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When will I be issued a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher? Note that this is a salesperson who will try to sway you into "changing your destination, adjusting dates or setting up a new payment plan to make paying for your trip easier" according to their help center. Overall, unless an excursion is of special interest to you, I wouldnt recommend participating in them, simply because they seem overpriced. As a parent considering an EF Tour for my teenager, I know safety was a big concern for me. "You can accept a travel voucher with no penalties, or you can accept a. The first was in 2018. It seemed cool at the time however most countries either had the shops and food places shut down early or be completely closed due to the big games. SCUMBAGS!!!!! How to get tickets. I checked our beds for bedbugs and thankfully did not find any. Our Tour Director said it was because London is a melting pot of cultures, but our group didnt buy that. They also charged me $189 for insurance I declined. In Paris, those who went to Versaille told us the experience was underwhelming because of the limited time available inside the palace, and the lack of lunch options available to those who went. I'll look into that. To make matters worse, EF Tours often refuses to issue refunds even after customers have submitted evidence of their dissatisfaction. Although she sent Expedia all of her receipts, the online travel agency refused to refund the unused leg or the new ticket she had to buy. She told us we only had five minutes to use the restroom and get back on the bus. COVID-19 required everybody to be quarantined. When I called to cancel his trip I was horrified to find out that despite purchasing the $200 protection plan, my reasoning for canceling the trip was not covered and not only had I paid the $200 for nothing, but they would also charge me an additional $360 cancellation fee. When we reached Italy, things changed a bit. Things started off badly when we discovered that the lights in all the hallways were not on, and that we had to hunt around with our cell phone flashlights to find our way to our rooms. How to get your money back from a Zelle scam or accidental money transfer, This PayPal invoice scam almost got me. lakewood board of education address; hyde park skatepark london; obituaries humphrey, nebraska Menu Toggle. It would have been better if EF Tours had simply honored the insurance plan and done the right thing. My oldest son was scheduled to take a school trip to Peru next year. If you're seeking an EF Tours. Once EF has processed and notified you of this move, you may opt to receive a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher valued at 100% of monies paid toward your original tour/program. Although student were allowed to go out on their own during our free time, they were asked to go in groups of three or four and were left in pretty safe areas to spend their free time. We found that participants can sign up just about any time before the trip departs. In the meantime, I received notice that I would be required to attend a mandatory training evolution with the military and learned that the dates overlapped. COVID-19 Future Travel Vouchers that were issued to travelers whose original tour was scheduled to depart on or after February 24, 2020 may be redeemed for travel departing on or before September 30, 2025. Sometimes this was a good thing, but sometimes it was incredibly frustrating. how to get a full refund from ef tours how to get a full refund from ef tours Things started off poorly when our tour guide was an hour late to meet us at baggage claim and then our bus was over another hour late to pick us up at the airport. I am now retired, but have organized and will be leading another "Best of Europe" tour this September. In Munich, we were given lodging one block from the red light district, and had three young women awakened during the middle of the night by a drunken man demanding access to their room (their room entrance was directly onto the street). He went as part of a group of senior high school students on a school sponsored trip. Give the system a chance to work before filing a chargeback. Toll-free 1-877-974-7462 ext. I didn't think sharing was a big deal until I found out that he's expected to share a ben with a complete stranger. Three weeks after enrolling, our circumstances changed so I called to cancel, expecting to pay the $95 cancellation fee x2. Travelers should expect to receive a refund approximately 4-6 weeks after it is requested. Boston In an assurance of discontinuance filed in Suffolk Superior Court, EF Institute for Cultural Exchange Inc. and EF Explore America Inc. (EF) will offer additional cash refunds ranging from $100 to $435 to consumers who booked domestic and international travel through the company scheduled to depart between March 11 and May 14, 2020 that was ultimately cancelled due to the escalating . A COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher retains the value of all money paid into a travelers account which can be applied to any EF tours or language product with a departure date prior to the COVID-19 Future Travel Vouchers expiration date. For travelers who had booked their program by redeeming a previously issued COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher, the cash refund option available will be based on the originally issued voucher terms (e.g., travelers who received a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher for a tour originally scheduled to depart between March 1, 2020 and May 14, 2020 may exchange their voucher for all monies paid, less $565). May 9, 2 His high school in the Parkway school district decided to book the tour through EF Educational Tours. Be sure to document all communication with EF Tours so that you can refer back to it if necessary. That way, when a company drags its feet on a refund, you can file a chargeback. Said she would pay for it herself as the total cost for her to go alone would be enough to take my entire family on a nice vacation. Trip management Picking a trip, how . Yes, even though quarantine is a covered reason for a full refund, EF Tours CHARGED members $$ a significant