From the reporter in Nashville:Well, now it seems that it is in the hands of the police. I wonder if that little extra money was arranged by YTB? But now they are not returning the reporter's calls.
From what I've heard, the trip did not occur for most of the individuals. Some folks were able to pay a little extra money and go on a trip. I haven't heard back from YTB representatives.
I am shocked! You mean that these kids were scammed? It cannot be! Say it ain't so!
ReplyDeleteIt's not YTB's fault that their RTA didn't know anything! Remember, it's recruiting not travel sales that brings the money in. Anyway, wouldn't YTB groups be handling this? I thought booking out of the loop was a no no.
ReplyDelete140,000 TTAs - numerous bad apples.
ReplyDelete(but we are not supposed to talk about them on this blog)
140,000 politicians - hundreds of crooks.
140,000 police officers - hundreds of bad ones.
140,000 YTB RTAs - 2 or 3 bad ones.
Much higher percentage of traditional travel agents who have gone bad than YTB RTAs.
What are they teaching you at those trainings, TTAs?
YTB and TRAVEL: A Great Mix!
As usual Mix is deflecting any criticism of YTB.
ReplyDeleteThis never would have happened if YTB had some training and some standards in place. This is not the first time this has happened, and as long as the recruiting message contains Penn State or State Penn, it will happen again.
ReplyDeleteI surmise there are many more than 2 or 3 bad apples in the YTB barrel. Mixed is not in the loop and has no way of knowing what he says is true or not. I'm guessing not.
ReplyDeleteso how come this group did not go thru those pillars of honesty - YTB Groups? Any one have an answer to that?
It's Official: Church Teen Trip Is Screwed
ReplyDeleteEven though this occured 2 years ago, what TTA orginization has heped to get the $30,000 back these poor kids were scamed out of?
Bankrupt Dallas Travel Agency Keeps Church Funds
Group Planned Mission Trip To Cambodia
Last updated Monday, May 22, 2006 By Denise Malan
The Morning News
Temple Baptist Church teenagers mowed lawns, hosted garage sales and solicited donations for two years to raise enough money for an aid mission to Cambodia next month.
The trip is, however, being postponed.
A Dallas travel agency took more than $30,000 for airline tickets never purchased. The youth group has some money left, about $1,000 per person to cover food and hotel for the trip, scheduled to run from June 11 to June 23.
The travel agency, Pride Travel, filed for bankruptcy Oct. 7 at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Northern District of Texas. The church found the agency's Web site, complete with a membership logo for the Better Business Bureau, and in February paid for 17 tickets, said Shane Peters, Temple Baptist Church youth pastor.
"They've given us all kinds of information," Peters said of the agency. "They gave us confirmation numbers that are false. They've been going back and forth just like we had tickets, but we didn't."
Peters discovered the tickets didn't exist when he tried the confirmation number with Singapore Airlines. Last week, the Pride Travel toll-free number stopped working, and church officials traveled to Dallas and found an empty office where the business should have been.
The bureau advised Pride Travel customers to contact bankruptcy court to try to claim money given to the company.
Temple Baptist Church officials filed police reports in Springdale and Dallas, hoping to recover at least some of the money.
"We felt like that was a fraudulent case," Peters said. "That's why we filed a couple of police reports hoping the detectives would think the same thing."
The teens were to scheduled to visit Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, and work in orphanages, churches and feeding centers. They also planned to distribute three to four tons of rice to poor residents.
Shameful
OleScorekeeper
Same old tired argument ole. How do you know they were an IATAN or ARC agency? Anyone can call themselves a travel agent without the backing of IATAN, ARC or a legit host. We have been through this before. Show us the proof that that agent was a member of Carlson, Ensemble, Virutoso or any consortia. Show us the proof that that agent was a member of IATAN or ARC. You can't so shut up. But, we can SHOW PROOF of the rogue YTB agents.
ReplyDeleteOle can only deflect. He has no knowledge of what is the truth. Kind of like the cut and paste king.
ReplyDeleteSandy said..."Same old tired argument ole. How do you know they were an IATAN or ARC agency?"
ReplyDeleteHow would you know if they were NOT associated with IATAN or ARC? Come on now, answer me that. I've never made any claim that any scaming travel agents have an IATA relationship. My examples are in fact ALL brick and mortar agents. They are your brethren agents. Mix is right.. you folks have a "much higher percentage of traditional travel agents who have gone bad than YTB RTAs." That's an undisputable fact.
OleScorekeeper
Ole-You can't lump all brick and mortar agents together. As I stated earlier anyone can rent space be it a storefront or office and call themselves a travel agent without credentials.
ReplyDeleteAgain, most cosortia and TTA's do background and credit checks. Carlson, Ensemble, Virtuoso, VCom etc. And get this some even drug test. They don't hire off the street. All require E&O Insurance. Just because the press reports that person who absconded with money is a travel agent doesn't mean jack.
The TTA's posting here have credentials. YTB does not. YTB does not even do a basic background or credit check.
