Any Minute Travel Freedom Marketing Scammers, Bait and Switch Tacoma, Washington

Allow me to recount my experience with this so called "company":  Any Minute Travel is marketed by an organization that calls itself Freedom Marketing so be wary of this name as well.

The offer we received was for "two roundtrip airfares to anywhere Alaska flies and a four night, three day stay" (that's the "bait").  After enduring a boring, exaggerated and fact-lacking timeshare-like presentation, and declining their offer to buy into their "travel club' at the price of $8995 we went to gather our promised prize (remember "the bait").  We were offered two options, neither of which even remotely resembled the coupon offer (the "switch).

One was a companion fare ticket on Alaska and the other was two tickets to a very few and select destinations, also at a cost.  When I questioned the person at the desk she, in very direct terms, suggested that "yes, this is NOT what was offered and it IS what you think it is" (a scam). 

You could tell the person actually felt "guilty" about their role in all of this.  I asked to see the boss, Mike Stanfield.  When Mr. Slick arrived he immediately went into the biggest song and dance, two-step avoidance act I've ever seen, talking so fast and throwing around so much mumbo-jumbo in an attempt to "baffle me with bulls___" that it was almost comical.  If I hadn't been so upset by this time I would have broken out in laughter.

Upon trying to keep him focused on my concern, which was that he deliver what he had promised with his bait, he handed me a two page document being sure to distance himself from the specifics of the document from a "Millennium Travel and Promotions"  stating that they have their own set of rules and it's not his obligation to follow them. 

He then "conveniently" ran out of the actual redemption paperwork but said I could drop by to pick it up or he could mail it to me upon request.  By now my wife was so tired of pulling on my sleeve to get the heck away from these people that I reluctantly accepted this paperwork and we went on our not-so-merry way.  This morning I read over said paperwork.  Allow me to provide direct quotes from that offer:

Here's some noteworthy excerpts:

... Complete the Travel Request Form below and send it by certified mail to the address shown below.  Include a $65 processing fee PER PERSON in the form of a postal money order, money order, or cashier's check only.  REALLY! SOUNDS LIKE AN EBAY SELLER WHO ONLY ACCEPTS CASH UPFRONT, DO YOU TRUST THEM?   The envelope must be postmarked no more than 21 days after your sponsor's issue date listed below.......  HUGE RED FLAG!

... You must choose three dates on your Reservation Request Form, allowing for at least 45 days between choices. ... You will receive your airline tickets from Millennium Travel approximately 14 days prior to departure.  We will try to provide you with first choice, but may have to give you an alternative option. GEE YOU THINK THAT MIGHT HAPPEN?    Flight schedules are at Millennium Travel's discretion.... REALLY, THEY GET TO CHOOSE WHICH RED-EYE FLIGHT TO PUT ME ON?

... All airports, destinations and dates are subject to change and are at Millennium Travel's discretion.  Once a travel date is confirmed no changes are permitted....  ARE YOU KIDDING ME, THE DESTINATION AND TRAVEL DATES CAN BE CHANGED AT THEIR DISCRETION!!  WE'LL BE VACATIONING IN PODUNK, KANSAS IN MID-AUGUST!

... No oral representations made to you by sponsor or any third party shall bind Millennium Travel or otherwise amend or affect the terms hereof.....  SO BASICALLY ANYTHING THEY TOLD ME ON THE PHONE IS NOT BINDING ALLOWING THEM TO LIE THEIR BUTTS OFF.   etc. etc..........

These kinds of scams are so very common these days that the best we can collectively do is report them on such reputable sites like this one in hopes that we can ward off others from falling into the same trap we fell into.  PLEASE heed my warning when I suggest you avoid Any Minute Travel at all cost.