Worldwide Travel Center ripoff The Not-So-Free Vacation Specialists Deerfield Beach Florida

Worldwide Travel Center (WTC) specializes in selling "free vacation" certificates to businesses to use for promotional purposes. The problem is that the value of the "free vacation" is worth less than the time and effort required to complete the convoluted and contradictory WTC reservation process.

As others have reported, Kars-4-Kids is one organization that issues WTC certificates and I promptly received my certificate from Kars-4-Kids after donating my car. After carefully reading the 13 numbered Terms and Conditions as well as several other conditions dispersed throughout the certificate, my common sense said to just throw the certificate in the trash. Instead, I thought I'd try the process which eventually led to no vacation, free or otherwise, and the writing of this report.

I filled out my certificate, called the 888-331-3331 reservation number [You must call prior to mailing your request.] and spoke to a WTC agent. This was 39 days prior to travel [Arrival date must be a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 90 days from receipt of your request.] The agent asked me all the questions on the certificate and then took my credit card number to secure the reservation. She then stated that I had reservations for San Luis Obispo, CA and asked if I was interested in other WTC vacation opportunities (i.e. timeshare membership). I said I was not interested and she said I could now send my certificate to complete the reservation process.

I mailed the certificate on 12/7/2005 and also registered my certificate on www.worldwidetravelcenter.com in case there were any problems with the mail. Everything appeared to be fine until I received a rejection letter 15 days later stating "This offer requires your request be in our office 30 days prior to your requested travel date." and "This offer requires you submit a $50 refundable reservation guarantee in order to be processed."

I sent an E-mail explaining that I submitted my request by phone and by Web site 39 days prior to travel and also provided credit card authorization for the $50 deposit. WTC responded that the certificate did not reach their office in time and the $50 deposit must be a check. I pointed out that it only took 3 days for their rejection letter to arrive by mail, yet they claim it took 12 days for the certificate to reach their office. I also pointed out that their certificate states "Mail completed form and $50 refundable reservation guarantee, payable by credit card only" which directly contradicts their E-mail stating they only accept checks.

WTC responded that I must select a new travel date and submit a $50 check. I opted to throw away the certificate and write this report instead. After reading the other reports about unpleasant vacations and timeshare presentations, I recommend that all Worldwide Travel Center certificates be placed in their proper receptacle.

John
Lancaster, California
U.S.A.