Comments on: Are travel agents liable for selling bogus travel “insurance” policies?

By: david sparrow

david sparrow — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:17:14 +0000

Hi
We have been using Travel Protection for 3 yrs and decided about 9 months ago to get rid of them as the claims were getting ridicules but the problem was existing policies. We ended up getting stuck for one claim an Alaska cruise which we spent 8 months to collect but bottom line these are very good clients so it is coming out of our pockets . The dept of insurance for california was useless i was wondering if anybody had anymore info or had received any paperwork related to this problem as they promised on the recording.
Thanks David

By: Harry Baxter

Harry Baxter — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:11:59 +0000

I did see the article, Robert. For the benefit of others who might have missed it, here’s a link to the video and text. As usual, there are some harrowing stories from victims who, after experiencing a big tragedy, are forced to undergo another, because of the heartlessness and greed of TAs vending this useless product. There are also some tips on where to get help. Feel free to add your own story to the list. http://www.wftv.com/action9/18750714/detail.html#comment_a65kRM_5Gr3yzIaby-QDJN

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:50:22 +0000

Did anyone see the report on WFTV regarding illegal travel insurance? A friend told me that consumer reporter, Todd Uhlrich filed a report about a local couple who purchased an illegal travel insurance policy from a Florida travel agent and are now out several thousand dollars.

By: Harry Baxter

Harry Baxter — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:46:00 +0000

I really don’t understand how BPC can get away with what they’re doing. They sold Trip Assured about six years ago, and then switched to Vacation Protection Services. After that company went belly up, they switched to Prime Travel Protection, and when Jerry Watson went bankrupt, they had another “travel protection” package available to foist on the unwary customers immediately. The State of Florida knows that they’re selling a bogus product, but nothing is done, and every day that passes results in additional customers getting defrauded. I guess that I now understand why they call the State “Flori-duh”! State of Inaction would also be appropriate.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:35:22 +0000

As has been posted before, Ron Russo and Best Price Cruises’ current involvement with selling illegal travel protection plans is not the first time. On June 16, 2003, Orange County Florida resident, Mark Golden sued Mr. Russo’s Vacation Superstore Network and Trip Assured for failing to honor his claim on an illegal travel protection plan sold to him by Mr. Russo’s company. (Case Number 48-2003-CC-007925-O). I spoke to Mr. Golden today and was informed that he has settled the matter and was reimbursed.

If Best Price Cruises sold you an illegal travel protection plan from Prime Travel Protection, you should contact Mr. Russo and refer to the above case for a settlement.

By: Ben99

Ben99 — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:19:19 +0000

This plea is from http://www.cruisemates.com

I have only cruised once before and booked with a local travel agent. This time I decided to book online. I booked with Smartcruiser and they are not at all friendly or helpful. They took my deposit and I haven’t heard from them since. Am I suppose to get something from them. I wanted to pay the cruise off early and so I called them since they wouldn’t answer emails and they told me they can’t do this. Anyone have any suggestions???

By: Harry Baxter

Harry Baxter — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:35:29 +0000

The gall of Mr. Adrian Ferguson, the CEO of Legendary Journeys, never ceases to amaze me. Do you know that his business has an “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau? This is truly hard to do, but Mr. Ferguson has achieved the dubious distinction.
He makes his money by saturating the Sunday Travel Section market with ads that feature impossibly low priced cruise and travel specials. These prices are, of course, nearly impossible to obtain. Go to his webside at http://www.goLJ.com, pick out one of these specials, and using his online booking engine, try to obtain the price. See that he, almost alone among travel agencies, charges a HUGE non-refundable initial deposit. Notice while you’re at the website that he’s STILL selling bogus travel insurance, despite documented proof that he told aggrieved customers that he was changing to Travelex, an honest, respected seller of travel insurance.
He’s been selling this crap for years, and he’s making so much money that he doesn’t care what his customers and former customers think.
Do some research, tell your friends, complain to your newspaper, contact the State of Florida, and MAKE HIM CARE!

By: Terry Seligman

Terry Seligman — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:23:07 +0000

Full disclosure: I own a licensed Travel Insurance agency.

Stories like this make me furious because they make our industry, which is perfectly legitimate and useful in the vast majority of cases, look awful. FOR FUTURE REFERENCE: In order to protect yourself, your travel investment and your premium, always purchase travel insurance from a licensed insurance agency or from the insurance company directly. Here’s why:

Legitimate insurance providers are regulated by the states in which they do business. They must meet stringent requirements, including the maintenance of large amounts of financial assets for the purpose of paying claims. You can go to the state department of insurance to see if there is any recourse there.

