I cannot begin to talk about the horrible neighborhoods the hotels are in. When he asked for these items at the front desk, he was told that we should have called earlier to request them since they were all locked up in a cabinet by the time we arrived at the hotel. When Chicago Public Schools canceled all district-sponsored international travel for the upcoming spring break because of the threat of coronavirus, Derek Dattner assumed he would be refunded the. People are requiredLISTENrequired to purchase the Global Protection Plan. * (Smithsonian Student Travel repeat travelers will receive a Original scheduled departure was from May 15, 2020 September 30, 2022. EF claims that they are the least expensiveYou get what you pay for. Accommodations and rooming Hotels and hostels, rooms and roommates, amenities, and upgrades. Wife and daughter were planning to go on a trip to Italy in over a year. If all other attempts to get a full refund from EF Tours fail, it may be time to seek legal advice. EF Educational Tours I will never travel with EF Tours again. Other than the local tour guides and maybe the tiramisu class, I wouldnt call just visiting these historic places an experiential learning activity.. Out of that $550, $95 is the none refundable deposit but come on, the rest if ridiculous, especially when the cancellation request is made OVER A YEAR in advance. The tour dates are as follows: Thursday 23 March - Manchester, AO Arena. Each participant in our tour was required to submit a copy of our passport to EF to insure that we had the proper documentation to travel. On the rare occasion when this requirement is not fulfilled, participants are given one or more of the following options: 1. I have been a group leader with EF for 10 years and they have been getting so bad that I will no longer travel with them. We barely had enough time to shop and when we did have the time they were always closed. One of the destinations was an Island called Tortuga. Additional fees may apply if requested between 129-90 days before departure. Before our trip, our group leader did make sure to advise us about pickpocketing and theft at major tourist sites in Europe, and advised us to be prepared. Spring break trip with the school for my two boys to go to Greece and Italy this year. Frugality is the mental approach we each take when considering our resource allocations. EF, as a company, offers may types of tours ranging from group trips for adults to organized gap years for high school graduates. If EF Tours still refuses to issue a full refund, the next step is to contact your credit card company. Do I regret going on an EF Tour? There is a $95 non-refundable deposit + $300 cancellation fee (totals to around $400). Friday 24 March - London, The O2. A COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher cannot be divided into multiple accounts, unless the traveler applies the voucher to a future tour and the voucher amount is higher than the price of the new tour. The Return & Refund Policies may vary widely among different types of products and sellers. I asked the front desk to remedy this, but it was never addressed, and we had to repeat the blind search for our rooms every time we went up. She told us we only had five minutes to use the restroom and get back on the bus. fender american professional ii vs ultra. EF Tours Return & Refund Policies. The purpose of this article is to provide a step-by-step guide on how to get a full refund from EF Tours. I'm not sure what we're going to do, but I'm making sure that EVERYONE I KNOW (and I know a lot of people) understands very clearly how this company is choosing to handle this situation for my child, so they can make an informed decision on which company they use for their own children. Explain the situation and why you are requesting a full refund. Due to traffic and bad timing we traveled. Give the company at least a week to respond to your refund request and two credit card billing cycles to pay you. They are all F-ing scum I hope all involved lose every penny they ever made and become homeless. It's just too many in my opinion. The deduction of $565 includes items such as the non-refundable deposit and other non-refundable fees. Breakfast is provided each day at the hotel, usually continental style, but sometimes with hot offerings just depending on your hotel. Dinners are are pre-arranged with a preset menu by EF at local restaurants. The key is to take the right steps and document all communication. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress There was a layer of dusty film all over my bathroom and my pillow had an unidentified crusty stain on it. Our tour consisted of 26 travelers from our high school: three teachers, seven adults and 16 students. On our way to Rome, our guide added a stop in Ovierto, a beautiful small town with picturesque views, wonderful dining and great little shops which we enjoyed immensely. Edited: 11 years ago . Recently I was notified by EF Tours that my child was cancelled from the tour after paying off almost whole trip price. That was during our terrible last night in Rome when we had to walk from our hotel to our dinner restaurant through some pretty sketchy areas of the city. We had to accept them. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). My mom had to put hotel rooms for 30 students in her credit card. I work for a competitor of EF and have about a million reasons why groups that go with them get ripped off. By the first week I was already begging to go home and I kept hoping, thinking and praying that things would get better however they never did. we signed my son up for a trip to England , Paris, and Rome. On October 22, 2020, Boston-based co-counsel for McGrane PC send a demand letter to the EF Defendants (including EF Explore America Inc., which runs domestic tours) demanding a full refund under Massachusetts consumer protection law which Massachusetts consumer protection law appears to more directly address the requirement that such full . If you want any other info or even wanted . But on her return flight, one of the legs, on Flybe from Paris to Manchester, England, mysteriously vanished. They are making a profit off of cancellations!!!! They need to be outted with their unfair business practices. Lunches were always a gamble. Also, keep every email and receipt. Trip management Picking a trip, how . 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. Politeness. