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. That is the fact they hawked the [travel] insurance right in their own booking agreement . FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) A Florida man left paralyzed when a police officer shot him after mistaking his handgun for his stun gun filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the city, the officer and others, saying, "my life got destroyed.". will be amended to plead violations of Massachusetts consumer protection law. I would like a refund, minus my travel protection plan please. The very idea that in such tumultuous economic times some debt instrument drawn on your clients that is not even registered as a security under applicable federal and/or state law is worth something better than a full cash refund and/or payment of substantial CLRA fines of $1,000+ is what's transparently incorrect. They do not respond favorably. EF Educational Tours (international) EF Tours for Girls; EF Educational Tours Canada; EF College Study; EF Ultimate Break; EF Go Ahead Tours; EF Gap Year Due to several life altering disasters I had to cancel the trip 18 months in advance. . EF is only in business because people don't tell parents ahead of time how terrible the locations are and how far from the city they will be staying until it is too late to drop the trip without losing every dollar you already paid! A situation completely out of the control of myself and other families. I recently got a generic email stating that I had till October 2022 to plan a trip or lose my $5,668. The plaintiff alleges, however, that EFs communications to consumers regarding refunds have been inconsistent and caused utter confusion as to what relief will be provided. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 9:00 AM PDST April 24, 2020, On April 22, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Richard Schirtzer advising Mr. Schirtzer that his clients, the EF Defendants' ". Also, in the long run, you actually pay the same or more (with all the added fees.) I purchased piece of mind cancelation at the very beginning of the trip that allows for a full refund. Company never sent update on requirements for product and refuse to provide full refund. EF Ultimate Break Enroll online or call 800-766-2645. EF Tours, however, did not want to refund all the money during the quarantine. The teacher wouldnt return my phone call, or emails. I just felt like it should have been planned better. opens a world of possibilities. Help Center; How It Works; About EF; Blog; Customer Reviews; Stay connected. Per the cancellation policy, there is a $95 non-refundable charge and a $300 cancellation fee. It was discovered by a parent who was monitoring the flight status. On June 20th we called them to verify and were told our claim was denied and we wouldn't be receiving anything back from them. Why is no one investigating them for fraudulent business practices, deceptive practices, false advertisement, etc, etc, etc?? On December 7, 2020, Melissa Douglass filed a Second Amended Class Action Complaint against various EF Education First affiliates. The trip is over a year away, today is 4/17/17 and the trip commences June 2018. I feel like everything was rushed. Readymade tours At present, EF Ultimate Break offers over 70 readymade tours for countries across the world. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST MARCH 15, 2021. Work with EF to modify your groups current tour itinerary and dates, or, 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 of any purchased Travel Protection plan, Cancel your tour with applicable fees under the Standard Cancellation Policy. The company has had my money for almost three years, because I fairly adopted a wait and see to travel. On August 9, 2020, William McGrane filed and served a "PLAINTIFFS SUR-REPLY TO DEFENDANT EF EDUCATION FIRST INTERNATIONAL, AGS MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION UNDER F.R.C.P. I won't go into detail about our trip except to say our tour guide left half the group on several occasions, got us lost, left us in a hotel that's fire alarm system was going off in (our group leader also left us behind. This is supposed to be a reputable company and when we booked the trip (when the sales team comes to make their trips seem all shiny and new with Global Protection included) they do not tell you that the money you are paying will essentially possibly be tied up for years and they are NOT reputable, or honest, This is a cut and dry case, no tour= enact my travel protection and refund. While not happy with that amount I understood. Its a joke. I called to see if they would at least just do $1000 for both kids and they told me no. The day before trip, we were told cancelled due to civil unrest. We were told there was no where we could go. IS this the only forum about this place? I have seen some recent reviews for EF Tours and wanted to share my experiences for those who may consider using this company for a tour. Sign up for ClassAction.org's newsletterhere. -Sandra Joubarani. Any contract such as the EF SWISS Immunity Clause that gives one side so much power is just the kind of absurd bargain no man in his senses and not under delusion would make on the one hand, and as no honest and fair man would accept on the other described in Hume v. United States (1889) 132 U.S. 406, 411; see also Harper v. Ultimo (2003) 113 Cal.App.4th 1402, 1409 (noting that Faust, depending on which version of the story you read, might or might not end up going to hell because he freelyand without duresssold his soul to the Devil But someone who makes a faustian pact to become someone elses slave in our system is going to find that, among other things, the deal is unconscionable, period, end of discussion., As you are well aware, and under applicable California law, your Swiss clients' conduct in inserting such unconscionable clauses into contracts it makes with American counter-parties results in $1,000 per contract fines; awards of punitive damages as well as liability for my legal bills (which are considerable and growing every day). The non-insurance Cancel for Any Reason waiver benefit provided by EF Educational Tours provides a cash refund for trip costs paid to EF Educational Tours for cancellation prior to departure. Or they can redeem it for any other EF travel product. 