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Report: #210094

Complaint Review: Travel Agents Direct - Seminole Florida

  • Submitted:
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  • Reported By: Los Angeles California
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  • Travel Agents Direct 11125 Park Blvd Ste 104-364 Seminole, Florida U.S.A.

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Got a call from this company. My experiences are much like everyone else's here. They proposed the same offers. They tried to verify my routing number couple of times. They got first couple wrong. Then passed it to a manager who was more ASSERTIVE.

She then got it correct...I verified it. Then she asked for my checking account number?!? No way...She then got MORE ASSERTIVE saying they are listed in the Florida BBB...They're not! BUT THEY ARE LICENSED BY THE FLORIDA STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER DEPARTMENT that handles travel agencies.

Basically they try get your info, tell you to pay processing fee, but from what i learn from other victims accounts, get charged a lot more. They are doing this across STATE BORDERS. This is under FEDERAL JURISDICTION.

So i first called the Florida BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU...THEY ARE A NOBLE COMPANY THAT LISTS or does not list good and bad companies. THEY ARE ALSO A NON PROFIT NOT GOVT. AGENCY.

I got the Florida Attorney General's Office who referred me to the Florida Agriculture Consumer department (850) 488-2221 who grants licenses to travel agencies. They said they only have 14 complaints and cannot take away their license. I asked how many legitimate complaints will it take. She wouldn't say. I asked what it would take to shut down a company that does fraudulent business transactions? She says why shut it down, no financial litigation can be gained if it is shut down. Seems like no financial litigation is being gained with it being licensed, in fact more people are getting ripped off if they are soo gullible enough to give more information, like their checking account number. Routing numbers are available to them easily.

I asked will this complaint go anywhere? Yeas it will be a complaint. I asked isn't this a federal issue? Crossing state borders? Or calling at least. I'm in California, their company is in Florida. She referred me to the Federal Trade Commission (CALL THIS 877-382-4357) Make A Complaint To an Authority that Matters!

An attorney will judge to see if any facts can be proved.

I am apalled that Florida State still allows this company to be licensed since 2005. Who governs Florida???

State Level FILE COMPLAINT HERE 800HELPFLA

Though i urge you to go federal! If all action fails, a private attorney can be retained to advice on our matter. And possibly file charges.

This has basically been my route...

1. Florida Better Business Bureau.
2. Florida Attorney General Office.
3. Florida State Agriculture & Consumer Hotline
4. Federal Trade Commission. Do your research type in name of company and give as much info to them as possible on your experience or losses. DEMAND LOSSES NOW!!!!!

PEOPLE IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ACTION....YOU NEED TO DO THE ACTION....COLLECTIVELY WE CAN TAKE BACK THEIR LICENSE...AND PREVENT MORE SENIOR CITIZENS FROM BEING VICTIMS!!!!

Active Investigator
Los Angeles, California
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 09/08/2006 02:09 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/travel-agents-direct/seminole-florida-33772/travel-agents-direct-travel-agents-go-direct-been-ripoff-dont-just-complain-here-follo-210094. 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. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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#4 UPDATE EX-employee responds

MEDIA ALERT!: SUNTASIA MARKETING EXPOSED AGAIN A THIRD TIME BY ANOTHER TV NEWS STATION

AUTHOR: Joe - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, September 27, 2006

BREAKING NEWS !

Consumer Alert: Discount Membership Clubs

A woman in McKeesport, Pennsylvania called her local news station crying b/c she got charged for a so called, ?discount? package with the same bait scam, free gas and airline vouchers.

Shirley Smorey really believed she was getting $500 worth of free gas and airline vouchers but as usual the package got to her home late and thus Shirley got charged $59.99 membership fee plus the first monthly charge of $19.99. She also got a bounced check fee and is now out more than $113.

Yes it's typical folks that the people who are responsible in promoting this scam Suntasia Marketing in Largo don't take the heat for it b/c everyone thinks it's Distinct Advantage that is the only one involved. Make no mistake about it Suntasia is FULLY behind selling the products of Distinct Advantage, Travel Agents Go Direct, FloridaWay, Prism, Freedom Gold and other names as well.

Suntasia Marketing is located on 8751 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33771 and their corporate website is http://suntasia.com/.

To see the video of the news story that was done by KDKA Channel 2 reporter Yvonne Zanos their Consumer Editor there just copy and paste the link below to your address bar.

http://kdka.com/consumer/local_story_265165935.html

You all have been asking what you can do, well here is another example of someone taking action to expose these crooks.

CALL YOUR LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS! DON'T STAY SILENT!

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#3 UPDATE EX-employee responds

COSTCO SAYS TO BEWARE!

AUTHOR: Joe - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Wednesday, September 20, 2006

*Telemarketers Using Costco's Name to Entice You To Buy*

When a telemarketer calls you up and mentions Costco, that gets your attention. But in this case, Costco says watch out.

This tip comes from Rachel Randall of Shelton who says she got a call from a Suntasia Marketing. The caller told her she's get $100 in free gas and $400 in airfare if she would try out some products from Costco.

Rachel says what really freaked her out is the caller already had her bank account information - both her account number and the routing number of her bank.