amount of money thus negating a full refund. Were always here to help. Once I realized that time would be much more limited at every destination than I expected it to be, the trip went much more smoothly. EF provides a Tour Director to accompany your group through the entire trip. Anyone was allowed to sign up for the trip. You might be able to work something out. While these options are available, the bread and butter of the company is the basic high school student tour which is what we took. Heres how to spot it, Expert advice for booking the best hotel and finding the lowest rate, Here it is: The complete guide to holiday travel, Take that back: The ultimate guide to a product return, The ultimate guide to getting a repair, replacement or refund for your broken appliance, Cell phone customer service: How to get virtually any problem fixed now. Transfer of COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher. We had ample notice and knew what to expect. It was necessary for a family member to go to Costa Rica. We did not have enough free time (which we were promised). I could go on and on. We knew going into this tour that our itinerary would be extremely hectic. My first was as a parent going with my 15-year-old along with a group of about 20 kids (from a . I will never travel with EF Tours again. For the most part, I felt quite safe during our trip. She was more worried about herself and her family I guess. Our lead teacher did this as well. I was super excited to go experience 6 countries however from day one everything seemed to go wrong. Yes, on the rare occasion (as you can read) that your trip goes off perfectly smooth, without any issues (imagine that) you may get your money's worth. Start by contacting EF Tours directly, then file a complaint with the BBB, dispute the charge with your credit card company, and seek legal advice if necessary. Echoing a similar suit filed against the operators of EF Tours, the lawsuit argues that WorldStrides has violated its contracts with the plaintiffs by collecting their money while failing to provide the trips for which they pre-paid. While they still stuck with four students to a room, several of the student rooms had enough beds to sleep up to 12 people. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD ON AN EF TRIP!! A money grab. how to get a full refund from ef tours. These refund policies cover only a partial amount of the costs EF has already incurred for each . Feel free to ask me in the comments!! So talking to the customer service representative, I asked how if we hadn't paid so much into the trip that they would be receiving that much back in fees. "All travelers with trips through April 30 will automatically receive a transferable travel voucher for the full amount paid (including all non-refundable payments) good through September 30,. A Comprehensive Guide, Is Hiring a Travel Agent Worth It? Parents are upset that a student tour company won't give full refunds for canceled European vacations. But in the most frustrating example, during our time in Paris a visit to the Frogonard Perfume Museum was added to our itinerary. In Paris our group had to travel by Metro clear across town for our dinner. Would I go on another EF Tour? She had us walking everywhere (1 1/2 mile from our hotel to the bus stop each day. Yes, even though quarantine is a covered reason for a full refund, EF Tours CHARGED members $$ a significant amount of money thus negating a full refund. This hotel was a bit older than the Hiltons wed stayed in, but it was clean, spacious, and comfortable. Experts advise people to frequently wash their hands in warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds and to avoid touching their face. But there were several instances where visits to certain locations were dropped off our itinerary completely, and visits to other non-advertised locations were added. Visite nuestra pgina web de Trminos y Condiciones de los Crditos de Viaje Futuro aqu. Not by a long shot. For example, you can shoot an email to an executive of a hotel chain when one of the properties refuses to offer a refund you deserve. My son had a very poor experience with the Grecian Odyssey EF tours. This resulted in our group being habitually late to most of the tours we went on, and significantly cut into our time at some really important places. A COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher can be exchanged at any point prior to its stated expiration date for a cash refund option based on the original scheduled departure date of the tour program. But COVID-19 canceled those plans. Can a vacation rental host cancel my stay and keep my money? By skipping the London Eye, we were able to have a bit more time to explore and plenty of time to enjoy our pub dinner that we mentioned earlier since the London Eye excursion was timed to happen right before dinner. This is the biggest scam ever. This company is a complete scam. So..after extensive research, I found a custom tour company who could arrange my own tours, with my itinerary, with my hotels, and with my schedule. Again, we found these rooms to be clean and pretty comfortable. If you have general questions about your enrollment in the travel . They make zero effort to please traveller once fees paid. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. Original scheduled departure was from May 15, 2020 September 30, 2022. Cancel your tour and all travelers will receive a transferable Future Travel Voucher in the amount of all monies paid for the original tour, less the cost . EF claims that they are the least expensiveYou get what you pay for. I did purchase it actually! That is INSANE. This has happened all over the US and people are not standing down. We toured Europe for 12 days, visiting sites in London, Paris, Florence, Rome, Pompeii and Capri, with no more than two nights in any destination. In my opinion they are if they hired them to insure these trips they should make good on there promises to get you to buy the insurance. I sent the letter and will contact them again Monday to try and get answers. Wherever you are, were thereand we understand that, in todays ever-changing world, travelers are looking for more flexibility than ever before. Per the cancellation policy, there is a $95 non-refundable charge and a $300 cancellation fee. "You can accept a travel voucher with no penalties, or you can accept a refund minus $1,000 per person. how to get a full refund from ef tours . Parents understand why CPS canceled the trips. Call 800-992-1892 to enroll. If you booked a trip like this as an adult, you would scream from the rooftops for a refund but since these are kids, apparently EF doesn't have to listen because there will be another crop of unsuspecting students waiting to go next year. Finally, make sure youre dealing with the right company. Our group was quite good about being on time to meet up locations with a couple of small exceptions that could not be helped. