I always like to start my reviews by reminding you that I was not compensated in any way to write this post. So, even the itinerary is a lie! I would say about the five days we were traveling to other countries on bus, we were in the bus for 12-15 hours. Vrbo offered a refund after my husband lost his job. I have traveled extensively with Expedia, always buy travel insurance, and am covered for any thing, from war to terrorism, to a pandemic. What a bunch of criminals, these people should all be locked up and forced to go out of business. 824. Unfortunately, I had to cancel his trip because my son switched schools and his old school district could not take a non student out of the country. how to get a full refund from ef tours Global Travel Protection plans | Coverage & flexibility | EF Tours Help Center: Payments & policies EF's industry-leading safety & coverage programs When you travel with EF, you get the benefits of our 55+ years of experience and our unmatched global network. Be sure to document all communication with your credit card company so that you can refer back to it if necessary. Wife and daughter were planning to go on a trip to Italy in over a year. This company is a fraud and steals money from families. The worst dinners EF provided happened during the first few days of our trip. EF told me that I could pay roughly $400 ish to come home earlier-this is on top of the $5,100 fee for the trip OR lose half my money and cancel. What options or Cancellation Terms apply to a traveler who has rebooked their tour with a rescheduled departure date between October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 using a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher? 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. It has been no surprise that management NEVER called. 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. 110 comments. I really did expect to spend some quality time at these major historic sites. You can definitely have a positive experience on the trip. This has caused many customers to feel frustrated and helpless when trying to get a full refund from EF Tours. I just felt like it should have been planned better. Also out of all four excursions throughout the trip, THREE OF THEM WERE CANCELLED! With the backing of a major credit card you can even dispute part or a percentage of the services provided.. Although student were allowed to go out on their own during our free time, they were asked to go in groups of three or four and were left in pretty safe areas to spend their free time. Travelers or their transferees can redeem the voucher for this available refund at any time prior to September 30, 2025. Three weeks after enrolling, our circumstances changed so I called to cancel, expecting to pay the $95 cancellation fee x2. I had to also pay $500.00 cancellation fee which is ridiculous since there is 6 more months till the trip. I will never travel with EF Tours again. As a result, the plaintiffs and thousands of others have suffered "direct and consequential financial damage . Was informed of the price to cancel was $199 not the $95 listed. These tours are usually walking tours, but sometimes are bus tours, depending on the location. EF Tours have a pretty straightforward process during the sign up period, prior to departure and during your trip. If not used for travel, a COVID-19 Voucher can be exchanged for a refund of all money paid into a travelers account less $565. They make go in circles and have excuse after excuse. In most cases, refunds can be issued electronically with the funds being sent directly back to your current account on file. Dont let months pass by without letting the company know that your money is still missing. Now I've fought this as much as I could. Even if every single person had to buy a ticket, I cant imagine that the cost for a group tour and the transportation to get the group there cost an additional $84 USD per person. 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. Your email address will not be published. May 9, 2 It sounds great, but as a responsible parent, you want to know exactly what youd be sending your child off to do, and how things would actually work on this trip. I checked our beds for bedbugs and thankfully did not find any. Miguel Suro, a Florida attorney who writes a personal finance blog called Rich Miser, says if no is the answer, you need to appeal to someone who can turn it into a yes., For airlines, if you get nowhere with the airline itself and have a valid claim, file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation, he says. They should be ashamed of themselves. According to a survey conducted by Consumer Reports, one in three travelers who booked tours with EF Tours did not receive a full refund when they attempted to cancel their trip. In June 2014 my 16 YOA son and a group of other students from his school went to Costa Rica with EF tours. Despite these frustrations, the itinerary did take us to some fantastic places and we had some absolutely unforgettable experiences. This resulted in our group being habitually late to most of the tours we went on, and significantly cut into our time at some really important places. I have been pretty disappointed with EF when I call for questions. I also asked if I could speak to someone else about it she told me I could but I would be wasting my time because they would tell