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. Unable to travel? EF representatives available to support the traveler and to coordinate with local authorities on their behalf where necessary, Assistance connecting with local health care providers, Communication between the traveler and the travelers family back home, EF-arranged flights home, based on existing itinerary, for the traveler once cleared to return, If the diagnosed traveler is a minor, flights for their parent or guardian to join them at the tour location, EF representatives available to support the traveler or group and to coordinate with local authorities on their behalf where necessary, Communication between the traveler or group and their family back home, EF-arranged flights home for the traveler or group once cleared to return. This is a class action lawsuit for monetary and equitable relief arising out of Defendants' . Other EF tour brands. "Russia is at war with Ukraine, the UK is prioritizing Ukraine visas over every other VISA on humanitarian grounds. I did not cancel this trip! Desired outcome: This was saddening but completely understandable. But the idiotic folks at EF Tours says since this was "unforeseen", we are not covered. I was told that they only charge whats been deposited. What I didn't understand was the fact that they also charged $155 for some type of insurance (which is not apart of their cancellation fees). Read our Newswire Disclaimer. The Global Travel Protection Plus plan must be purchased when you book your tour. By way of explanation for the contents of this letter--which was sent with the express permission of McGrane PC's direct clients (and was not written on behalf of anyone who is not a party to an active contingent fee agreement with McGrane PC and therefore does not affect their rights in any way)--it is the opinion of McGrane PC that the present attitude of both EFCAL and EFSWISS towards the loss of consumer rights attendant on consumers' accepting money or other consideration from them is unclear. The Education First Tour Class Action Lawsuit is Grabovsky v. EF Institute for Cultural Exchange Inc., et al., Case No. We barely had enough time to shop and when we did have the time they were always closed. Coverage for expenses due to trip delays (lodging, food, and other reasonable expenses plus limited reimbursement of unused, forfeited, prepaid non-refundable payments for travel arrangements). ", UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 3:00 PM PDST April 24, 2020, On April 24, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Richard Schirtzer: "Let me clarify for everyone. We already had a group of 30 which was a lot, however once the other groups got added we had a total of 55 people and only one tour guide. Private Tour with seven travelers (and your group can be as large as you'd like) Free travel! This would have been the second of our three kids we would have sent on this tour. But its also about the smaller moments on the road. Kinda defeats the whole concept of insurance. We went ahead and waited. A most unsatisfactory and life changing (m for the worse) experience. Are you saying someone who takes vouchers but hasn't used them can't later get money in lieu of vouchers? No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. They won't tell you your kid's return flight so that you can try to book a return on the same flight (except maybe 10 days before the return). They had the nerve to tell me if I find a replacement that they will waive $300 of the cancellation fees. 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! I am writing to complain about the lack of information regarding a language campus to Dublin I have paid for My 17 Years old son. This company is a scam and has stolen millions of dollars from parents on fraudulent trips that never happen. One thing is guaranteed. Travelers can choose to enroll in one of the Global Travel Protection plans, both of which are designed specifically with EF travelers in mind. and subject matter experts who understand The swimming area was not separated in any way from boat traffic, nor was my son warned about possible boat traffic. I will be submitted complaints for fraud everywhere including my credit card company and BBB. Seems a little steep for cancelling a trip that is still almost 2 years away. Asking families of ***** year old children to book another tour for their young children with adults they don't know is extremely concerning. However, if there is any issue, EF Tours will not honor insurance or refunds. When something goes wrong, you thing you are covered. :? My contact has always been through the group coordinator Mary Pope. A copy of this pleading is posted on our UPDATES page. Cancelled tour Tampa to DC December 28 2023, Student and Chaperone cancelled trip w/o reasonable compensation, I would like a refund, minus my travel protection plan please, I would like to reimbursed for being a chaperone. 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. For plans issued in New York, customers can purchase the non-insurance Cancel for Any Reason waiver separately from the rest of the travel protection plan. In what universe is this considered acceptable?!?!?!? According to the case, the defendants sold tours to public and private high school groups pursuant to a written contract of adhesion that contained what the complaint refers to as the No Public Health Emergency Cash Refund Clause. Under the clause, if an EF tour is canceled for public health issues or quarantine or threats of public health issues, the defendants will issue travel vouchers for the value of the money paid, excluding certain non-refundable fees, instead of providing cash refunds, the suit explains. This plan includes Trip Cancellation coverage. On September 8, 2020, and over vigorous objection, federal District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel granted a motion to change venue from the Southern District of California to the District of Massachusetts that had previously been filed by the EF Defendants and set for hearing on September 11, 2020. 