Travel Supplier of America Member Choice Fraudulent Business Claims and Practices Newark Delaware

During a free cruise presentation on 8-16-13, we heard 3 speakers explain their exclusive travel membership through Member Choice. Advising they were a travel wholesaler, providing package deals to all travel agencies. Claiming they didn’t mark up prices as retail agencies rather sold memberships;  high inital fee and a renewal fee. Presented “actual” travel summaries comparing MC with travel agency’s prices for cruises and all-inclusive trips to include transportation. Explaining their low pricing due to large room blocks purchased for resale.

 Following, we met with a rep who inform us the initial fee was $8995 plus $399 doc fee, however, by foregoing the free cruise we were promised, our fee would reduce to $6499. We were told they guaranteed their pricing would be lower than any other provider or our money back. We joined, paying $6499 by check.

In Feb 2014 we called Member Choice to begin vacation plans. Since we were told their best pricing was for cruises, we requested a quote for a 10 day cruise.  Having gone on a similar cruise onboard the same line, we were shocked at their quote. So, we decided upon a Hawaiian vacation – again believing their claim of best pricing. We decided to shop and ultimately booked airfare ourselves. Now, confident we had overcome the pricing obstacle from the previous cruise quote, we requested Member Choice only provide pricing for a 7 day Norwegian cruise around the islands.

For comparison sake, we went to Norwegian’s site & called to price out the options given to compare costs. Member Choice quoted $2,503. For the base package and inserted this statement: “In order to get the biggest savings with our wholesalers we cannot pay our discounted rate up front. Instead, you will have to pay the retail rate and then receive a rebate of $165, (netting a cost of $2,338) after the completion of your trip.” We booked direct with Norwegian for $2298. plus received $150 on board credit.

We called Member Choice to inquire and were told Member Choice was only a travel agency that Travel Suppliers of America used and gave us their number. My wife spoke to Jack at TSA who asked for documentation of MC’s and Norwegian’s pricing. Jack confirmed TSA guaranteed if MC’s pricing is even $1 higher, we would receive a full refund. All documents were emailed immediately. Since mailing, several voice mails have been left but no response. We want a full refund.