Security Travel USA/deceptive travel packages

I found this article to be very insightful and helpful. hopefully it will help prevent further business dealings with this unscrupulous travel agency. consumers be forewarned!

http://www.abcactionnews.com/stories/2005/05/050519travel.shtml

'Winners' complain about cost of supposedly free cruise

an ABC Action News report

SARASOTA - Who wouldn't want to win a free cruise to the Bahamas? Some bay area residents thought they were winners, but investigator Matthew Schwartz found out that's not the case.

Don Oswalt of Sarasota is one of many bay area residents who say they recently received a call from Security Travel USA, saying they had won a free trip for two to the Bahamas.

"I was ecstatic. I've never won anything," he recalled.

But Oswalt still hasn't won anything. He later learned the cruise would cost him and a guest $145 in administrative fees, $198 in port taxes, and $90 for the hotel tax.

And, by the way, a cabin would not be included. He would have to sit on a deck chair during the six- to seven-hour cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport.

"I felt I had been taken advantage of," he said.

A few days earlier, Oswalt had filled out one of the many cruise registration forms that Security Travel USA placed in local businesses. Oswalt filled his out at a Mexican restaurant in Sarasota, and when restaurant manager Billy Nowel heard Oswalt's story, he threw out the registration forms.

"I was furious. We've been here almost 31 years now, and we don't put up with that," he explained.

After paying the fees and taxes with a credit card, Oswalt decided not to take the cruise and was able to get his money back with the help of his credit card company.

Don Oswalt is far from being the only unhappy customer of Security Travel USA. Officials at the Better Business Bureau of West Florida say they've received 25 complaints about the travel agency in just the past six months.

Don Oswalt says he feels like he was taken advantage of by Security Travel USA.

"It's cause for concern and our office is investigating the nature of the complaints," BBB's John Zajac said.

The agency has temporarily suspended Security Travel USA's membership while the investigation continues.

"Many of the complaints say that the company has promised them a free vacation, or that the consumers won a vacation. And they find out later on, as the vacation comes closer, that there's additional costs associated with the vacation," Zajac continued.

Lynne Chrystal of Winter Haven said she received the same phone call that Oswalt did after filling out a registration form.

"She said, 'I'm from Security Travel. You've won a four-day, three-night trip to the Bahamas, a cruise.' I said, 'Nu-uh.' She said, 'Yes, you did,' " Chrystal recalled of the phone call.

Chrystal and her husband decided to take the cruise, but now she says it was a mistake.

"Wasn't a free trip, and I want my money back," she complained.

Action News investigator Matthew Schwartz went to Security Travel USA, hoping to talk to co-owner Danny O'Brien. His staff said he wasn't there, but he later called Matthew. He refused to do an on-camera interview, but he insisted that this travel agency has a terrific record and thousands of satisfied customers.

It was boxes like these that Security USA placed around businesses.

He denied that anyone from his company tells potential passengers that they have won a free cruise, but not only have people insisted to action news and the better business bureau that they'd been told they won, some also complained last year to the state.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services then sent a letter to Security Travel USA, stating, "Be advised that it is a violation...to misrepresent that the recipient of an advertisement or promotional materials is a winner. Based on the filing of these complaints, it appears that the language used by your employees may be leading consumers to believe that they have been selected as a 'winner' for a 'free' cruise, when that is not the case."

"They should be mindful," John Zajac warned, "that when something is apparently little cost or free, that there might be some hidden costs."

And Don Oswalt says he's learned all about hidden costs.

"Absolutely. There's no such thing as a free lunch -- or a free cruise."

Consumer advocates say this kind of promotion is a nationwide problem, but it's especially big in Florida because there are so many cruise lines here. They say before you pay for anything, read the fine print, and ask about limitations and refund provisions in case you want your money back.

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It still felt fun thinkin' I won. :>

but then.. not so fun..

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I just received a call stating a FREE 3 day, 2 night Bahama Cruise... such a joke. I knew better when I filled out the form to win. I even had my husband fill out one. His response was "You actually believe in the?" I should have listened. Guess I can be naive at times. So much for wishful thinking!

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Obviously a business is giving away something "free" (i.e. a vacation)to promote their business in the hopes that you will spend on something else. Why would they want to give you a free anything, unless you were going to promote them in some way, or buy something somewhere down the line.

By the way, Port fees and administrative fees are legitimate fees. So are taxes. Even gameshows make you pay them for yourself.

As someone who has won several legitimate trips, "free" is never totally "free". Someone somewhere always wants your money. Don't let that discourage you from going. Just research it out first. Then see if you can find a better quality deal for less money somewhere else.