3) They pretend that you can extend your student's trip. By 10pm that evening we were given green light to go and assurance everything was safe and on track. however, in the 2 weeks that we were enrolled we had made payments amounted to $800. Location & Hours So, if you are not able to use the voucher or attend the rescheduled tour, as in my case, then you paid EF Tours THOUSANDS of dollars for nothing! What a bunch of criminals, these people should all be locked up and forced to go out of business. Erin works primarily on ClassAction.orgs newswire, reporting on cases as they happen. Illness and accident coverage al., United States District Court for the Southern District of California Case No. Get the latest on closing arguments in the Alex Murdaugh case, charges for a college football star and a settlement over photos taken after a helicopter crash site killed Kobe Safety First Program We understand that plans can change due to unforeseen circumstances. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 12:00 PM PST FEBRUARY 14, 2023. 8 weeks.It has been 8 weeks so my son contacted the insurance company and was told the money would be put back into our account between June 20 to 25th. Policy terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Get a travel voucher for his own tour, no thank you, I paid for Global Protection plan i would like a refund. This plan includes Trip Interruption coverage. So opted to try one more year to see if restrictions were lifted. Meet your people We need to cancel due to medical and we were told we loose close to $800. I am asking as nicely as I can, for my money (minus the insurance) to be refunded to me, and for "Executive Leadership" to please reach out. When we called to cancel, they refuse to give us our full refund and claim to keep $500 despite their poor communication, COVID restrictions, and the paid insurance plan which has turned out to be a scam too. Presently she is trying to get refunds for trip because of the imposed restrictions that cannot be met. We flew back to the US at 5am in the morning. Later on April 20, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Mr. Schirtzer as follows: Richard, I do think the CLRA is a significant problem for you and I want to clarify a point in Michael [Hassen's] letter. Whenever I called and asked for a manager, I was told that non were available and that they would call me when they became available. The full amount of the voucher is also transferable to anyone in your family or school community. We had the insurance but they own that too. HOW CAN THIS BE LEGAL??? . 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. Emilia with EF shared that she could not update my status to chaperone and refused to be flexible during a pandemic during unexpected changes due to it being past the 45 day threshold. Claim it and get a lot of features. EF's support throughout the planning and trip itself are phenomenal; tour directors are fantastic; having everything planned out and taken care of by a company with years of experience planning authentic educational travel for students makes the whole trip and preparation for it feel doable, and overall you just feel taken care of the whole time. Protection for your belongings People are requiredLISTENrequired to purchase the Global Protection Plan. I struggled to pay for this trip and now after paying for travel insurance also they are denying full refund. Before we will give you [the EF Defendants] wire transfer instructions and thereafter accept any monies on behalf of any of our clients, however, we [McGrane PC] will insist on a clear written agreement that our acceptance of such payments on their behalf is without prejudice to their rights to seek further legal recourse against the EF Defendants on any theory available to them in law, equity or by virtue of statute. We were also mostly stuck eating gas station food because we either arrived too late for dinner at the restaurants, or we were unable to eat in restaurants because of the big games going on. Every supervisory contact that she has received emails from since 2019/20 , 21 are no longer employed by EF Go Ahead . Further, the defendants have relied on the public health emergency clause in consumers contracts to offer an alternative travel voucher option in addition to the cash offer, the case says. There are several hidden fees which totaled $1,300! This plan includes coverages that can provide a benefit in the unlikely event a traveler should need to return home unexpectedly due to a natural disaster or unrest. Read those reviews. My family and I scheduled a tour with ef educational tours. ", Later on April 22, 2020, Mr. Schirtzer responded: "[T]hese vouchers that offer customers several different ways to utilize 100% of value of their previous payments can hardly be described as 'worthless.' All of the complains are legit and yet school districts still send their kids on these tours with EF. ef tours is a rip-off! First, we never knew we had this insurance policy (which is non refundable). They simply answered the phone, we provided the tour, dates and names of our family members and paid a deposit for each of us. When you decide to travel with EF, we want you to feel secure in that decision. Protection for your belongings New travelers traveling between October 1, 2023, and Sept 30, 2024, who enroll during the Early Enrollment period can cancel for any reason up to 14 days after enrollment for a full refund of 100% of the money paid to EF. So they offered vouchers that were only good for up to 18 monthsUP TO 18 MONTHS! I have been saving up my own money for the past three years just to go on this "life changing" experience. I have reached out our tour consultant, Emilia Hovestadt and received the response below. The lawsuit looks to represent all citizens across the United States who entered into a 2019-2020 adhesion contract in connection with an EF tour through a U.S. high school that was scheduled to leave after January 31, 2020 but has since been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak and who were refused a full refund based on the public health Stating that i had till October 2022 to plan a trip to England, Paris, Rome! 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