By DON DARE
6 On Your Side Reporter
MORRISTOWN (WATE) - A Morristown couple says a Texas vacation travel company cheated them out of hundreds of dollars, and they're not the first victims.
You've probably seen reports about tourism being down due to the economy. So why not take advantage of an inexpensive vacation? That's what John and Kim Holt thought.
Kim showed us a flyer that came three months ago highlighting vacation bargains. It was faxed to the school where she works in Morristown.
She and her husband chose a trip to Hawaii as their favorite. "That's my dream vacation, yes," Kim said.
Seven nights in a condo at a resort would cost $200 a piece, but the Holts had to decide on the deal within hours of receiving the fax so they could lock in the low price.
Encore Tours and Travel, out of Houston, was the company booking the vacation.
"The first time we called them, we voiced concern about it being legitimate," John said. "He gave us some information."
The couple checked up on Encore. "Their website states that they been serving all the world since 1986," John said.
"We asked several questions before we decided to do it," Kim said. "Then we just had to send in that $400 that evening. He did it electronically from our checking account."
Within a few weeks, a packet describing the Hawaii vacation arrived in the mail. "It looks nice and pretty. It shows you the Hawaii pictures and everything, makes you ready to go," Kim said.
"They even sent a thing for a four-night luxury cruise with it," John said.
The couple received information about their flight and was directed to wire $70 as an activation fee for the flight.
That's when things went wrong. "After I started calling about the airline, I got through one time, but she couldn't answer my questions," Kim said.
A few days later, she called again. "I kept getting the run around," Kim said. "They'd switch me from customer service to someone else. Then when we called again, that's when the number was disconnected."
"The last time I called, it was another company," John said.
Encore Tours and Travel has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau. "The phone number has been disconnected. In some cases if they do get through, they're put on indefinite hold or hung up on," said bureau President Jerry Tipton.
When he was told the Holts sent $400 electronically to Encore from their checking account, Tipton said, "They (Encore) will not take credit cards because you can contest credit card charges. It's difficult to get your money back with that kind of transaction."
The Holts admit they were naive to believe such cheap deals to Hawaii exist. "I'm aggravated, but I've learned my lesson," Kim said. She adds that her goal is to make sure other people believe the old saying: if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
"Know who you are dealing with before you do it," John added.
6 On Your Side called the number for Encore Tours and Travel, but no one answered.
Be suspicious of a travel company that sends information by fax or unsolicited email. Their offers will be discounted and their prices will be hard to resist, but don't be pressured by time restraints. Step back, take a day and do your homework.
If you have a consumer issue, call the 6 On Your Side Hotline at 865-633-5974 or email ddare@wate.com.
The fax from Encore Travel was rather plain.
The follow-up snail mail package the company sent looked much more professional.
Kim and John Holt said they learned their lesson and hope to help others protect their money.