It's not the same at all. And your argument does not hold water.
If I were in YTB and trying to earn a living I would be ticked off this is going on. Because it makes you all look bad. The fact that you deflect it away and says it is not worrisome says alot about your motivation and dedication. All you care about is yourself and making money.
Ex-Travel Agents Convicted In Cruise Scam - 8/23/07
ReplyDeleteSHERMAN, Texas (AP) - Two Now-ex-travel agents in McKinney have been convicted in what prosecutors say was A Bogus Cruise Scheme.
Sentencing is pending in Sherman for 52-year-old Carol Ribaudo & 28-year-old Sonja Ritz, both of Clearwater, Florida.
The two were convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, five counts of mail fraud and nine counts of wire fraud.
The case involved bookings on what was to have been a charter cruise in 2004.
Investigators say the pair operated Elite Business Services and accepted payments for such travel, even though no arrangements had been made with a cruise line.
Ribaudo and Ritz each could get up to 20 years in federal prison and be fined $250,000.
Restitution Of At Least $210,000 Could Also Be Required.
Thousands Of Dollars Lost In Lodi Travel Agency Case
ReplyDeleteWhen a group of about 70 high school students decided to go to Hawaii at the end of their senior year it took a lot of planning and money.
It wasn't a school-sponsored function, but the St. Mary's High School seniors had all become friends and wanted one last hurrah before college started. Each paid about $1,100 and parents agreed to go as chaperones.
Then, just before they left, parents learned the tickets hadn't been purchased. They called the Lodi travel agent, worked things out, boarded the plane and then arrived in Hawaii to learn their hotel rooms hadn't been paid for, either.
Now parent Ed Sullivan is out $8,000 on his credit card, and another parent also had to put $13,000 on a credit card.
"It's ruining our credit and I'm scrambling to get this paid," Sullivan said. "I'd just like to know where the money went."
That's a question many people have for the owners of Lodi-based Great Adventure Travels, which recently changed names to Dream Vacations. On Thursday, investigators with the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office served a search warrant at the Lodi home of owner Cindy Kent.
Kent has not been arrested and the investigation continues, said Lt. Ken Melgoza with the District Attorney's investigators. In a news release Thursday, he said the search related to allegations of credit card fraud in violation of both the state penal code and the business and professions code.
A message left Friday on a possible cell phone number for Kent was not returned, and nobody answered the door at her home near South Mills Avenue.
The group of high school students are just one part of what clients and former employees allege was an ongoing cycle of misusing credit cards and personal information.
To add to matters, Kent's son is a Lodi police officer and owned a fraction of the business. As if that wasn't enough, the victims included a Lodi police sergeant and his fiancee, who had planned a Mexican cruise for 20 of her family members.
Due to a conflict of interest, the case was sent directly to the District Attorney for investigation, Lodi Police Capt. Gary Benincasa said. In the meantime, the travel agency remained open.
Under state law, all travel agents must register with the California Attorney General's Office. Neither Great Adventures nor Dream Vacations is listed on the office's Web site of registered agents.
Jim Owens, who worked as office manager at Great Adventure for five years, said he left in September 2006 because checks were bouncing and then a bank sent a bill for $60,000, to be paid in two days. He said he wound up putting $7,000 on his own credit card just to save a client's trip.
Owens has since filed a small claims suit against Kent, and earlier this year a Lodi judge ruled in Owens' favor, according to San Joaquin County court records. Kent is now appealing the case.
Owens and several victims told the News-Sentinel that Kent shuffled credit cards and checking accounts, using clients' personal information to pay bills.
Yvonne Tibon and her husband, who own five martial arts schools in Stockton and are well-connected in the city, had no idea something was wrong with their accounts until creditors started calling.
They ultimately got their money back because another travel agency, as well as her credit card company, reversed the charges.
But that hasn't solved everything, because until the couple learned where the strange charges were coming from, they had no idea who had gotten hold of their credit cards. That meant they had to cancel all private and business accounts.
"My husband was in Finland and I had to cancel his credit card and send him another one," Tibon said. "We have to go in the store to pump our gas because there are flags on our accounts."
Lodi Police Sgt. Doug Chinn, who also fell victim, said some of his fiancee's family members also had to cancel credit cards.
They planned and paid for a cruise for about 20 family members, consisting of four generations of family, Chinn said. Vacation days were scheduled at various jobs and children got excited.
Credit card charges went through but Kent put them off on the paperwork about the cruise details, Chinn said. Finally a family member called the cruise line directly to get the details. The answer, he said: "Sorry, we don't have any bookings for you."
The cruise never happened, and Chinn said some family members were so discouraged that the trip might never happen.
"She did this to everyone," Owens said. "Her son's a police officer. She put her son's career in jeopardy. What kind of person does this?"
Kent has not been charged with a crime, but she could face charges; state law makes it a felony for a travel agent to misuse more than $1,000 in clients' money.