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. They even bragged later about being the first one's out on the street), the food SUCKED, and the time spent on the buses was more time spent in the actual locations. That invoice for antivirus protection is a scam, How a company could easily get a false F rating from the BBB. We did not have enough free time (which we were promised). Before we left on our trip, we were told by our group leader that we shouldnt need more that $25 US dollars per person per day for lunches and snacks. PLAN. Things like this happened over and over again throughout the trip. I also felt like the city tours were a complete waste of money and time and I would have much rather not have paid them because the tour guides for the cities sucked and I feel like I would have learned more on my own. At the time of this publication, EF Tours has been notified of this unacceptable hotel and has yet to respond. Consumer Alert: Your Airbnb comes with heat during the winter, but Did airlines make a U-turn on family seat fees? If your original tour needed to be postponed but you have not yet been notified of your Group Leaders decision or been issued a voucher, you may request a voucher or choose the available refund option by calling our Traveler Support Team at 800-665-5364. We were frequently told we could just grab a bite to eat at the train station or the airport, only to be left with minimal time and very limited options. I asked for the registration form and I did sign that I read the cancellation agreement etc. why is there a plague in thebes oedipus. This article was published on February 22, 2019. Also told cancellation fee is now $400 not the $300 listed. Experts say you shouldnt use a credit card dispute unless you have no other choice, which is to say the travel company wont refund your purchase even though its agreed to do so. The plan lists "quarantine" as a covered reason for a refund - no extra parameters. Wherever you are, were thereand we understand that, in todays ever-changing world, travelers are looking for more flexibility than ever before. According to their website, EF Tours has been in operation since 1965 and offers trips for students and teachers designed to provide immersive, life-changing education., Basically, EF Tours organizes international trips for students to a wide variety of destinations, promising compelling itineraries full of experiential learning.. I cant guarantee this Ive advocated many cases where a company promised a refund in writing but it can help. As a result, the plaintiffs and thousands of others have suffered "direct and consequential financial damage . Whatever happens, we've seen it. I work for a competitor of EF and have about a million reasons why groups that go with them get ripped off. We saw the stunningly beautiful sites of Capri from a private boat tour. It will cover topics such as contacting EF Tours directly, filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), disputing the charge with your credit card company, and seeking legal advice. Be sure to document all communication with EF Tours so that you can refer back to it if necessary. If you happen to wander around the Charles River, it is worth of walking toward the Zakim Bridge and stopping by North Point Park. Well, lucky for you we took a 12 day visit to Europe with EF Tours, and have all the details to decide if taking an international trip with this company is right for you or your teenager. used speakers for sale craigslist; pioneer woman carne guisada; how to get a full refund from ef tours; By . What should I do? But relinquishing that control does require a certain amount of trust. Three weeks after enrolling, our circumstances changed so I called to cancel, expecting to pay the $95 cancellation fee x2. Travelers remain able to exchange their reissued COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher up and until the originally stated expiration date for a refund of the amount on the original COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher less $565. The kids didn't seem to mind it, but I did seem a little crowded at times. EF seems to take the money and doesn't provide much other info. Also out of all four excursions throughout the trip, THREE OF THEM WERE CANCELLED! Two years later they called and talked me into a 9-Day tour to Rome. It took me to every floor and A) the offices are gorgeous! The trip total came to around $4,000. Despite these frustrations, the itinerary did take us to some fantastic places and we had some absolutely unforgettable experiences. Enroll online or call 800-766-2645, EF Explore America Im a wife, a mom, a crafter, a Disney fan, and a french fry connoisseur. There are mice in my vacation rental! For detailed information about the safety and coverage programs that apply to your tour, please choose your departure date below. Our guide that year was a young US college student who worked at a bookstore in downtown Rome. The company may refer your case to its legal department, where it could linger for weeks or months. Full list of UK dates. They want to keep $1000 each child therefore I will loss $2000. If necessary, set a calendar reminder so that you dont forget. In Italy, the dinners were quite good. COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher Id say yes. These refund policies cover only a partial amount of the costs EF has already incurred for each . The trip was booked for June of 2019. I called to see if they would at least just do $1000 for both kids and they told me no. Our first group dinner in London was at a Korean restaurant where the group was served a hot stone bibimbap with chicken. Pricing of products and services. Its been eight months. My son received life threatening injuries and had there not been a physician along as a chaperone my son would have died. This was saddening but completely understandable. One thing is guaranteed. Our Tour Director said it was because London is a melting pot of cultures, but our group didnt buy that. You may wish to spend time at your destinations before or after the scheduled tour. My son is going on an EF tour this Spring and the teacher has suggested that each student pay a certain amount for tips. If your original tour needed to be postponed but you have not yet been notified of your Group Leader's decision or been issued a voucher, you may request a voucher or choose the available refund option by calling our Traveler Support Team at 800-665-5364. He refused to take us anywhere on our free time. as the premier companies. 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 . This hotel was a bit older than the Hiltons wed stayed in, but it was clean, spacious, and comfortable. Our tour left some of these promises unfulfilled, but did give us a glimpse at some fantastic destinations in Europe and some amazing memories. 