me the same thing. Original scheduled departure was on or before May 14, 2020. The EF Go Ahead Tours app supports and connects our global community. Students can expect to room with one to three other students, and possibly have to share beds. I work for a competitor of EF and have about a million reasons why groups that go with them get ripped off. There were no medical facilities available on this resort, and it was necessary to have my son medically evacuated back to the states to receive treatment. That seems to be the question at hand here. Lunches were always a gamble. EF Explore America said in light of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, it offered the school three options. Thats why weve enhanced our already top-tier, industry-leading coverage programs to provide even more choices, and to give travelers, families, and school communities the widest range of safe and flexible plans. There also seemed to be major sites in some of these cities that were not ever even an option to visit or see, due to our limited time in each city. You dont always have to appeal to the government. by | Oct 29, 2021 | how to stop gypsophila smelling | groomsman proposal funny | Oct 29, 2021 | how to stop gypsophila smelling | groomsman proposal funny In Rome, it was a tiramisu cooking class. If you want any other info or even wanted . Airlines hate it when you get a third party involved, and may respond favorably. EF does indicate up front that hotels may have small rooms without air conditioning, television, or elevators, and that WiFi may not always be available. There were no linens or towels available to him whatsoever. It was the worst during our travel days. My daughter insisted on being signed up for her school trip in 2020. Original scheduled departure was from May 15, 2020 September 30, 2022. Airlines and other travel companies make it so easy for money to flow their way. The Versailles excursion seemed overpriced as well. I was told by the EF Tours representative that he could room with boys from other schools or upgrade (at an additional $90 per night!) One thing is guaranteed. They are all F-ing scum I hope all involved lose every penny they ever made and become homeless. Welcome to Chaotically Yours. Again, we found these rooms to be clean and pretty comfortable. by | Oct 29, 2021 | ark center hidden underwater base locations | john mccririck falling out of a boat | Oct 29, 2021 | ark center hidden underwater base locations | john mccririck falling out of a boat I've been paying off a trip to Ireland/England from EF Tours for Girl Scouts for about a year. We had a wonderful group of kids who took their personal safety pretty seriously, and didnt take unnecessary risks that would put them in jeopardy. That's the advice of Laurie Guest, an author who specializes in travel and customer service. We stayed 20 miles outside of Salzburg at a ski resort youth hostel. If you want a quality tour experience, with a reliable professional tour company, I wholeheartedly recommend that you contact TSA Tours. then how you pay matters. All total they are withholding $760. Angry demands for a refund and threats to take a company to court almost always backfire. - Make a personalized map of where you've been and where you want to go. The first thing to keep in mind is that there are alcohol restrictions with these tours. They are basically stealing our money and find this to be okay. The Global Travel Protection Plus plan provides a refund of the Program Price (minus the cost of the plan and other non-refundable fees) if your child needs to cancel their tour up to 24 hours prior to departure for any reason. We also were traveling to all the countries during the world cup. The only options available to us were food trucks along the river right next to the Tower complex. I sent the letter and will contact them again Monday to try and get answers. 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. 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. According to the folks on our trip who had special dietary needs, the dinners were pretty good for the most part. I feel like EF tours did not take our interests and feelings into consideration and I feel like this trip was a complete waste of time and money. There is a $95 non-refundable deposit + $300 cancellation fee (totals to around $400). Unfortunately, our family was naive enough to believe that this was supposed to be an educational tour. Transfer of COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher. SCUMBAGS!!!!! Tour participants may also choose to upgrade the insurance for the tour. Our group had a few in person meetings at a local restaurant prior to our trip where we discussed issues ranging from passports to packing for our trip to Europe, and got a chance to meet our fellow travelers. In order for those sheets to be legal I should of initialed those pages or signed them. For example, airlines love to send you vouchers, but that funny money expires after a year. 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. Full list of UK dates. It was kind of like a tasting menu, where you got a little bit of each destination. 