This months-long cold snap has lots of people thinking about escaping to warmer climes. The beach — any beach! — sounds inviting. A day spent sightseeing in shirt sleeves sounds like nirvana. And if you’re a Saints or Colts fan, a trip to Florida couldn’t come at a better time.
Unfortunately, scam artists never go on vacation.
They lie in wait, seemingly 24/7. They disguise themselves online as legitimate travel companies or tour operators, hoping we won’t take the time to read the small print or notice omissions like the “beach hotel” is really six blocks from the water. And they wait for the annual party known as the Super Bowl in hopes that thousands of us will pay just about any price to head to Jacksonville to join in the festivities — never mind that game tickets aren’t included. And they encourage us to make snap decisions — book now and save hundreds! — without taking the time to check them out with the BBB.
Before you book that flight south for the big game or to Mexico for spring break — or, lucky you, to Italy in July — do your homework. First, check out the travel company or Web site with the BBB at
wynco.bbb.org. Business Reliability Reports include letter grades A+ to F along with descriptions of the company, its management team and whether or not it has received complaints and, if so, how they were handled.
If you’re booking a Super Bowl package, make sure to verify that the package includes a game ticket. Consumers continually get taken on this one. As a result, the Department of Transportation now mandates that travel operators marketing a Super Bowl air package that includes game tickets have those tickets in hand — or at the very least, have a written contract for tickets — before the package is advertised.
Your BBB offers these additional trip tips:
Gather Information. Don’t be fooled by professional-looking travel Web sites or e-mails. And don’t be fooled by prices that are too good to be true. If booking online, check the Web site for a physical address in addition to the Web address. Look for trustmark seals — like
BBBOnline — that indicate the business is reliable. But don’t stop there. Click on the trustmark. In the case of BBBOnline, it will take you to that company’s Reliablity Report. If it doesn’t, the trustmark is a fake.
Ask detailed questions and get it in writing. Get names of airlines, hotels, car rental companies and travel providers. Consider contacting these businesses directly to verify arrangements. Always ask for confirmation of your travel arrangements in writing and ensure you receive copies of cancellation and refund policies.
Always pay with a credit card. It’s easier to dispute charges and get your money back. Beware of travel offers that require you to book 60 or more days in advance because that’s the time limit for disputing credit card charges at many banks.
Contact the BBB if you are a victim of fraud. Victims of travel-related scams can file a complaint online at
wynco.bbb.org, In addition, complaints about Super Bowl tours may be made by contacting the Aviation Consumer Protection Division at
www.airconsumer.dot.gov or the Federal Trade Commision at
www.ftc.gov.
Don’t go a day without your BBB. Follow us on
Twitter,
Facebook, and
LinkedIn. For more consumer information or to check out the
BBBlog, visit
wynco.bbb.org or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371.
About the BBB
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 128 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
The BBB serving northern Colorado and Wyoming reported nearly 1 million instances of service to consumers and businesses in 2009. These services include reliability reports on local companies and charities, access to companies that can be trusted by industry, help with dispute resolution, and trustworthy information on consumer and business topics.
Luanne Kadlub, BBB Media Specialist, 970-686-9307, lkadlub@aol.com