Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office Shuts Down Another Travel Scam
By Space Coast Daily // January 16, 2016
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office has shut down another travel scam, obtaining temporary injunctions against several related travel companies and owners.
This is the latest action taken to stop a total of six Florida travel companies accused of deceiving consumers. Last month, Attorney General Bondi’s Office filed actions against three companies seeking similar relief.
According to the most recent complaint filed by Attorney General Bondi’s Office, Reservation Services International knowingly allowed its two distributors, Map Destinations, LLC and Florida Beaches Destinations Club, LLC, which operated as Suite Journeys and Diamond Vacations International, to employ unscrupulous sales tactics to induce consumers into purchasing its vacation club memberships.
The complaint alleges that the travel companies lured potential customers into attending lengthy sales presentations with promises of free gifts or cruises that were laden with restrictive terms or not actually free.
The companies also allegedly exaggerated the true savings, nature and value of the club memberships. Some consumers paid several thousands of dollars for these travel club memberships that the companies claimed offered deeply discounted wholesale pricing on hotels, condominiums, cruises, rental cars and vacation packages.
Once purchased, consumers reported that they could obtain the same or better pricing on other free publicly available travel booking websites.
Based upon the attorney general’s filed complaint, the court ordered the following relief:
• A temporary injunction against Reservation Services International;
• The appointment of a monitor to oversee the operations of Reservation Services International;
• A temporary injunction, asset freeze and appointment of a receiver against Map Destinations, LLC, St. Augustine, and Florida Beaches Destination Club, LLC, Daytona Beach; and
• A temporary injunction against related companies and certain individual owners.
Consumers who believe they are victims of these companies can submit a complaint to the Florida Attorney General’s Office by clicking here.
To view the filed complaint, click here.
To view the court’s order granting temporary injunction with asset freeze without notice, the appointments of a receiver and a monitor and other equitable relief, click here.
For more information on last month’s actions, click here.
