- Report: #327706
Complaint Review: United Travel Network
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| United Travel Network 1935 Sherman Road
Northbrook, Illinois U.S.A. |
|
United Travel Network did not fullfill promise of 2 free airline tickets Northbrook, Illinois
*REBUTTAL Individual responds: In response to the would be victim of Chad Edwards
*Consumer Comment: Would-Be Victim of "Chad Ewards" 1-773-293-6982 Travel Network in Northbrook, IL
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We received a mailing for 'two round trip airline tickets to any major international airport anywhere in the continental USA'. We just had to listen to a 90 minute presentation about a new travel agency opening up in Northbrook. I specifically asked if we would be forced to purchase anything and the girl said no. I inquired about the tickets. I asked if we would receive them at the completion of the presentation and if my daughter could be one of the people using the tickets. They said yes absolutely. I asked why they would want to give away free tickets. They said it's an incentive to have you come and learn about the Travel Network program and it's a thankyou for coming. We were told by Tony who presented that this was a no obligation presentation to tell us about this travel agency and that at the end of the presentation we would receive our FREE two round trip airline tickets to anywhere in the USA, good for one year with no blackout dates just for our time. The goal being we would be so impressed with the travel agency that we would refer them to our friends. The presentation offered a membership travel program for the low-low membership price of $14,900 but if you joined tonight it would be $11,900 and then it miraculously dropped down to $6,900 for lifetime travel at discounted rates through Global Services and even more because I was a professional nurse I could even save more money for the even lower rate of $5,800 over 5 years. When they let us out of the presentation room we were escorted to another room. Each couple was introduced to their very own travel consultant, seated at a very small table, in a room of 30 tables. There was loud music and our 90 minutes was now turning into 1 hour and 15 minutes. The brought over a manager to try and persuade us some more after we repeatedly told them we were not interested. In the meantime announcements and applauses were made after a couple signed on and their names and trips were posted on a big board at the front of the room. We declined the membership and asked for our free gift for attending, the airline tickets. The girl working with us stood up abruptly, went to the front desk, grabbed a certificate and signed it illegibly (as I found out later the signature must be printed clearly on the form...it was not). We were given a form to redeem our tickets that had to be completed in 30 days. The catch the form asks for a $50.00 deposit by cashiers check only to be sent to an address certified mail per ticket. The other catch is that you can only use the tickets on TUESDAYS! How rediculous! This was a total waste of our time! I hope by telling my story that someone will be saved the headache of this horrible experience.
Maria
Hinsdale, Illinois
U.S.A.
Maria
Hinsdale, Illinois
U.S.A.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 04/21/2008 12:04 PM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/United-Travel-Network/Northbrook-Illinois-60062/United-Travel-Network-did-not-fullfill-promise-of-2-free-airline-tickets-Northbrook-Illin-327706. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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Search Tips#1 REBUTTAL Individual responds
In response to the would be victim of Chad Edwards
AUTHOR: Chad Edwards - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Fist off Chad Edward's is my real name and the caller ID say's C. Edwards. According to this gentlman that is probably not my real name. Secondly, The man clearly stated that he does enter contest's from time to time but never ever filled out something for our giveaway in which I was more than happy to look it up for him and also provide the date, time, and his email address and his exact physical address, as that is all of the info we had. I never asked him for any personal info. Just made it clear that you have to be between the ages of 25 - 70 to participate.
I would also like to add that we never say or claim this to be a sweepstakes, it is ivitation to view an introduction to our Co. And in exchange for you're time you will recieve one of the gift's we are giving away at the time. And you do not have to buy or sign up for anything to recieve you're gift / prize.
This man was also stating that since I was very busy the day we spoke in which I made that clear to him, that it was some sort of sales trick / ploy. And when he was not interested in coming, I abruptly hung up on him. He failed to mention that I said no problem I understand and have a great day. So I guess his feeling's were hurt as I did not want to sit on the phone with him and try to con him in to doing something he had no interest in doing.
I would also like to add that we never say or claim this to be a sweepstakes, it is ivitation to view an introduction to our Co. And in exchange for you're time you will recieve one of the gift's we are giving away at the time. And you do not have to buy or sign up for anything to recieve you're gift / prize.
This man was also stating that since I was very busy the day we spoke in which I made that clear to him, that it was some sort of sales trick / ploy. And when he was not interested in coming, I abruptly hung up on him. He failed to mention that I said no problem I understand and have a great day. So I guess his feeling's were hurt as I did not want to sit on the phone with him and try to con him in to doing something he had no interest in doing.
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What's this? #2 Consumer Comment
Would-Be Victim of "Chad Ewards" 1-773-293-6982 Travel Network in Northbrook, IL
AUTHOR: Faye - (U.S.A.)
SUBMITTED: Tuesday, April 29, 2008
I received a voicemail at home yesterday, 4-28-08 by a "third-party verifier" notifying us of being a potential "sweepstakes winner" upon verification. Were told to call "Chad Edwards" and gave us a "direct to his desk" phone number of 773-293-6982 to call.
I suspected it was a scam, but called anyway in the remote possibility this was a valid win from a major nationally recognized sponsor (like Kraft, Nike, etc), since I do periodically enter contests.
I reached "Chad" (I'm sure that's not his real name) on 4-29-08 just after lunchtime. Here is a bullet-point summary of our conversation:
- I was "Guaranteed" to have won one of these 4 prizes:
1. Lincoln Navigator worth $45,000
2. $2500 Cash
3. All inclusive vacation - Mexico/Carribbean
4. 32" Flat Screen TV
- Had my email address and home address and said I entered 1-14-08.
