I would cry if this happened!

[Grumbo]

In Canada, for instance, out of more then 33,000 TAs there are only 2,100 that are certified.

Geez good to know.
Looks like my odds of getting a mentally stable T.A. is pretty good then.
Or did you mean another type of "certified"??

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[Amberle3]

That's "certified", not "certifiable"

If you want a listing of the agents that are "certified" in Canada you can check out www.citc.ca, there's a listing on there.

There's no listing of agents that are mentally instable as far as I know. Although at times I think it could be argued that most of us are!

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

That poor family.

I know I pay more, but these stories are why I book direct whenever possible. Yes it may be more work, but I have control issues.

 

[starwood]

$32,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Someone is going on a nice vacation - just not the people who booked.

 

[CruisingCA2005]

$32,000 for 28 people seems fairly cheap. She probably promised them unbelievable rates for their business.

I hope the family will be able to recoup at least some of their $$.

 

[BriarRosie]

That's why it's important to book with an agency that's CLIA certified.

If you don't receive a written confirmation of the booking after the deposit was made, ASK. Reputable agencies usually send a confirmation within a couple of weeks, detailing the receipt of the deposit, and often detailing when the balance is due.

It's a shame that these people didn't know what to expect when booking with a travel agent.

 

[Amberle3]

Originally posted by BriarRosie
That's why it's important to book with an agency that's CLIA certified.

Even that is not necessarily an indicator.

CLIA has a series of programs/tests that agents have to complete before they - individually - become CLIA certified. However an *agency* can sign up with CLIA and get usage of the CLIA logo etc for $399 a year. Nothing else needed. Which never fails to amaze me.

So all it really means is that the agency has paid the money for the membership.

 

[MrsPete]

1. The travel agent should be sent on a one-way trip to jail. I hope Disney gets involved (and since their company name was defauded indirectly, they may) because they have the power to bring out the big guns for stuff like this.

2. While I feel bad for the people involved, they also share some of the blame (certainly not the lion's share, but some). They should have researched the trip and the agent a bit themselves. You know what they say: buyer beware. Every year when I teach research skills in school, the students declare long and loud that it's a skill they'll never need in real life -- wrong!

 

[jin diesel]

I can't understand how with all the resources, tools, info and knowledge readily available for consumers today - people get taken like this.

28 people taking a trip and not ONE of them over the course of a year bothered to do ANY research?

A ship of fools, indeed!!!!!

This probably isn't the first time something like this has happened to them....

 

[Verandah Man]

I'm from the Philly area and I was just watching the latest about this story on the local news. It appears as though the TA is in police custody. The family trip was going to be a 3 day land and 4 day sea package.

Seeing the TA on television, in her office, the TA looked as though she was in her mid to late 70's. The family members are still waiting outside her office. The news reporter stated that DCL has been contacted and said if the TA wired the $27,000 for the cruise part of the trip, that the family then would be able to make the cruise.

I feel so bad for these people.

To see more about this story click on this website KYW 3 News and look for the report from Ji Young Min on a $32,000 vacation nightmare.

 

[MickeyB426]

I see stories like this and I thank God I'm a control freak when it comes to travel. I have no use for Travel Agents, no matter how reputable they are.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

That is so sad....
But by the same token-I think it's CRAZY to pay $32000 for a vacation and not do any research or checking up on whether it was really confirmed/paid for with Disney or not?? And am I reading that correctly that they didn't find out until it was time for the cruise? Don't you get documents like weeks if not 30 days beforehand? It makes no sense to wait until the day of the vacation to find out you have been ripped off... it should be a big clue when you have no documents, no tickets, no flight info, etc.

 

[CruisingCA2005]

Thanks for the link Verandah Man! Please keep us updated if you hear any new developments.

 

[invaderzim]

I, too, am in this news area and heard the story last night. Dreadful!!! VM has the facts straight more than the news man who reported them! It was a land and sea. Last I heard, the woman was trying to get a loan to pay them back, but I have a feeling it didn't pan out if she's in police custody!

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by invaderzim
I, too, am in this news area and heard the story last night. Dreadful!!! VM has the facts straight more than the news man who reported them! It was a land and sea. Last I heard, the woman was trying to get a loan to pay them back, but I have a feeling it didn't pan out if she's in police custody!

The latest I heard on the six o'clock news was that the TA went to the bank, but she was being followed by one of the family members. After she left the bank she headed for 30th Street Station(Amtrak Train Station in Philly), she was being held there by the Amtrak Police until the Philadelphia Police arrived and took her into custody. I will be watching the 10 o'clock news tonight. The family was supposed to leave this morning for WDW, now, they just hope to get their money back.

 

[invaderzim]

Good -- she deserves to be in jail. I'll be watching the Philly news also, but keep us posted on what you find out. Thanks, VM.

Cathy

 

[PhotobearSam]

I'm not surprised at all that people don't check things out.

We run a motel and Chalet business and I had a woman show up for August 15 reservation on July 15th...I had all the documentation and I sent a confirmation letter. When she walked in she was holding the letter...She must have never read it because it clearly said AUGUST 15....

She said no I booked July 15th...That was impossible as I was full for the 15th as I had been full for months by the time she called and that is why I send CONFIRMATION LETTERS....Her husband was fuming...I found them a cottage from a friend and they forfeited their deposit with me.

As they were leaving I could hear her DH say..."You always do things like this...Don't you read anything when it comes in???"

People?????Nothing surprises me anymore.

 

[BriarRosie]

Originally posted by Amberle3
Even that is not necessarily an indicator.

CLIA has a series of programs/tests that agents have to complete before they - individually - become CLIA certified. However an *agency* can sign up with CLIA and get usage of the CLIA logo etc for $399 a year. Nothing else needed. Which never fails to amaze me.

So all it really means is that the agency has paid the money for the membership.

That's IT?? Sheesh! I would think they'd have stricter standards. I guess that's not even an indicator.

Maybe the best thing is word of mouth.

 

[natdencro]

They paid $32,000 and never got so much as a receipt? Obviously, if the story is true, they have got more money than sense. An 8 day cruise? Perhaps the newspaper got their wires crossed? I cant believe anyone in their right mind would part with all that money and never check all the reservations. Nat

 

[Verandah Man]

Originally posted by natdencro
They paid $32,000 and never got so much as a receipt? Obviously, if the story is true, they have got more money than sense. An 8 day cruise? Perhaps the newspaper got their wires crossed? I cant believe anyone in their right mind would part with all that money and never check all the reservations. Nat

According to what I've heard on the news, late last night, the family does have their receipts from the TA, it was also a 3 day land and 4 day sea package that was purchased. From what I gather the TA never made the reservations. The TA is now in jail for fraud, as she was caught at the Amtrak Station in Philadelphia trying to leave town on Thursday.