Hate to break it to you ole but Pride Travel was a member of Association of Special Fares Agents another MLM. And, they were a GLBT to boot. Wonder if the good Baptists knew that before they booked. They did make restitution BTW.
ReplyDeleteShow me the proof these travel agents were part of a consortia or legit agency! You are assuming they are.
ReplyDeleteSandy said, "Again, most cosortia and TTA's do background and credit checks. Carlson, Ensemble, Virtuoso, VCom etc. And get this some even drug test."
ReplyDeleteThat's fine. Unfortunately, it's impossible to predict when a good, drug free, travel agent will go bad. Most of the crooks started out legit until financial stresses got in the way. The only way they see a way out is to take the money and run!
OleScorekeeper
This why YTB wants into this
ReplyDeletebusiness. It is unregulated. Letters after ones name mean nothing. Greed abounds, service takes a back seat and everyone wants to travel like a pro.
It's the big hook.
I am a pro. I would be Tavelpro,but that's taken. I've been an IATA card holder since 1989. I play by the rules and don't much care if you do. Your customers will become mine. I actually like them, my first thought is to get them what they want. Sorry, maybe you should sell juice.
"Most of the crooks started out legit until financial stresses got in the way. The only way they see a way out is to take the money and run!"
ReplyDeleteI am sure you know all about crooks ole since you indeed spent time in the big house. Don't paint everyone with the same brush."
ole-I disagree. You can get a lot of information by doing a basic credit and background check, especially a credit check on someone's financial history ie paying bills on time, past salary, spouse's history if applicable, home ownership, credit score and what not. Credit scores can tell how responsible a person is. Usually, those with good credit scores and history don't feel the need to take money because they have money. YTB does not even do a BASIC credit check or background check and the terms Yale to Jail are found in recruitment literature. No wonder crooks are attracted to YTB you make it too easy.
ReplyDeleteAs to the agents above being legit. I did some research also. No mention of consortia or host with any of those. Pride Travel was a member of some online host Special Fares Agents. Just because someone has a store front or office does not make them a legit. In fact, MLM agencies be it YTB, Traverus or any of a dozen can have a brick and mortar.
I want to see proof who these agents were associated with. I want to see their IATA number. I want to see their ARC number and if they had a host. Until then you can't prove it so you can't say they are TTA's at all.
The only way they see a way out is to take the money and run!
ReplyDeleteTravel has been in the top 10 for fraud opportunity for a long long time. I believe all sellers of travel should be licensed as well as bonded ie the ARC. Any seller of travel should also be personnally required to have E & O (not via the hosts E & O.)
Of course requirements of fiscal responsiility would dramatically reduce YTB membership. YTB does not want individual responsibiliy. They want it easy. they want to'travel like pro' not to be one.
If some bum sells you a certificate for a Carnival Cruise that they got for a present on November 12th of last year, and you find that it is a stolen certificate and not valid.
ReplyDeleteWho scammed you? Carnival, YTB, a Bum, or a travel agent (because he sold you the certificate)?
I agree with Eddie. They need seller of travel laws. And most legit agencies carry E&O.
ReplyDeleteMy group trip is going on without a hitch. Ass't principal told me she has the Disney Park Tickets, the confirmation for the Disney resort hotel. All the paperwork that was required, contract etc. and they are HAPPY!!!
ReplyDeleteThere are way MORE satisfied customers than dissatisfied. Unfortunately stories like mine do not make the news!
So Gail, Do you think licensing and bonding for TAs and RTAs is a good idea to help weed out the bad guys? Do you value your business enough to shell out the dough? Whose e & o do you use?
ReplyDeleteAnd of course your group is happy. the customer is taking care of it not you!
Gail is an interesting character actually has a nursing degree, got religion and now sells websites for YTB. Went from a nice high paying nursing job taking care of sick people to working for a scum bag like Coach.
ReplyDeleteAmazing with the nursing shortage and all that. Isn't this a great career move?
Anonymous said, "Went from a nice high paying nursing job taking care of sick people to working for a scum bag like Coach."
ReplyDeleteDisregard Anonycoward's post Gail. Cockroaches like this prefer to hide in darkness but will scatter if the light of discovery is ever put upon them.
OleScorekeeper
"Disregard Anonycoward's post Gail. Cockroaches like this prefer to hide in darkness but will scatter if the light of discovery is ever put upon them.
ReplyDeleteOleScorekeeper"
Ole, if you are so holier than thou let's see you post your name instead of a stupid alias. You are a twit and an ass. You have thrown plenty of barbs around here under the guise of ole. And, let's not forget about your jail time.
AnonForeverUntilOleComesCleanToo said..."let's see you post your name instead of a stupid alias."
ReplyDeleteIs AnonForeverUntilOleComesCleanToo a "stupid alias"? Just wondering.
OleScorekeeper
ole what does it feel like to know everyone hates you? Does it make you feel like a bad boy? Did you learn in jail that it's ok if people hate you?
ReplyDeleteActually, I am all for licensure and requried E&O coverage.
ReplyDelete