If you are not familiar with the provider that is being offered to you, go to http://www.AMBest.com and check out their financial stability (AM Best is the major rating bureau for the financial services industry.) If you can’t find them on AM Best, do not purchase the product.

An experienced travel insurance agency keeps tabs on the ratings and will help you buy the appropriate plan that fits you.

By: Joe Farrell

Joe Farrell — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:51:54 +0000

@ Robert – I would certainly make a pretty decent negligence claim against the travel agent if their clients were once burned by a scam or a failed insurer. Most travel agents who rely on travel sales for full time income have insurance, and their insurer would defend and pay such a negligence claim. I would think that the claim would be pretty darn good. . . .

By: David Z

David Z — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:04:26 +0000

Any lawyer who has read the Communications Decency Act knows you can’t go after someone who allows commenters because of what the comments have said and you can’t force them to reveal the commenters.

Yup. And I recently found one possible decision (out of various, I’m sure) Chris’ lawyer can use if needed: Enterline v. Pocono Medical Center, 2008 WL 5192386.

By: Katy

Katy — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:26:46 +0000

I purchesed cruise tickets and insurance thru Legendary Journeys. The insurance co. was Traveller Protection Svcs. My husband became very ill 3 days before cruise and needed to be treated immediately. We cancelled on the same day. Travel ler Protection became Universal Assurance 3 mos.later. After many calls(none returned) I called Florida Dept of financial Svcs. They said Universal was not licensed in Fl, however, they would contact them for me. soon after, I received a letter from Universal, signed by JERRY WATSON, stating that My claim had been process and they would send me my refund as soon as possible. that letter was dated 12/16/08. Today is 2/10 and I have not received a penny . I recently found out that Universal filed bankrutcy 1/29/09.
I spoke with a Legendary Journey spokesperson (he returned my call). He gave me JERRY WATSON’s new address but said they can’t help. I told him it was legendary’s responsibility to make sure that what they’re selling is legit. I’m planning to call the T.V. stations consumer help lines tomorrow. What about John Stoessel from ABC?

By: Mr Bad Example

Mr Bad Example — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:55:40 +0000

Dear Mr Smolinski,

I am NOT a customer, nor will I ever become one. Why not get your little piss ant of a lawyer and come after me. I’ll show you an exercise in futility. I EARNED my screen name and I say go for it, Lee.

I’m not going to share my OPINION of you specifically but of people like you. A hypothetical Lee Smolinski if you will. A hypothetical liar cheat and general all around thief. Someone with no morals, values and ethics what so ever.

I’d love to debate you on national TV and expose you for who you are. No lawyers, No advisers, just you, me and say Larry King? What do you say?

If you’re pure as the driven snow then you’ve nothing to fear now do you????? A sharpy business person like you should be able to clean some washed up old Sales Trainer’s clock. What’s to fear? The truth will set you fee Mr Smolinski, so wander out from under your rock and face me.

Bet if you ask Mr Elliott he could set it up. So when you want to do this? I’m pretty open. Hey if you ask nice I’ll front you some Frequent Flyer miles so you can wander up to the CNN studios for free. (actually I’d give him a taste of his own medicine and cancel his ticket when he’s at the airport so he gets a taste of what he does to his customers)

The offer is sincere Mr Smolinski? Tick Tock!!!!

Let’s see what happens now?

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:32:14 +0000

Chris, are they threatening you with litigation or do they just want the commenter info? Any lawyer who has read the Communications Decency Act knows you can’t go after someone who allows commenters because of what the comments have said and you can’t force them to reveal the commenters.

Your lawyer could easily make you some money if it got sanctions against these lawyers, who should know that their claims are baseless.

By: elliott.org | Are travel agents liable for selling bogus travel … « Tips

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 07:34:45 +0000

[...] See original here: elliott.org | Are travel agents l&… [...]

By: David

David — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 02:02:06 +0000

Harry you are a gentleman for continuing your research but at the end issuing an apology. We are complainants, but we are honorable people.

Some simple peripheral news:

BPC has over $100,000 of claims against them.

Smartcruiser.com (Lee Smolinski) has attempted to ban postings on Chris Elliott’s blog.

Lee Smolinski has sued one of his clients for trying to recover his money.

BPC even made a half hearted effort to appease their clients. Smolinski went straight for the throat.

LJ are remaining quite.

There are over twenty complaints about BPC.

Florida authorities are good people but they have had complainst since August 2008. How long does this take? Travelers are scammed by the minute and you have been warned like Bernard Madoff the fraud is nationwide and of gigantic proportions.

The group volunteer media officer is in early negotiation with 48 Hours and several investigative reporters. Some of these media people are eager for a human relations story and it will be available soon when Lee Smolinski issues his suit against over 100 members of our contributors.