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 Don't Get Burned by Travel Fraud
The business of fraudulent travel schemes has grown exponentially in the last several years. Americans have suffered losses in the billions as a result of vacation package scams. As you prepare for your summer vacation, here are some guidelines to help you avoid becoming a victim of travel fraud.
One of the keys to avoiding travel fraud is to be cautious when choosing your travel provider. Recent marketing tactics have made efforts to take choice out of the consumer's hands, which leaves the consumer vulnerable from the start. Using unsolicited faxes, junk mail, and telemarketing recordings that offer "too good to be true" deals, or award the consumer "Free Vacations," the scam artists create an immediacy which can trap the unaware consumer. This manner of booking travel can be filled with numerous pitfalls including hidden fees, bait and switch tactics, or real estate sales pitches.
In order to avoid this initial possibility of fraud, it is recommended you deal with a travel agent who is reliable and accessible. The state of California recently passed a law which requires sellers of travel in the state to register with the Attorney General's Office. You can see if your travel agent has complied with the registration here:
http://ag.ca.gov/travel/
To further research your travel agent, you should also see if their business has a reliability report with the Better Business Bureau's website: www.bbb.org
The next phase of avoiding travel fraud involves examining the details of the vacation package itself. The most important action you can take to avoid potential vacation disaster is to get the offer in writing before you commit. Pay attention to details such as cancellation and refund policies. Make note of details such as specific accommodations, limitations on stay, or "black-out" dates. The consumer should avoid making any payments towards the package if any of these terms are missing, vague, or, unacceptable. If any changes are necessary, ensure you obtain written proof of those modifications.
To minimize the chance of fraud, consumers should stay away from any vacation seller that requires any advance payment without a written contract, or high pressure sales calls that can only be done by telephone. This can leave the consumer unable to enforce any promises that may have been made verbally in order to close the sale. The consumer should also be aware requesting payment by phone may actually be only a means of identity theft. It's best to avoid giving any personal information over the phone.
Once you have the offer in writing, the consumer should contact and verify all reservations, accommodations, and facilities separately, independent of the travel agent. Confirm your reservations with the airline, cruise line, car rental agencies, and hotels/resorts. You should also research your accommodations through the internet to ensure they meet both what was promised and your expectations. You may also use the opportunity to find out if the rate your travel seller is providing you is competitive to what it would cost to make those arrangements independently.
If you are seeking a refund from a California based travel seller, The Travel Consumer
Restitution Corporation is designed to process these claims. You can visit their website here
http://www.tcrcinfo.com/index.html
Any air travel related complaints can be filed with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division which you can access here: http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/problems.htm
If you have disputes regarding a Cruise Line you can contact the Federal Maritime Commission at their website here: http://www.fmc.gov/bureaus/secretary/DisputesinvolvingaCruiseLine.asp
Bon Voyage!!
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