Travel Service Network is a deceptive ripoff company. BBB, protecting it's members BATAVIA, Illinois

In March 2002 I was awarded a vacation voucher.
I was told that it covered round trip air and hotel accomodations for two days three night for my companion and myself. Before claiming the voucher I did all the things one is to do to check the company.

I checked them out through the BBB. The status was good. At the time I did not know about this website. I drove the hourlong drive to claim the prize at the local "claim center". Once there I asked the same questions over and over of what the trip consisted of. I was told repeatidly that it consisted of Round trip air and the two days three nights of hotel accomodations. I was suppost to sit through a 90 minute seminar regarding the company and its services. But since my boyfriend and I did not have a credit card, or our checkbooks we were spared the seminar.

We claimed the trip, and once again I questioned rather or not it included the round trip and hotel accomodations. I also questioned the clause that stated it is not responsiable for transortation. We were reassured that was written to let people know that once we arrived at our destination we were responsiable for our transportation to and from our desired destinations. After questions were answered we left.

We were required to send in a $50.00 refundable reservation fee, along with our voucher, which asked us of our desired travel dates, our choice of departing airport, our travel destination, and the personal info of our names, ect. We recieved the confirmation letter in April 2002. Then there was silence until I called them the first week of July.

I had a very hard time getting ahold of someone. This company really likes to put you on hold, sometimes until the office itself closes. I get to talk to someone after trying for a few days, I am told they have no record of my voucher. I inform them that I recieved a confirmation letter, stating they had recieved the voucher. Then they asked me if I was at a fax machine. THey wanted me to fax them a copy of the letter. I had no fax machine. Then they decide to transfer me to another dept. where I was back to square one. On HOLD.

Finally I speak with another rep that tells me that my trip did not include round trip air. Now how would she know this, the last person I spoke with said they did not have a record of my voucher. I tell the rep that I was told round trip air for two and hotel. She tells me there vouchers only cover air when it is a seven to ten day voucher. I asked her why did I not receive some sort of letter describing this to me. She claims they sent one. But she would not send a second copy. Maybe because the first one did not exist. She then tells me that I was told misleading promotional information at the claim center, they should be responsiable for the air fare not TSN.

I call VACATION GALLERIA that was the "claim Center". They say I need to speak with a Mr. Wilkie he is the owner/operator of the business. He is immpossiable to get ahold of. He is never in when they say he will be.

In the mean time I found out through the Illinois Consumer Protection Division, that TSN has 57 complaints filed against the company. That did not reflect on the BBB report. HMMM, As far as the Vacation Galleria, The Michigan Consumer Protection Division says they have 27 compaints in the first year of business. Their record also did not reflect on their BBB report.

Melissa
Lansing, Michigan

STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!