Pennsylvania Attorney General Mike Fisher has reached a consent agreement with two Florida travel companies accused of using deceptive tactics to lure consumers to Florida for the purpose of purchasing timeshares at various Florida resorts.
“Consumers were promised “first class” or “world class” quality vacations,” Fisher said in a news report. “In reality, the unsuspecting travelers ended up paying for less-than-luxurious trips that were designed solely for selling timeshares.”
Fisher and Attorneys General from 14 states reached the agreement resolving their lawsuit against Cape Canaveral Cruise Line Tour and Travel Inc., and Promotional Travel Inc., both of Florida. Fisher accused the defendants of violating the state’s Consumer Protection Law and Telemarketing Registration Act, the report said.
According to the lawsuit, the defendants used telemarketers and mass mailings to falsely lead consumers to believe that they had won or were specially selected for a luxury Florida vacation and cruise to the Bahamas. The suit also claimed that consumers were not told about the various travel and other costs associated with the trips, and the requirement to attend what amounted to lengthy, high-pressure timeshare presentations. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies admit no wrongdoing but are required to cease and desist from a variety of marketing tactics including making representations that lead consumers to believe they have won or were specially chosen to receive vacation offers.
According to consumer complaints, the cruise was actually a shuttle boat ride; the accommodations were not “first class,” and the vacation packages did not include the cost of travel to Florida. Consumers said the vacation they thought they had won turned out to be a costly experience that was drastically different from what they were promised.
Fisher said the consent agreement requires the defendants to fully refund any consumers who purchased a vacation package since Jan. 1, 1997, and have not taken the trip. It also required the defendants to pay the states $150,000 for investigation costs and other public protection purposes.