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. You dont always have to appeal to the government. Travelers or their transferees can redeem the voucher for this available refund at any time prior to September 30, 2025. Hursh can still be heard on the buses as well as the Magical Express. There was a layer of dusty film all over my bathroom and my pillow had an unidentified crusty stain on it. They both were on the higher end of what I expected based on the descriptions provided by EF Tours of what our hotels would be like. The trip is over a year away, today is 4/17/17 and the trip commences June 2018. Since the legal drinking age in the areas we visited was 18, student who met this requirement were allowed to drink alcohol on our trip, but were asked to limit it to one drink with dinner. Do you have any questions about EF Tours that I didnt answer? I feel I paid twice as much as the tour was worth with the lack of amenities and accommodations that were promised by EF as those that were . What kind of money the travel company wants to send you, for starters. When you travel with EF, you get the benefits of our 55+ years of experience and our unmatched global network. The Education First class action seeks at least $5 million in restitution damages and injunctive relief preventing the company from refusing full cash refunds. I am self employed so I had to send a letter stating that my business went under and this had created a hardship. Also, I want to upgrade my kids' flight on the way home - EF passes the responsibility to their "booking" agent in Switzerland or they say to call the airline. They are also putting about 4 kids in a room! We waited for an hour-and-a half for him to return to the motor coach. EF will make accomodations for those with specific dietary needs, such as gluten free or dairy free meals. That EF 12-Day tour was called "Europe with an Alpine Flavor." On the rare occasion when this requirement is not fulfilled, participants are given one or more of the following options: 1. So they offered vouchers that were only good for up to 18 monthsUP TO 18 MONTHS! Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Thursday her office has reached a settlement with EF tours that resulted in more than $1.4 million in additional refunds for nearly 4,200. We would be spending time in three different countries, seeing some of the most beautiful and historic cities in Europe. I had to do this for a foreign airline that owed me a partial refund for a flight originating in the U.S., and they wound up giving me a full refund, voluntarily.. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. Not only could we barely keep up with the tour guide, but we could not hear him due to he gigantic group and we had to stop every 5 minutes to make sure the entire group was there. I would NEVER stay at a truck stop, nor would I deceive students into thinking they were going to be safe on a trip and then place them there. Pricing of products and services. We did not get to select from a menu and were all served the same thing each night, with the exception of those who had special dietary needs. The deduction of $500 includes items such as the non-refundable deposit and other non-refundable fees. Our tour left some of these promises unfulfilled, but did give us a glimpse at some fantastic destinations in Europe and some amazing memories. My kids are going on an EF tour in March. We've got you covered. Our tour guide didnt seem to have this mentality. Flights Cost, airlines we use, booking flights, baggage, requests, and managing your flights. Ms. Alaina Kommer from Grant High School does only think about herself and her travelling experience. My mom is part of a tour departing for a 10 day trip to Europe. - Get inspired with the latest travel guides, tips, and stories from our team. I registered my son and I to go on a tour in June 2017. 2/22/2022. I am out of $4,200.00, what is EF Tours out of??? Ours just didnt seem quite ready to handle all the pressures and logistics that are required for managing a group of 40 people for 12 days. In London, a walking tour of Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden and Leicester Square was replaced with free time at the British Museum, which we really didnt mind. But use a credit card, and you have the full force of federal law (the Fair Credit Billing Act) and your credit cards resolution department in your corner. Breakfast and dinner every day were included in what we paid for our tour. Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. Getting a full refund from EF Tours can be a difficult process, but it is possible. please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. Im not sure what EF added to the experience to warrant that upcharge. We learned that this hotel had once housed men studying to join a monastery, which explained the doritory feel of the place. EF is keeping $565 dollars needed to cover their overhead and costs to hotels and airlines but students could reschedule. The EF in EF Tours stands for Education First. Wife has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and will not be able to make this trip. Here's how we make world travel easy. We did have some great cultural experiences while we traveled. I can't believe they can demand reasons for dismissal even with all the Hippa Laws. Whatever you need, well handle it. For example, on our first full day of the trip, we visited the Tower of London. They were both located about an hour outside of the city center, but that wasnt too much of a problem.