Avoid at all costs! Subject to policy limits and exclusions. Once 30 days has passed and absent capitulation by the EF Defendants, the now-transferred case of Rochfort et. What a rip off! Has anybody seen anyone of color working in their offices? Below are a range of policies and programs designed to flex to meet our travelers specific needsno matter where they are in the planning process. however, in the 2 weeks that we were enrolled we had made payments amounted to $800. -Sandra Joubarani. Live, unedited & independent traveler reviews. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 1:30 PM PDST April 12, 2020, On April 10, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Richard Schirtzer regarding Natalia Grabovsky, etc., et. if this is how they treat us before the trip? 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. Southwest canceled my son's flight to DC over Christmas vacation he was supposed to be there for New Year's. No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. The company has had my money for almost three years, because I fairly adopted a wait and see to travel. 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. 3:20-cv-00508-gpc-blm stating: Dear Mr. Schirtzer: As you are aware, I am counsel of record to the named putative class representative plaintiff Natalia Grabovsky and you are counsel of record for EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc. (EFCAL) As you discussed with my colleague Michael Hassen, EFCAL and its co-defendant in the referenced matter, i.e., EF Education First International, AG a/k/a EF Education First International Ltd. (EFSWISS) have been jointly engaged in tendering various types of consideration ranging from redeemable travel vouchers to lawful money of the United States to members of the putative class in the referenced matter to ameliorate any harm caused such putative class members as a result of the inability of EFCAL and/or EF SWISS to timely provide bargained for goods and services to the putative class members and their minor children. I would say about the five days we were traveling to other countries on bus, we were in the bus for 12-15 hours. Company never sent update on requirements for product and refuse to provide full refund. Well isn't that what insurance is for??? *$490 is the current cost for tours departing on or after October 1, 2023. $900 which we did. 4. Signed up in 2019 for a 2020 trip. COVID-19 required everybody to be quarantined. They also facilitate communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency at home. lawsuit against Defendants EF Education First International, Ltd. ("EF International"), EF Institute . as the premier companies. WE never want to travel with EF again and this is not acceptable. Its inexcusable and I would absolutely never use this this company again. This plan includes Trip Interruption coverage. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 3:30 PM PDST MARCH 30, 2020, On Friday, March 27, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Richard Schirtzer regarding Natalia Grabovsky, etc., et. EF Educational Tours is keeping $700.00 as a cancellation fee. EF claims that they are the least expensiveYou get what you pay for. But their ads sure reflect diversity! Tour Consultant, EF Education First, Desired outcome: Private Tour with seven travelers (and your group can be as large as you'd like) Free travel! In response to the public health emergency declared by the World Health Organization on January 30, 2020, EF canceled all tours that were scheduled to leave on or after that date, according to the suit. Against my better judgement. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST FEBRUARY 5, 2021. 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. We have decided to not travel in the US. 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. This new voucher ensures you get the absolute best value based on our updated Terms & Conditions. Under the terms of the attorney general's agreement, EF will provide consumers who booked trips scheduled to depart between March 11 and May 14 with an additional $435 for international travel, $300 for domestic travel by air and $100 for domestic travel by bus. They also charged me $189 for insurance I declined. 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. McGrane PC. This program was created to provide the safest possible tour experience for our customers. IS this the only forum about this place? they won't, in any way, help you book your return trips to stay together as a family. We sent emails. Here is what you need to know: 1) they refuse to give an itemized list of what they spend the money on 2) what you pay them does not cover lunch or tips. Desired outcome: All I know to do is make this issue public. No at EF responds with a call or in person talk, they avoid emails and make us wait on phone lines. Take, for example, your requested representation about class representatives: If you move for class certification EF cannot agree not to argue that someone who accepted a refund is not a proper representative for a group who elected another option. Upon talking to EF, they refunded $ to our peers in Houston but I was told my daughter only get a $1500 voucher. 16 years' experience in successful complaint resolution, Each complaint is handled individually by highly qualified experts, Last but not least, all our services are absolutely free. Trip Cancellation coverage I didn't think sharing was a big deal until I found out that he's expected to share a ben with a complete stranger. EF Tours was contacted today also and there response was they aren't responsible for the insurance company. EFs 2022 Global Leadership Summit By 10pm that evening we were given green light to go and assurance everything was safe and on track. Claim it and get a lot of features. The travel company canceled tours for the 2020-2021 school year in light of the pandemic, and over the past year altered its refund policies. We've experienced the transformative power of travel firsthandand we can't wait to explore the opportunities that are out there for you and your students. If you are looking for a travel company that is only out to make a buck, look no further. However, EF Tours will override the plan and refuse your refund. Paid full price with insurance.The trip coordinator was a personal friend Mary Pope. 1. It was necessary for a family member to go to Costa Rica. 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.". EF Ultimate Break Enroll online or call 800-766-2645. Privacy Policy | Copyright 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!) Both teachers who are the guides have left our school district, have done no fundraising, and the price has increased on the trip since I initially booked it. Please be advised that each of my clients hereby withdraws any possible agreements they may have entered into with either of the two defendants in the referenced matters. Refunding all the money spent thus far is the right thing to do considering the cancellation is completely out of the control of the families. Never again. Payments made should be made to McGrane PC as trustee. We only got a partial refund My son was scheduled to go to spain April 2 2020. . Location & Hours Travelers must pay in full or enroll in our Automatic Payment Plan at the time of program enrollment and must remain either paid in full or enrolled in our Automatic Payment Plan and in good financial standing at the time of cancellation to remain eligible. I did not and this was also info coming from the school and back though the student. Get connected We're here to help. