Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Global Discovery Vacations is a SCAM

All I can say is I'm both sorry and elated to find individuals like myself that were scammed for travel services by Global Discovery Vacations. This company is a total consumer ripoff. How dare anyone of this company, at whatever satellite office they have moved into this month, even try to defend what this company is selling. All of your stories on-line sound so familiar to what has happened to my husband and I. This company couldn't be more of a joke.They start by calling you on the phone stating you have a free trip (usually 2 nights, 3days) with a choice of 5 or 6 places to go for attending a 90 min presentation for travel services. After you agree to the 90 min presentation you drive to whatever office they have set up for that time period. I have noticed that all of them have short life spans. After you hear what great discounts they have (and I'm the first to admit how embarrassed I am for buying in) they negotiate a lifetime able to be passed on for generations "vacation club." The membership fees all started out in the $15K range in my presentation.Here's the scam. They have a couple of people working out of a real office somewhere. Then for as long as it takes to sign up all the suckers like me they have several "temp" sales offices. These are where they give sales presentations. Once the consumer buys in they have 3 days to break the contract. The travel services department (if you want to call it that) is only open Mon-Fri. The presentations are given on a Friday or Saturday by the time you call on Monday and by the time you get a response you can no longer void the contract. Once your stuck they rely on your frustration to take over. Most people only get two-three weeks of vacation a year with a couple of long weekends. This equates to only being able to go on 4-5 trips or so a year, if your lucky.You can't see where you "might" be able to travel, you have to submit more money to this joke of a company for the chance at a vacation resort. GDV needs an attorney with some time to put them out of business once and for all. I was lied to about all inclusive vacations being a part of my membership, which is not so (regardless of the 4 stars I won't use this year). I can get "discounted" trips thru an affiliated travel agent, which it didn't take me long to figure out that the discounts they give aren't really discounts at all. It's just a few people looking up what you can do yourself in about 5 minutes on the web (minus the comission rate for providing this "exceptional" service to you, you will find the web prices about 20% cheaper). This goes against everything they told me in the presentation of buying airline tickets in bulk and buying blocks of rooms each year for members. YADA YADAThese employees have to know what GDV is doing. Anytime I have called trying to get information about the company I am either forwarded to voice mail or given to 'Tamara' if that's her real name the supervisor on duty and the highest power of lack of caring the company can offer.I would be more than happy to be a part of a class action lawsuit against GDV (GLOBAL DISCOVERY VACATIONS) if anybody is interested. I will be keeping a close eye out on new reports. This is not an isolated incident. There are many other travel companies scamming people out of their hard earned cash.CLOSE DOWN:GLOBAL DISCOVERY VACATIONS1935 SHERMER ROAD SUITE 100NORTHBROOK, IL 60062847-205-0725Parent addrese provide (may have moved by now):5360 College BoulevardSuite 200Overland Park, Kansas 66211913-498-0960

31 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. It seems to me that Jennifer must not understand the process. We bought four credits a year for about $3500. In October we went to So. Carolina for a week at a great condo with tennis courts and on the beach. Cost? $119. For a week? Yes, for a week. So we got about $600 of our money back by that saving. We have now submitted a request for a week in Canada or New Hampshire. It will cost us $119 again plus our annual dues. So in two years we will have gotten back about $1000 of our investment through savings. Next year we will put in for Europe and for another tennis vacation. Yes, there is a procedure to go through to get your reservations made but it is not difficult and, we made a mistake on dates last year but with one phone call the problem was fixed. I suggest Jennifer just get on with using her membership as an opportunity for good times at little cost. Bruce Gair, Haymarket, VA.

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  3. Well, I have tried to book 3 trips so far with no success. They couldn't accommodate me anywhere in New Hampshire except in winter, which meant I couldn't do to the theme parks...Cape Cod is also only available in the winter, when the restaurants are mostly closed and no beach. My experience has been that they have GREATLY exaggerated their inventory...can't go where I want except for times when no one wants to go there...took over a month to get on website and couldn't cancel because it was past 3 days. If you are happy with this program, you are likely retired and can travel any time and don't really care too specifically where you go. I am getting ready to tell my kids that the Disney resort they assured us we could stay in when we bought the package is not going to happen.

