2008 Woodie Awards
Spring Break: Avoiding the scams
J. Breen Mitchell, Reporter
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Campus Life
Hidden charges tacked on by the travel industry can put a damper on relaxation this spring break.
According to a press release from the Better Business Bureau from last May, vacation scams cost consumers over $10 billion each year. The travel industry consistently ranks in or near the top 25 for number of complaints out of 3,900 industries that the bureau monitors.
"The BBB recommends that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you happen to find a really great spring break package, be sure to do your homework before giving your credit card number," said Melissa Padisak, director of marketing and public relations for the Youngstown branch of the bureau.
The release gives examples such as a firm based in San Diego which used bait and switch tactics to get customers to pay more than they had planned for vacation packages to Hawaii, Mexico, and the Virgin Islands. In some cases, the trips were booked fraudulently or not at all.
The Ohio Student Public Interest Group, a student advocate, offers tips on what to watch out for when planning a spring break trip on their Web site.
They warn to watch out for hidden fees, such as International departure and arrival taxes, processing fees, peak week surcharges, late booking fees, departure city surcharges, travel insurance and fuel surcharges. These types of fees can be avoided by reading all of the fine print carefully.
The group's Web site also says to "avoid any company that mandates arbitration for disputes. Don't give up your legal rights."
Consumers should research a company before they send any money, and be aware of cancellation policies.
If there are problems with a company, the PIRG advises consumers to file a complaint, which can usually be done through the state Attorney General's office.
According to a press release from the Better Business Bureau from last May, vacation scams cost consumers over $10 billion each year. The travel industry consistently ranks in or near the top 25 for number of complaints out of 3,900 industries that the bureau monitors.
"The BBB recommends that if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you happen to find a really great spring break package, be sure to do your homework before giving your credit card number," said Melissa Padisak, director of marketing and public relations for the Youngstown branch of the bureau.
The release gives examples such as a firm based in San Diego which used bait and switch tactics to get customers to pay more than they had planned for vacation packages to Hawaii, Mexico, and the Virgin Islands. In some cases, the trips were booked fraudulently or not at all.
The Ohio Student Public Interest Group, a student advocate, offers tips on what to watch out for when planning a spring break trip on their Web site.
They warn to watch out for hidden fees, such as International departure and arrival taxes, processing fees, peak week surcharges, late booking fees, departure city surcharges, travel insurance and fuel surcharges. These types of fees can be avoided by reading all of the fine print carefully.
The group's Web site also says to "avoid any company that mandates arbitration for disputes. Don't give up your legal rights."
Consumers should research a company before they send any money, and be aware of cancellation policies.
If there are problems with a company, the PIRG advises consumers to file a complaint, which can usually be done through the state Attorney General's office.
Be the first to comment on this story