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. hodgetwins tour Adjustment to EF Atm Deposit. For the first four nights during our stays in London and Paris, we were sent to Hilton Hotels. They make zero effort to please traveller once fees paid. They want to keep $1000 each child therefore I will loss $2000. It was a disaster. Whatever happens, we've seen it. If it concerns you, definitely mention it to the teacher. The tiramisu cooking class in Rome was not optional for our group for some reason. Your password has been sent to the specified email address. No one wanted to be the person that made us late. how to get a full refund from ef tours She signed up October 1 and we had to cancel Oct 14 due to conflicts with my work schedule. I think it's just something they do to alleviate kids carrying too much cash with them. Has anybody seen anyone of color working in their offices? Our Tour Director said it was because London is a melting pot of cultures, but our group didnt buy that. The company may refer your case to its legal department, where it could linger for weeks or months. When you travel with EF, you get the benefits of our 55+ years of experience and our unmatched global network. In London, a walking tour of Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden and Leicester Square was replaced with free time at the British Museum, which we really didnt mind. If you want any other info or even wanted to pass my company on to your leaders shoot me a message! If you happen to wander around the Charles River, it is worth of walking toward the Zakim Bridge and stopping by North Point Park. Read 131 . EF will make accomodations for those with specific dietary needs, such as gluten free or dairy free meals. During our time in Rome, lunch came with some free time to wander, so we were able to go out and select the restaurant of our choice. 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. Thank you for your honesty! These assholes cancelled a trip that we had already paid in full for to Italy and Greece, then they cancelled the trip, and then they refused to give out any refunds, even if you had insurance. I work for a competitor of EF and have about a million reasons why groups that go with them get ripped off. She did make sure we were always wary of our passports and where we were keeping them during our travels. I hope your child knows that they will be sharing a bed with their roommates even if they are traveling with another school. Wherever you are, were thereand we understand that, in todays ever-changing world, travelers are looking for more flexibility than ever before. Technics in Management Transfer inverness animal clinic. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Countless study abroad trips have been canceled due to COVID-19, leaving many families out thousands of dollars. EF, as a company, offers may types of tours ranging from group trips for adults to organized gap years for high school graduates. This Tour Director is supposed to handle just about everything on your tour, including all your pre-booked accommodations, meals, excursions, tickets, and transfers. We were late to our appointment at the Louvre. We were so late to our tour of Pompeii. websites, advertisements, etc. We did not have enough free time (which we were promised). Overall, breakfasts were adequate throughout the trip. In my opinion they are if they hired them to insure these trips they should make good on there promises to get you to buy the insurance. I was so angry but nothing was done about it. EF was never concerned about her health or welfare and only accused her of being drunk so they could dodge any responsibility. I feel I paid twice as much as the tour was worth with the lack of amenities and accommodations that were promised by EF as those that were . If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. Give the system a chance to work before filing a chargeback. The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. Two years later they called and talked me into a 9-Day tour to Rome. Did we mention it's free? how to get a full refund from ef tours . All opinions are my own, and all costs were paid out of our pocket for this experience. Travel companies love to keep your money, even when theyre not supposed to. To make matters worse, EF Tours often refuses to issue refunds even after customers have submitted evidence of their dissatisfaction. All I know to do is make this issue public. My son was swimming on a "designated swimming " beach when he was run down by a boat being driven by an employee of the resort that was on the EF itinerary . She had been paying for the trip in installments since 2018. 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 $500. fender american professional ii vs ultra. This is exactly the type of honest review I am searching for as I consider enrolling my son in a 9 day tour of Japan next summer, and also go myself. Be aware of high-touch surfaces, such as handrails, arm rests, and security bins at the airport, and be sure to wash hands thoroughly after coming in contact with such surfaces, or before any meal. We were late to our tours in London, Florence, and the Vatican. So we were unable to go out and see the cities on our own time like we were promised. They give gifts and perks to the teachers who organize these trips to get them to sign up students then end up stealing a portion of the mine with no trip. But the idiotic folks at EF Tours says since this was "unforeseen", we are not covered. I booked a trip with our homeschool "trip club" to do EF's Great Britain tour with a 2 day extension to Paris. Settling