company. Any out there? I was in customer service for 35 years and have NEVER seen any company with so few scruples. Their presentation is great, as shown by the suckers like us who keep joining. Their follow through is NONE!!

We purchase a membership Sept. 2007. We have yet to be able to use their service. They promised many things. Discounts anytime we traveled. When they goofed on some travel arrangements, a check from corporate checking account. Thgen, in April 2008, we discovered South Carolina Department of consumer Affairs had sued VIP Travel, Lexington SC. for deceptive business practices. And now we just learned VIP Travel, lexington, SC, was expelled from North Carolina by Attorney General Roy Cooper. VIP Travel is no longer allowed to conduct business in North Carolina. Here's the link:
http:///www.wral.com/5onyourside/story/2889334/

See what you think. As wheel as do a search on www;thesqueakywheel.com for VIP Travel and see what comes up.

We received a certificate in the mail for 2 free airline tickets & a rental car in return for attending a 90 min. timeshare presentation. We filled out the reservation request form & sent the money orders exactly as the form told us to. After 2 months of waiting, we received a letter telling us our request was voided since we had not sent it by certified mail. This is absolutely ridiculous! These people will do all they can to not give you what they promised.

My husband and I have been trying since 10/08 to get our refund (close to $4, 000)4without any success. The SC Consumer Affairs have been notified, The BBB and the Federal Trade Commission. The have a contract you sign which states no cancellation... the Cooling off rule set by the FTC states that this type of business contract is to give consumers 3 days to decide and they do have the right to cancel within that time period, even though they don't have it on their contract. Go read the Cooling off Rule and see for yourself. It states that even if they don't put it on the contract we have the right to cancel. Well its been along battle and so frustrating and time consuming to us. Contact the SC Consumer Affairs Department, they have been contacted by quite a few others for the same thing and I hope they can bring us some justice.

We were not provided our three day right to cancel, along with other failures to deliver a promised product.



Following was reported by Channel 7 WSPA TV Spartanburg South Carolina April 9, 2008



Consumer Affairs files Lawsuit against travel company



Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008 - 03:34 PM



By Heather Sullivan

E-mail | Biography

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs has filed a lawsuit against VIP Travel, based in Lexington, South Carolina, saying the company has used unfair and deceptive practices in its solicitations. An attorney for VIP Travel says the company is cooperating with Consumer Affairs and taking steps to address those concerns.

When Cheryl Rich wanted to plan a trip to Europe, she says she attended a seminar in Greenville for VIP Travel based in Lexington.

Said Rich, "They were giving us information that were similar trips and cruises that we had taken, yet they were much less expensive than what we had paid."

But Rich says after paying VIP about $3500, she wasn't getting booked on the trip she wanted. Said Rich, "I started calling about one particular cruise and I was getting put off. I was not getting information I needed."

Said Danny Collins, an attorney with the Department of Consumer Affairs, "They promise quite a few things that they don't deliver on."

After receiving about 50 complaints from customers in the Carolinas and Georgia, Consumer Affairs filed a lawsuit against VIP Travel in Lexington, accusing the company of offering free rewards that the Department says were not really free, and not offering customers a three day right to cancel their contracts.

Said Collins, "A lot of people tried to cancel the contract but the company told them they did not have such a right. But that is not true under the law. The law does give a person a three day right to cancel when a presentation is made any place other than the regular place of business."

VIP Travel's attorney Robby Birnbaum told us by phone the company is cooperating with Consumer Affairs and taking steps to address concerns and make sure it's complying with the law. Birnbaum says some customers may receive refunds, but did not have details at this time.

A refund is what Cheryl Rich is hoping for. Said Rich, "We have lost a lot of money for something that I felt like was going to be something really fun."

The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice to protect yourself when using any travel company.

- check for complaints filed with the BBB or Consumer Affairs

- get offers and travel arrangements in writing

- get copies of cancellation policies

- pay with a credit card. Many credit cards will refund your money if you don't receive the trip you pay for.



Rick Butler, Summerville Georgia