38 - Sunday, January 31, 1988 - North Shore News

TRAVEL

TELEPHONE PROMOTIONS

Readers warned of
‘travel club’ scams and fraud

THERE’S probably no business like the travel business that
is more open to scams, frauds and other scheming enter-

prises.

We regularly read about travell-
ers stranded in foreign countries
because their tour company folded
during their vacation.

Other companies fold before the
travellers even get off the ground
— which may be a blessing. |
think I'd prefer to be left behind
from .the start rather than in
Venezuela.

So, what’s new in the fraud
department?

Consumer and Corporate Af-
fairs Canada has just sent me a
warning about the latest piece of
skulduggery — done over the tele-
phone.

They warn that fraudulent
American travel promoters are
telephoning unsuspecting Cana-
dians and inviting them to join
“travel clubs’? which promise
dirt-cheap vacations to various sun
spots.

The caller telis you that the cost
‘to join is perhaps. $50. For your
investment you” get one. free* air
fare and accommodation for two
‘at_ the destination. One catch is
that you must buy the second air-
‘fare through the travel club and

. perhaps pay two or three times as
much as you would from an airline
“. or travel agency.
’ Another catch js .that they ask
‘for your credit) card) number.
Anyone who gives this information
over the phone to an unsolicited
caller is asking for trouble. There
have been incidences of all sorts of
fraud including’ huge charges for
_ Rnordered products and services.’

* Another. bad deal is the postcard

‘reading, “*You have been selected

to win a free trip----.”’ You are re- .

marriage’ proposais.

quested to telephone a toll-free
number to claim your “‘prize*’.
When you do, it's right back to the
old ‘travel club"’ scam.

travel
wise
Barbara McCreadie

With some of the clubs what
Starts out as an attractive offer
goes sour as hidden charges begin
appearing. Then comes a list of
“regulations’’ — all impossible to
comply with and therefore you lose
your investment.

The warning bulletin also tells us
that our government cannot pro-
tect us from these unscrupulous
dealers and cannot help us get any
money back.

They offer the following tips to
help us recognize trouble and pro-
tect ourselves:

* Do not give your credit card
number over the telephone.

You may be told that it's just
for ‘verification’? and later find
that you’ve been billed for ail sorts
of goodies.
~ © Be wary of ‘‘great deals.”

’ “Few legitimate businesses. can
afford to give away things of real
value or to undercut substantially
everyone else’s price.”

* Do not be pressured into buy-
‘ing -- now. -

The apparent tactic with these
callers is to come on with ‘the
hard-sell approach, telling the vic-
tim that if he doesn’t hop right on
the bandwagon he’ s missed his
turn, —
© If in doubt say no.

I suppose this is excellent advice
about anything up to and including
Trouble is,
“No’’ is the hardest word to pro-
nounce in the English language.

© Ask detailed questions.

We’ re loo

They suggest that you quiz the
promoter about specifics such as
airlines, hotels and other data
relating to the package. Especially
ask about refund and cancellation
policies. Frankly 1°d never Ict the
conversation get this far! Refer to
previous point.

© Get all information in writing
before you agree to buy.

Here, again, | doubt if I'd want
to get this chummy with a tele-
phone solicitor.

¢ Check out the company.

The newsletter suggests contac-
ting the Better Business Bureau but
warns that fraudulent companies
“change their names frequently to
avoid detection."

* Do not send money by mes-
senger or overnight mail.

When I read that warning |
wondered just how stupid some
people can be. Imagine sending
hard cash to some outfit you'd
never heard of, on the strength of
a telephone call!

Well, there’s the warning.

I'd also like to include a warning
about the occasional store-front
operation that appears from time
to time.

A recent one in Vancouver was
called ‘‘Travel and Tours."’
Members were asked to pay a
membership fee whch would entitle
them to discounted travel
packages.

When the outfit went broke, on-
ly those who had actually paid for
travel arrangements got their
money back. The Travel Assurance
Fund (an insurance fund managed
by the government and financed by
the travel agents) doesn’t cover
“club memberships.°’

Aside from getting burned fi-
nancially, it must be very disap-
pointing to a prospective traveller
to have his heart set on a trip at a
tidiculously low price and see the
“deal” fali through.

Quite Hkely he would be unable
to afford the proper cost of the
trip purchased through a reputable
agency.

There's more than money to be
lost when shopping for travel
“bargains.’’

Every day, people risk their lives
on airlines operating out of foreign
countries that offer bargain fares
for the simple reason that no one

ng

for you

We are looking for attractive local girls,
19 and. over, for a paid modelling
assignment in the North Shore News
— Sunshine Girl feature. Anyone inter-
ested please contact the Photography
Department for an interview. :

| CALL PHOTOGRAPHY

* 985-2131

“1 VOICE De HORTA Ano WEST VANCOUVER

By SUNDAY - WEDNESDAY + FRIDAY

would fly these death traps at full
fare.

I've heard of ridiculously low
package deals originating out of
various European and Asiatic
countries — and heard many of
the horror stories from the suckers

“With some of the

Cheape package, finding herself
aboard an “‘aerial garbage dump”’
that barely made it off the runway.
She was so terrified that she threw
away her return ticket and paid
full fare on a reputable airline to
return.

clubs what starts

out as an attractive offer goes sour as
hidden charges begin appearing.’’

who bought them.

Understandably, many of these
travellers are young people on
limited budgets but some of the
best — or worst — stories come
from friends of mine, also travel
writers.

One told me about buying an El

OPEN 7 DAYS
PER WEEK!
10-4 PM — WKNDS

In travel, like everything else,
you should remember “‘let the
buyer beware."’

If you have any questions about
any travel scheme, check with the
B.C. Registrar of Travel Services,
865 Hornby St., Vancouver. Tele-
phone 660-3540.

NOT ALL SUCCESSFUL CRUISES
BEGIN AT STATION: TRAVEL!

(MOST ALASKA CRUISES poi!)

Stardancer
Cunard Princess
Universe
Sea Princess
Noordam

STARTING

Rotterdam |

Nieuw Amsterdam
Island Princess .
Royal Viking Star

"Royal Princess

Sun Princess. .

Golden Odyssey
Sagafjord

Ar $425.00

South, i Iowa wear a: Tey
Cotton Hooded Shirt ($62) :
jacket — to the airport..The next

“day, when the mad‘dogs and t

Out at noonday,'the Shirt rotects.

“me from the sun.

Note the buttoned-up neck »
opening to safeguard my neck... | f
And there's another pocket INSIDE

‘the kangaroo pocket for a wallet.*.:

~The Drawstring Pants ($49) are: | f
elasticized at the back of the waist
band. oe

Colours: White, “sand, light blue
and navy. Sizes: Men Sto XXX
Women S to XXL. 7

By the way: EXPECTANT
MOTHERS tell us this outfit is-

marveliously comfortable. :
Alex Tiley

We're Moving March 1, 1988

1537 West

Broadway

Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1W6E

Drop in, Phone or Write

Barbara Tilley

1559 Pemberton Ave.

Hours:
Mon-Sat. 10-5

North Vancouver

980-2631

nieeepeveliphie tine mn atiainn ren Rie acaene ena nmol en aes Pectcten at eke th rent haan A bo me ANC amma Any ARE Ret ec