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  4. TRUST ME..The good reviews above are from GDV Staff members!!
    My friend and I were on the beach in Daytona when we were approached by a woman asking us to attend a lecture on Vacations. We were to recieve a 3/2 stay at a resort, a $50 visa card and a $100 Restaurant discount card. ALL WERE A SCAM! I had to pay $50 deposit for the free 3/2 stay, $62.00 when I booked it and have to go back to Daytona and hear ANOTHER Lecture!! Like Jennifer I tried to cancel but it was after the 3 days because of the weekend. I have refused to continue to pay, have asked my Credit Card to cancel my $1100.00 deposit and am seriously looking for a Law Firm to Represent me and consumers like Jennifer.
    Since Sept 21st I have not been able to book a trip! I sent an email asking to be contacted and someone TRY to make me happy! When I called the Finance Company he explained that I would be sent to Collection if I did not pay! Hey, ALL I WANT IS FOR SOMEONE FROM GDV TO MAKE ME HAPPY! NO
    COMMUNICATION FROM THEM at all AND THEY STILL WANT ME TO PAY!
    If you know of a Lawfirm, PLEASE CALL ME!!!
    352-598-6222... Unhappy Valerie in Florida!

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    1. We also are dissatisfied with this service. Three days is not enough time to evaluate it. Six months in we have decided that their offerings are to expensive and also do not fit our life style. I emailed them and asked for a cancellation in preparation for the complaint I submitted to the State of Florida.

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    2. were you able to cancel? I would like to also, and they told me that I WAS NEVER ALLOWED TO

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    3. were you able to cancel? I would like to also, and they told me that I WAS NEVER ALLOWED TO

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    4. I can't give you a refund since I'm just a GDV member, but I may be able to help you somewhat. I will be retiring soon and will have the flexibility to use my membership more. If you are anxious to sell, and want to recoup some of your investment, maybe I can help. Just reply with details of membership and how to contact.

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  5. I do not work for GDV! My husband and I invested in this back in 2006. We have never been unhappy. As a matter of fact, we have only used it once but my husbands daughter has used it 4 times even paying the extra transfer fees required to use it. She has always been happy. Here bookings have been in both Florida and South Carolina. The one time we used it out accommodations were 99 for the whole week and a fabulous condo in Destin during prime season. It was truly lovely, had a private beach and 3 pools, 1 heated. We would use it more but for the pet restriction. We bought the bottom tier so that is 2 weeks or 1 week prime, we always use the 1 week prime. HAppy HapPY HappY. Thanks GDV.

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  6. My husband and I were scammed also. We were told we could get a place in Perth, Australia, which is where my son lives and the main reason we purchased this crap. Well, there is only one place and it is 1 hour away from my son's, will cost us additional money, and can only be attained by trading with someone else. When we went to stay at the only place available in November, the place was sooo noisy, really cramped, and they didn't even have a thermostat to control the fireplace so it was either HOT or COLD. GDV sucks!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. Agree. All they seem to offer is condos and cruises neither of which we want yet they promised different at the presentation. Over priced as well, I can find cheaper on my own if I wanted.

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    2. I can't give you a refund since I'm just a GDV member, but I may be able to help you somewhat. I will be retiring soon and will have the flexibility to use my membership more. If you are anxious to sell, and want to recoup some of your investment, maybe I can help. Just reply with details of membership and how to contact.

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  7. My husband and I bought in over 8 yrs ago and I was skeptical at first hut my husband insisted we do it and im glad we did. We have had some amazing trips. There have been times we couldnt get in where we wont byt we are usually pretty flexible and have found the earlier you put in your request the better

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  9. I am not employed by GDV, nor do I know personally anyone who is. My husband and I bought in at least 8 years ago (can't remember exactly when). Our first experience was not a good and and we got no resolution to the problem. HOWEVER, since then, we have had no real problem and have enjoyed trips almost monthly. Having said that, we don't like to go ANYWHERE during peak season, so are quite content to travel during the off season. Since we are aware that we are traveling off-season, we do not have peak-season-expectations.