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. Electric Bike Thumb Throttle 12-84v LED Display Voltmeter & ON OFF Kil torquetech.co.uk. As a working class family that was attempting to give our child a wonder experience, I am outraged that a company would gain such a profit off of a cancellation! The only times it seemed like we werent late was when we had to catch a flight, a train, or a ferry. Read more, Copyright 2023 Chaotically Yours | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. I just felt like it should have been planned better. 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. Having extra free time to see the sites of your choice seemed to be the best option during our tour. I went on my trip June 11, 2014-June 25, 2014. They make go in circles and have excuse after excuse. Our tour guide didnt seem to have this mentality. If requested after enrollment and up to 130 days before departure, the fee is $195. Did they create a good experience for students who havent done a lot of international traveling? If you have a consumer problem,please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. 109 to 45 days prior to departure: Full refund less $95 non-refundable deposit, all Non-Refundable fees, and 50% of program price. 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. We publish the names and emails of customer service managers. It was a disaster. It can be used for all components of the tour booked through EF prior to departing on tour including the deposit, program price, the optional Global Travel Protection plan, optional excursions, optional extensions, and rooming supplements. He ended up sleeping on a towel laid out on the sofa with a travel neck pillow, that had been provided to him by his daughter from her room. "You can accept a travel voucher with no penalties, or you can accept a. Grabovsky and the proposed Class are represented by William McGrane and Matthew Sepuya of McGrane PC and Michael J. Hassen of RealLaw APC. In Rome, it was a tiramisu cooking class. Children are not monitored, left to find their own way in cities across the . Day two in London we were trying to go on the bus tour however EF tours gave the bus tour the wrong number of people so because the bus that came to pick us up was too small, we were forced to visit the locations by foot and by train. It has been no surprise that management NEVER called. When we reached Italy, things changed a bit. IS this the only forum about this place? DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD ON AN EF TRIP!! For what it's worth 4k for a scotland ireland trip is definitely too much. to my lawyer for resolution of a full refund. So, no refund. 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). Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. According to the folks on our trip who had special dietary needs, the dinners were pretty good for the most part. $900 which we did. This Arizona based company has been organizing dozens of tours for teachers and college professors all across the country for 30 years. Thanks. It includes time, money, convenience, and many other factors. While I could not find information about individual class pricing, I highly doubt that EF paid that much per person for us to spend an hour making tiramisu. So, even the itinerary is a lie! We also didnt have a way to contact our Tour Guide directly. It is a trip run by a business who just happens to recruit participants through the school system. I really did expect to spend some quality time at these major historic sites. I was told that they only charge whats been deposited. These Britrail England Flexi Passes are taking forever to refund. Here are some of the most effective coronavirus refund tips: Negotiate politely. Thailand (/ t a l n d,-l n d / TY-land, -lnd), historically known as Siam (/ s a m, s a m /) and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi), with a population of almost 70 million. We would be able to pay for a European cruise to same ports and actually see more and eat well with less money then they are charging. They promised the moon, but did not deliver. Your email address will not be published. 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. I worked on the building and had to be in the offices every 3 months for 2 years. But the idiotic folks at EF Tours says since this was "unforeseen", we are not covered. When you travel with EF, you get the benefits of our 55+ years of experience and our unmatched global network. EF books all travelers in economy class seats for all transportation methods. In London, the excursion was a visit to the London Eye, a giant ferris wheel type ride that gives riders a birds eye view of the city. 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. We did have some great cultural experiences while we traveled. Crypto Wallet Development: Types, Features, and Popularity, 5 Ways AI is Detecting and Preventing Identity Fraud. These usually include some special activity or visit to an additional landmark. They are also putting about 4 kids in a room! About 3-4 months before our trip, and after we had already paid IN FULL, we were notified that because of our small group, our group leader had only signed 5 people up..hindsight tells me people saw what a rip off it was and didn't sign up to take it in the rear from EF. For example, on our first full day of the trip, we visited the Tower of London. 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. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! 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. If not used for travel, a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher can be exchanged for a refund of all money paid into a travelers account less $500. $20 million net worth lifestyle appleton post crescent archives how to get a full refund from ef tours 07 jun 2022. how to get a full refund from ef tourshouse joint resolution 192 of 1933 Posted by . Lost one full day of 8 day tour. Consumers who booked domestic trips through the EF Explore America tours program should call 888-333-9756 to request a refund. Not only did I make a complaint to the Better Business Bureau but I also requested that a manager call me and I have yet to hear from anyone. Overall, breakfasts were adequate throughout the trip. Which btw the ticket was $100!!! Europe is a wonderful place, and I love traveling there. Dont let months pass by without letting the company know that your money is still missing. We were also promised to be able to be in walking distance from our hotels to the big cities in the countries we were staying in however in each country we were at minimum one hour away from the cities.