Coscto Vice President of Membership Paul Latham wants you to know that Costco is not not involved in any telemarketing promotion.

"We aren't doing any kind of promotion with a telemarketer," Latham said. "We do not allow our membership base to go to anyone."

Suntasia Marketing's web site says it's a full service marketing company. But telemarketing seems to be the primary focus. Suntasia Marketing is actually part of another company called FTN Promotions, based in Saint Petersburg Florida.

FTN stands for Florida Travel Network and according the Better Business Bureau, Florida Travel Network operates under more than half a dozen names, including, Suntasia Marketing, Florida Travel Network, Confirmation Center, Sea Escape, Platinum Plus Travel, Classic Enterprise and Majestic Promotions.

It's travel promoter, but that's about all I could get when I called Suntasia to find out how they got Rachel's account information.

The customer service rep told me Rachel must have done business with one of Suntasia's affiliates.

A young woman who identified herself as "Miss Reed" told me the company offers different promotions and calls customers who've done business with their affiliates. She declined to say who those affiliates area.

Rachel says she was told the company buys or shares lists with other companies but no one would tell her the names of the companies that might have shared her information.

I tried to get a supervisor or owner, but was told there was no one else I could talk to.

From talking with the Florida State Attorney General however, it would appear Rachel is not alone in her concerns.

FTN Promotions, Inc. is the subject of an active investigation by Florida State, based on dozens of complaints about unfair and deceptive practices and unauthorized debiting of consumer bank and credit accounts.

Further background investigation turned up government action in multiple states dating back to 1997, including settlements in 2000 with the states of Florida, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Washington,DC, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The settlements involved misleading and deceptive practices in the sale of vacation packages. At that time, Florida Travel Network agreed to modify its marketing but did not admit any wrongdoing.

I made several attempts to call both Suntasia and FTN Promotions, but either got no answer or the lines were disconnected.

If you get an unsolicited call from Suntasia or any company you've never dealt with who already has your account numbers or other private information, get as much information from the caller as you can and report it to the Washington State Attorney General's office.

Then, notify your bank and let them know your account has been compromised.

Reported by Connie Thompson - KOMO 4 News - July 6, 2006

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#2 Consumer Suggestion

A Second Credit Union Puts Out an Alert on Suntasia Marketing!

AUTHOR: Joe - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, September 17, 2006

SECOND FEDERAL CREDIT UNION WARNS IT'S CUSTOMERS ABOUT SUNTASIA MARKETING'S DISTINCT ADVANTAGE!

You read it correctly AGAIN! Like I stated many times before in my posts, banks and credit unions are becoming increasingly aware of these crooks.

First it was Florida Telco Credit Union warning it's members about Suntasia a month ago. Copy and paste the link below on your address bar if you didn't see it.

http://www.floridatelco.org/186.html

Now it's the Teachers Federal Credit Union sending out an alert on "Distinct Advantage" which is marketed by Suntasia.

The following statement comes from the TFCU website.

Telephone Scam Alert

The latest tactic involves members contacted by individuals - by telephone - claiming to be a ?Checking Account Supervisor? and offering ?free? services. Please be aware these are not TFCU employees and the calls are originating from a company based out of Florida named Distinct Advantage. As when contacted by any company soliciting services via the telephone, TFCU recommends exercising caution. Ask questions to fully understand all aspects of the offer being made.

If you are contacted and note charges were made to your account without consent by Distinct Advantage, or if you feel employees of Distinct Advantage misrepresented themselves, please contact the Florida Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection. The toll free number for the Florida Attorney General's office for filing a complaint is 1-866-966-7226. Complaints can also be filed online at http://myfloridalegal.com. Once on the site click on the ?Consumer Protection' link, then click on the ?How to File a Complaint or Check on a Business' link. All the necessary information for filing a complaint is provided.

You can copy and paste the link below to see the alert for yourself.

http://www.teachersfcu.org/about_tfcu/security.html

I promise you more is coming on this company.

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#1 Consumer Suggestion

Credit Union Warns it's Customers About Suntasia!

AUTHOR: Joe - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Thursday, September 14, 2006

Florida Telco Credit Union has posted the following consumer alert on their website:

"It seems that every day someone thinks of a new way to steal your identity, or your money. The Credit Union works diligently to protect you by training our employees to recognize possible scams, and by keeping you, our member, informed with ways to avoid them.

Below are scams we are currently aware of, please read them carefully. If you believe you have been a victim, please contact our fraud department at 904.723.6300".

Updated 8/8/06

Telephone Scam
Target Company: Financial Institutions including Florida Telco

"If you receive a call from a marketing company called "Suntasia" who is involved with Travel Agents Direct, please be careful. They may offer you a free vacation. The person calling will tell you they know your account number with Florida Telco CU (or other financial institution). However, the number they quote is a routing number, not the actual account number. That's where the scam belongs -- they ask you to complete the rest of the account number for verification. Once you provide the last digits they then have your actual account number. If you have given your account number to a telemarketer who has called you, please contact a Member Service Representative immediately".

Here is the link to their website:

http://www.floridatelco.org/186.html

I think the above statement says it all.

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