with a debit card, a check or even a wire transfer means the money is gone. EF books all travelers in economy class seats for all transportation methods. However, EF Tours will override the plan and refuse your refund. The best unexpected addition to our trip in my opinion was the opportunity to see a musical in the West End of London. But on her return flight, one of the legs, on Flybe from Paris to Manchester, England, mysteriously vanished. Its completely impossible for 40 people to make use of just a handful of bathroom stalls in five minutes. Vouchers issued and redeemed by the original traveler may not be combined with future discounts, scholarships, or other special incentives if the same discounts, scholarships, or other special incentives existed on the original tour. Foguth says details matter. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I went on my trip June 11, 2014-June 25, 2014. Would I travel with EF Tours again? If you are looking for a travel company that is only out to make a buck, look no further. A money grab. Thats why weve enhanced our already top-tier, industry-leading coverage programs to provide even more choices, and to give travelers, families, and school communities the widest range of safe and flexible plans. We've got you covered. It's just all circular and I can't get anywhere. In Italy, the dinners were quite good. Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. They won't tell you which airline or which hotel you will be staying at. It really did take a lot of pressure off to just let someone else do all that work. But the worst experience in this hotel went to a dad on our trip, whos single room contained only a sofa. labelled. Tickets can be purchased individually at the ticket booth for just $42 USD or for groups ahead of time for just $24 USD. If you pay by credit card, you should receive a refund to that credit card. Trips are usually initially introduced about two years before the travel date so that participants can make smaller monthly payments to cover the cost of the trip. He went as part of a group of senior high school students on a school sponsored trip. They even claim you can earn credit for going on these tour. From that time forward I lead 20 overseas tours to Europe for my college. The country is bordered to the north by Myanmar and . Though not quite as refined as the Hiltons, and a little slap-shot with the furniture, we found this place to be clean and welcoming. Here's how we make world travel easy. And if that doesnt work well, you can always contact me. These usually include some special activity or visit to an additional landmark. Do you have knowledge or insights to share? Tune Up Kit Oil Air Filter Kit for John Deere L130 G100 G110 SABRE 2554. Instructions on how to request a refund are located on the COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher page, which can be found on the traveler secure site. Our school will be traveling with three other schools from different parts of the country. He or she is super excited about all the cool things they get to do and is just begging you to let them go. Some of it was just bad luck however I feel like most of it was EF tours being lazy and not trying to help make the experience the best that it could have been. Usually if you haven't paid in full you could get a cancel for any reason insurance which will give you about 75% back. It is very expensive, and I'm just hoping for a positive experience. My daughter and I have a lot of great memories from our trip, despite the difficulties. Check with the hotel for your options. Information about our flights was not available until about a month before our departure, and information about our hotels was not available until we were about three weeks out from leaving. 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. This article was published on February 22, 2019. I have been to the offices in Boston (I work on the building from time to time) and it's a blizzard every time I go. HOW CAN THIS BE LEGAL??? Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. These Whispers often had glitches or were garbled, making it very hard to understand our guides. It includes time, money, convenience, and many other factors. It felt like a complete waste of time to travel and waste that many days. My mom is part of a tour departing for a 10 day trip to Europe. Read more, Copyright 2023 Chaotically Yours | Birch on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. I will never, ever even consider sending any of my other kids on one of these trips. But they are excited to travel with their friends. Vol 1, #2. If you do not have a claim in process but have general questions about plan benefits, please contact the plan's producer - Risk Strategies Eduction. Exploring the Basics, Benefits, and Policies, How to Contact Tesla: Customer Service Phone Number, Website, Social Media, Email & Live Chat, Bruce Willis Health Condition: Understanding the Actors Diet and Exercise Regimen, Exploring the Impact of Greg Gutfelds Vacation from Fox News. These Terms and Conditions apply to any COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher (COVID-19 Voucher) issued by EF Educational Tours (EF) in connection with EF tours scheduled to depart after February 24, 2020 (and EF tours traveling to China after January 28, 2020) through September 30, 2022. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD ON AN EF TRIP!! Can I exchange my COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher for a Cash Refund Option? Im not opposed to tipping but tips need to be earned and for him to request a set amount doesnt sit well with me. But some days lunch was great. 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. That's when we found out it would be around $800 to cancel. If you dont believe me, ask Melina Jose, who was supposed to fly from Paris to Orlando, Florida, recently. We didnt go to Westminster Abbey or St. Pauls Cathedral while we were in London, and there were too many things to count in Paris that we didnt even glimpse. 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 . It's just too many in my opinion. 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. But in the most frustrating example, during our time in Paris a visit to the Frogonard Perfume Museum was added to our itinerary. All breakfasts were served at our hotels. Now that Chicago Public Schools has cancelled all domestic and international trips due to the coronavirus pandemic, she wants her $4,100 back, but EF Tours refuses to issue refunds. For ten of the eleven nights of our trip, we were provided with clean, safe accommodations that lived up to what the EF Tours website told us to expect. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. Get Involved; Contact; Donate! Meals on the tour ran the gamut from weird to stellar, but overall were not to bad. In Paris, it was a trip to Versaille to tour the palace and the gardens. Tickets to the entire estate are free for those under 18 years old and cost under $30 USD for anyone else, and thats without a group discount. COVID-19 Future Travel Vouchers that were issued to travelers whose original tour was scheduled to depart on or after February 24, 2020 may be redeemed for travel departing on or before September 30, 2025. EF Tours charged each participant $60. The trip isn't until June of 2017. 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. - Keep a travel log of your adventures. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to get a full refund from EF Tours. On the second night we had a traditional Alsatian dish called Flammekueche, which was sort of like a pizza with a creamy sauce. how to get a full refund from ef tours. Usually if you haven't paid in full you could get a cancel for any reason insurance which will give you about 75% back. Not by a long shot. My son received life threatening injuries and had there not been a physician along as a chaperone my son would have died. But their ads sure reflect diversity! Said she would pay for it herself as the total cost for her to go alone would be enough to take my entire family on a nice vacation. At the time of this publication, EF Tours has been notified of this unacceptable hotel and has yet to respond. "You can accept a travel voucher with no penalties, or you can accept a. Lodging: Some hotel chains may be loosening their cancellation policies, waiving change and cancellation fees that would normally apply to non-refundable rates. Flights cancelled, rerouted. These refund policies cover only a partial amount of the costs EF has already incurred for each . 109 to 45 days prior to departure: Full refund less $95 non-refundable deposit, all Non-Refundable fees, and 50% of program price. My AT&T bill is wrong. For a fee, a single room can be requested for the tour. There were a total of 40 people on our tour. Transfer to a comparable tour. Whatever you need, we'll handle it. It seemed cool at the time however most countries either had the shops and food places shut down early or be completely closed due to the big games. EF Tours uses a wide range of airlines, and travelers do not get to indicate a preference. The biggest problem I saw with safety was when our Tour Guide would take off walking at a breakneck speed, frequently leaving half our group stuck at crosswalks or a few turns behind. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. When it became apparent on the second night that we werent going to be getting any traditional English food, my daughter and I made arrangements to go get dinner on our own, and pay for it out of pocket. The rooms at these Hiltons were very new, immaculately clean and extremely comfortable. 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. If all other attempts to get a full refund from EF Tours fail, it may be time to seek legal advice. :? They split group in half. If necessary, set a calendar reminder so that you dont forget. While not happy with that amount I understood. We were promised experiential learning activities during the trip. We also found that we frequently needed to buy water to stay hydrated in the high temperatures of Italy during the summer, and at most of the locations we visited, water was marked up quite a bit. By clicking "submit" below, you are requesting to have your refund issued by check, which will be made out in the travelers name and mailed to their primary address on file. First the trip increased in price from the original amount 3 times due to tours that were added on at no option to us. I find that unreasonable - they initially said another roommate, now I am finding 4 kids in a room. And the airlines deferred to Expedia. Tours are advertised by the group leader/teacher to students at their school and to their local community.