- "This was a Final drawing - you ARE a winner"
- Just needed to verify that I was between 35-70 and "gainfully employed".
- Asked him if this had anything to do with sitting through a presentation for Condos or Time Share and he said "No!!!!". I asked him if it involved a presentation of any kind and he said "Yes, a 60-90 minute presentation and it was clearly stated on the entry form" (Yeah right! - the one I never filled out???)
- "What kind of presentation is it?", I asked. Answer: "Travel Network" Grand Opening in Northbrook. Claimed he had sent me an email about this but said "it's OK if I didn't receive it." I asked if he could send something in writing to me right now but "No! This is a "Grand Opening and is only going on tonight & tomorrow". This is a big red flag folks when they won't give anything in writing!!!
-Stated that he's not here to sell me anything ...Doesn't matter to him if I'm not interested, he's got a million other things he could be doing (than calling me)". Another classic sales ploy.
-As soon as I said I'd pass - he abruptly disconnected.
Based on a past experience of actually sitting through a presentation almost exactly like the one victim Maria describes in her post, I know they keep these things legal (barely), by offering the travel prize in the form of a voucher with ridiculous terms. No one ever gets the vehicle, the cash or the TV (or any other prize of significant value).
With all the lies they tell in the initial phone call, I'm sure there's plenty of illegal fraudulent statements being made - but you'd be hard-pressed to prove it and who's going to bother to even try and prosecute? I think raising public awareness is the best defense and reporting these incidents places like here when possible.
I've read up on safety against scammers and these are my best personal tips on NOT getting scammed:
1. If it's a phone call telling you you're a "winner" don't waste your time listening to any verbal explanations. Ask for something in writing. If you really won, they'll already have your address or email - don't give out any personal info, ever! If they won't give anything in writing or give you some song and dance of why they can't -HANG UP.
2. If "winning" involves sitting through a presentation of ANY KIND- forget it!! Ask this question early on to save your time.
3. REAL prizes never require deposits or payments to get them.
4. Usually when you DO win something big - you'll get something CERTIFIED in the mail or by courier. Anything with bulk postage or "first class" regular postage is usually a scam. Also, if they mention the word "incentive" and have marraige, employment or income requirements - it's a scam!
5. If it sounds too good to be true - it usually is!!!
6. If there's a time pressure of some sort "Only today...", it's a scam.
From someone who's tired of being solicited with these "offers" and seeing others conned out of hard-earned money by them.
I suspected it was a scam, but called anyway in the remote possibility this was a valid win from a major nationally recognized sponsor (like Kraft, Nike, etc), since I do periodically enter contests.
I reached "Chad" (I'm sure that's not his real name) on 4-29-08 just after lunchtime. Here is a bullet-point summary of our conversation:
- I was "Guaranteed" to have won one of these 4 prizes:
1. Lincoln Navigator worth $45,000
2. $2500 Cash
3. All inclusive vacation - Mexico/Carribbean
4. 32" Flat Screen TV
- Had my email address and home address and said I entered 1-14-08.
- "This was a Final drawing - you ARE a winner"
- Just needed to verify that I was between 35-70 and "gainfully employed".
- Asked him if this had anything to do with sitting through a presentation for Condos or Time Share and he said "No!!!!". I asked him if it involved a presentation of any kind and he said "Yes, a 60-90 minute presentation and it was clearly stated on the entry form" (Yeah right! - the one I never filled out???)
- "What kind of presentation is it?", I asked. Answer: "Travel Network" Grand Opening in Northbrook. Claimed he had sent me an email about this but said "it's OK if I didn't receive it." I asked if he could send something in writing to me right now but "No! This is a "Grand Opening and is only going on tonight & tomorrow". This is a big red flag folks when they won't give anything in writing!!!
-Stated that he's not here to sell me anything ...Doesn't matter to him if I'm not interested, he's got a million other things he could be doing (than calling me)". Another classic sales ploy.
-As soon as I said I'd pass - he abruptly disconnected.
Based on a past experience of actually sitting through a presentation almost exactly like the one victim Maria describes in her post, I know they keep these things legal (barely), by offering the travel prize in the form of a voucher with ridiculous terms. No one ever gets the vehicle, the cash or the TV (or any other prize of significant value).
With all the lies they tell in the initial phone call, I'm sure there's plenty of illegal fraudulent statements being made - but you'd be hard-pressed to prove it and who's going to bother to even try and prosecute? I think raising public awareness is the best defense and reporting these incidents places like here when possible.
I've read up on safety against scammers and these are my best personal tips on NOT getting scammed:
1. If it's a phone call telling you you're a "winner" don't waste your time listening to any verbal explanations. Ask for something in writing. If you really won, they'll already have your address or email - don't give out any personal info, ever! If they won't give anything in writing or give you some song and dance of why they can't -HANG UP.
2. If "winning" involves sitting through a presentation of ANY KIND- forget it!! Ask this question early on to save your time.
3. REAL prizes never require deposits or payments to get them.
4. Usually when you DO win something big - you'll get something CERTIFIED in the mail or by courier. Anything with bulk postage or "first class" regular postage is usually a scam. Also, if they mention the word "incentive" and have marraige, employment or income requirements - it's a scam!
5. If it sounds too good to be true - it usually is!!!
6. If there's a time pressure of some sort "Only today...", it's a scam.
From someone who's tired of being solicited with these "offers" and seeing others conned out of hard-earned money by them.
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