Steer Clear of Seagull Vacations

Our experience with Seagull Vacations was terrible. We attempted to redeem a certificate for free travel offered through Seagull and were completely frustrated with the way we were treated. Listed below are four examples of what we experienced when we dealt with Seagull Vacations.

1. Our phone messages were not returned. When we became more persistent in calling, our calls from phone numbers that Seagull was familiar with went immediately to voice mail. When we used phones that we had not called Seagull from previously, our calls went immediately to a live person.

2. About four weeks prior to our trip, we contacted Seagull because we had questions about where we were staying, what kind of amenities would be available and if Seagull had any advice on which airport to fly into. Because we were apparently "problem customers" asking all of those inappropriate questions, we were offered $250 in an effort to get rid of us.

3. The brochure detailing the trip described a one room condo for one week with a maximum retail value of $1000-$2400. Sylvia offered us accommodations in a two star hotel room with a nightly room rate of $100-$120. These rooms had no kitchens. They did not even have a microwave or refrigerator available unless we were willing to pay $69 per night for them out of our own pocket.

4. Correspondence from Seagull explained that our itinerary would be mailed 1-4 weeks prior to our departure. In reality there had been no reservations made for us four days before our scheduled departure. Four days before our trip, Sylvia promised that she would e-mail our itinerary by 5:00 P.M. that day. The itinerary did not arrive that day or any day after that. We eventually elected to cancel our relationship with Seagull because we had completely lost confidence in them. They had not followed through with any of their promises; verbal or in writing.

Seagull systematically misleads and mistreats customers. I googled Seagull Vacations Inc. and found complaints from others who have had the same issues with Seagull that I have outlined here. This is not an isolated incident.

Seagull Vacations is a Better Business Bureau accredited business. This is outrageous! Their actions go against seven out of eight of the BBB Code of Business Practices that I have outlined below. (I have no reason to suspect that they've violated #7)

1. Build Trust

2. Advertise Honestly

3. Tell The Truth

4. Be Transparent

5. Honor Promises

6. Be Responsive

7. Safeguard Privacy

8. Embody Integrity

My first advice to anyone considering using Seagull Vacations for any travel is DON'T! If you still decide to do business with them, let them know that you have contacted the BBB for a BBB reliability report. The direct link for that report is;

http://www.bbb.org/central-northern-western-arizona/business-reviews/travel-agencies-and-bureaus/seagull-vacations-inc-in-phoenix-az-35006553/#rating

The report gives Seagull Vacations a C for reliability because they have had 83 complaints filed in 36 months; 56 in the last 12. I filed a complaint with the BBB and in less than a week received a refund for our unused tax payment of $129.

Steve Steer is the president of Seagull Vacations Inc. His e-mail address is near the top of this page. Phone number is (877)348-1677 or (602)889-6830. He seems eager to avoid more complaints and claims to be willing to resolve disputes if you contact him directly.

Website address is http://www.seagullvacation.com/

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Update 02/17/2010

According to the Better Business Bureau, Seagull Vacations has earned an F for reliability because they have had 100 complaints filed in 36 months; 67 in the last 12.

Seagull Vacations is no longer a Better Business Bureau accredited business! On January 22, 2010, Seagull Vacations had their BBB Accreditation suspended due to 2 unresolved complaints and failure to respond to one or more customer complaints. The matter will be reviewed by the BBB Board of Directors at its next meeting on February 18, 2010. Thank you BBB!