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  10. I am not employed by GDV and have no personal relationship with anyone who does. We travel worldwide and bought our membership probably 5 - 6 years ago and have not been disappointed. We have stayed in some amazing places in Italy, Ireland, the UK, Germany, Paris and the French Riviera. For us - we travel overseas at least 2 times a year - this has been a perfect resource.

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  11. hi Jennifer., I would love to be a part of a law suit against global disc. vacations. they have taken us for $9000 which we have not used once. we go on our vacations in feb. to get away from winter weather. I have contacted them numerous times in the past 8 months and I'm always told the inventory isn't available yet. Truth is... there is no inventory where we want to go. And the condos they have found me take thousands of dollars to fly to which makes it not possible, seeing is how we have already spent almost 10 grand!! Let's begin a law suit. All I want is my money back!! I can take my 10 grand and have several nice vacations of my choice.

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    1. I can't give you a refund since I'm just a GDV member, but I may be able to help you somewhat. I will be retiring soon and will have the flexibility to use my membership more. If you are anxious to sell, and want to recoup some of your investment, maybe I can help. Just reply with details of membership and how to contact you.

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  12. I just want my money back. Just had an on line meeting which was to get me to "buy up" in order to address my issues. When I bought into this originally I was lead to believe that this program has places where I want to go, any time of the year that I would ant to go. My experience is that is not true. Don't "buy" into their crap! If there is a class action lawsuit in Florida! I want in!

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    1. I can't give you a refund since I'm just a GDV member, but I may be able to help you somewhat. I will be retiring soon and will have the flexibility to use my membership more. If you are anxious to sell, and want to recoup some of your investment, maybe I can help. Just reply with details of membership and how to contact.

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  13. I too called for a refund and no luck! Inventory that is available is awful!!!!! The inventory worth going to is never available when I need it, like Thanksgiving.... Christmas.... etc. We are going to try a Christmas trip....fingers crossed. We haven't used yet, but that is because nothing is ever available..

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    1. I can't give you a refund since I'm just a GDV member, but I may be able to help you somewhat. I will be retiring soon and will have the flexibility to use my membership more. If you are anxious to sell, and want to recoup some of your investment, maybe I can help. Just reply with details of membership and how to contact.

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  14. Anyone selling program if so how much and how many stars

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  15. Replies
    1. I can't give you a refund since I'm just a GDV member, but I may be able to help you somewhat. I will be retiring soon and will have the flexibility to use my membership more. If you are anxious to sell, and want to recoup some of your investment, maybe I can help. Just reply with details of membership and how to contact.

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  16. I would like to talk to any unhappy GDV members about buying your memberships. I am a member and need more stars to use. Reply here. I will pay for transfer costs, too.

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    1. Will sell mine... 4 stars just bought it. 7405064096

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  17. I too have GDV and bought in for right around $4000. The inventory is better in some places than others. I have 3 stars for vacation weeks (with christmas/New Years blocked out because those weeks go for a premium. Personally I'd rather be home with family at that time. Our 3 stars can be used as 2 stars for a 1 bedroom during peak for 1 week or 3 stars for 2 weeks OR 3 stars for 2 bedroom for 1 week. Our package also has 6 stars for expressways or last minute inside of 3 months I think. Anyway, we use the expressways 2-3 times a year and it is a great deal. It is usually $99-189 for the week and since we live in Colorado there are lots of choices not far away. Even if we only stay 2-3 nights instead of the full week it is a good deal since a basic hotel here is over $100/nt easily. Anyway, if you use it or can be more flexible it is a decent deal. IMO, if you paid over $6000 you didn't put in the time and effort to negotiate. I admit it was not fun negotiating but it paid off for us. It is certainly far better than our friends who own two actual time shares and spent over $50,000 and have to pay $900 in dues annually even if they don't use it. That would really add insult to injury.

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  18. GDV doesn't offer anything that can't be found on the internet - for free. It's a lousy value.

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  19. I too was scammed by GDV. After buying two stars, I found that I could never book a vacation. Not even a year in advance. Class action anyone? They offered only 4 rooms on the entire east coast. And they were in Florida in the summer time!

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