SCAM WATCH
Tickets to Nowhere
Steve Jackson of Alexandria noticed an ad in The Post Travel section last month for New York's Galaxy Tours and Travel and was pleased with the price he was promised -- just over $8,000 for 10 round-trip tickets on United to London.
He began to worry when a couple of weeks passed and company reps had different excuses for why the promised tickets hadn't arrived . A week after that, company phones weren't being answered. Jackson called United and found Galaxy had reserved five seats -- not 10 -- and hadn't paid for the five.
"I feel like such a [dope]," said Jackson. But actually, he did one thing right: He paid by credit card . American Express has credited his account for the lost funds, he said, and has launched a fraud investigation.
Paying by credit card is the first rule of business , says Mitchell Katz of the Federal Trade Commission. "You can negotiate fraudulent charges," he said. " If you pay by cash or debit card, the money is gone, and you'll never see it again."
Washington Post spokesman Eric Grant said, "The Post does not knowingly publish false or misleading ads, and takes all allegations of possible fraudulent advertising seriously. In the case of Galaxy Tours and Travel based in New York City, we have received several complaints from our readers, which we are currently looking into. While our review is pending, we will not accept any further ads from this advertiser."
But how to avoid trouble to begin with?
· Before putting money down, search the company name with the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.com to see if any complaints have been filed. At press time, the BBB had a sort-of red flag on Galaxy: "This business recently came to our attention. We are attempting to gather info on the business."
· Ask travel providers what professional organizations they belong to. Consider a lack of membership a red flag. If a company claims membership, check it out. The National Tour Association ( http://www.ntaonline.com ) and the United States Tour Operators Association ( http://www.ustoa.com ) list members on their Web sites. Additionally, the American Society of Travel Agents can tell you if a company is a member and whether any complaints have been lodged against the company, whether a member or not. For this free service, call 703-739-2782. Both the NTA and ASTA have a list of tips for avoiding fraud on their Web sites. (For ASTA, go to http://www.travelsense.org .)
· If you've been duped , help the next guy by alerting the BBB (see above) and filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at 877-FTC-HELP or http://www.FTC.gov . Contact local law enforcement authorities to pursue a fraud claim.
Room keys
Moscow Marriotts, Cont'd
Earlier this month, CoGo reported about a guest at Marriott's Tverskaya hotel in Moscow who was charged a higher room rate upon checkout than she was quoted when she reserved on the company's Web site ($208 vs. $175 per night). Now comes the news that the practice may have affected thousands of other guests at Marriott properties throughout Russia.
Last week Washington's Cullen Law Firm filed a suit alleging that at all six of its hotels in Russia, Marriott routinely charged guests 18 percent more when they checked out than the prices quoted online. The complaint alleges that Marriott made deceptive and misleading representations on its Internet reservation system. "Hundreds of thousands of Marriott patrons may have been affected," the filing said. The suit seeks $1,500 in damages for each alleged violation.
In addition to the Tverskaya, the Marriott chain in Russia includes the Royal Aurora, Grand and Renaissance hotels in Moscow and Renaissance hotels in St. Petersburg and Samara.
Marriott denies the charges. "We believe [the suit is] without merit," said spokesman Tom Marder. "We will protest it vigorously." He declined further comment, saying it is company policy not to discuss ongoing legal cases.
BARGAIN OF THE WEEK
Jamaica Winter Plans?
Fly to Jamaica this winter for $436 round trip, including taxes. Details: What's the Deal?, Page P3.
Reporting: Gary Lee, Cindy Loose.
Help feed CoGo. Send travel news to: cogo@washpost.com. By fax: 202-912-3609. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.