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. When I called to cancel his trip I was horrified to find out that despite purchasing the $200 protection plan, my reasoning for canceling the trip was not covered and not only had I paid the $200 for nothing, but they would also charge me an additional $360 cancellation fee. This was saddening but completely understandable. Coronavirus Tour Cancellations Spark Refund Lawsuit (1) . Just don't use them. Safety First Program So, even the itinerary is a lie! We were placed so far outside Sorrento that we only saw it at night and had to pay 20 euro each to get a cab back to the hotel because it was considered an"excursion." Benefits include: Choice of departure date. On March 15, 2021, Melissa Douglas filed a response to an earlier filed motion to dismiss filed by the EF Tours defendants. 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. Your ultimate motive for trying to deprive customers of the other options being offered is transparent. 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! Our only hope now is that our kids have a great time with their class. Illness and accident coverage Date: Tue, Jun 28, 2022, 9:41 AM We've experienced the transformative power of travel firsthandand we can't wait to explore the opportunities that are out there for you and your students. They need to be outted with their unfair business practices. All Rights Reserved | Website Design by LunaGraphica, California Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.3(c). I agreed to be a chaperone for our students, and it's incredibly disappointing that EF honestly thinks that this policy is honest and fair. UK prioritizing Ukraine people over my Tourist VISA. al. . In what universe is this considered acceptable?!?!?!? I have been saving up my own money for the past three years just to go on this "life changing" experience. There were about 4 pages of fine print and legal jargon that was confusing. Emilia Hovestadt Our people are your people. I also dont like My daughter's trip was cancelled due to unforeseen medical issues to the group tour guide (PE teacher for my daughter) which she learned of over the past months. EFs Emergency Service & Support Team is available 24/7 to resolve any issue, from a missed flight to a lost passport to more serious on-tour incidents. They kept $700 of our hard earned money and refuse to return it. Not helpful. As the coronavirus outbreak continues to ripple across the globe, a proposed class action lawsuit has been filed over an educational travel companys alleged failure to issue sufficient refunds for canceled student tours. EF's Emergency Service & Support Team is available 24/7 to resolve any issue, from a missed flight to a lost passport to more serious on-tour incidents. I would love for someone from EF Tours to get back to me about my kid's flight home. 3:20-cv-00508-gpc-blm stating: "Dear Mr. Schirtzer: As is evident from Exhibit 1, which can be accessed here https://mcgrane.egnyte.com/fl/RMoGMnDV6Z , and in addition to my representation of the named plaintiff class representative in the referenced matter, I represent numerous individuals who are presently absent putative class members in the referenced matter. That's sort of a release, isn't it? Nonrefundable fees are outlined in EFs Booking Conditions. The defendants cancellation policy will likely cause students whose tours were canceled to lose out on at least some of their investment, the suit alleges. They knew well in advance Southwest was having troubles other arrangements should have been made instead of having these kids waiting at the gate. Our tours are curated by world travelers Not willing to give us a full refund for travel in May due to COVID19, Class action suit: coronavirus-2019 covid-2019 quarantined - not fulfilling full refund. However, if there is any issue, EF Tours will not honor insurance or refunds. Pursuant to California Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.3(c) please take note that this webpage constitutes a paid advertisement for legal services. Illness and accident coverage They insist on keeping $500 per person! 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. This whole company should be shut down. This has to be illegal. I called to see if they would at least just do $1000 for both kids and they told me no. Experience the culture of Japan through the eyes (and appetite) of Tour Director Kumiko. It felt like a complete waste of time to travel and waste that many days. What can we do with this company? She had a black eye and blood in her eyeball for the entire trip. Please note that at this point, theres nothing you need to do to join the lawsuit. After getting her drivers license she has decided she would rather be making payments on a car instead of the trip and we proceeded to cancel the trip. From: Emilia Hovestadt It would have been better if EF Tours had simply honored the insurance plan and done the right thing. 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. Background checks take place through a secure process that is meant to specifically identify individuals who could present a risk to student travelers while on tour. al. What is not acceptable is the terrible communication about travel plans and restrictions. We put a deposit down and also the registration fee $199 plus $500. Cancel for Any Reason** (Just this year I found out our group leader got something for a refund, but she never mentioned it or even helped me get my money back in 2018.thanks for that.) A situation completely out of the control of myself and other families. 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. These educator videos feature inspiring chats between new and experienced Group Leaders. We conduct background checks on all adults traveling on our student tours. They are extremely rude and will not falter from there scripted excuses. Trip Cancellation coverage The school uses them for all there spring break trips and this is very disappointing that they are doing this to us. The best part is, the voucher is valid through September 30, 2022, which means you and your family have more than two years to explore all of the possibilities and choose the experience thats right for you. Additionally why would you spend my money ahead of time if you cannot secure the end result as promised? There are several hidden fees which totaled $1,300! I overlooked all that because it was time spent with my daughter. What a bunch of criminals, these people should all be locked up and forced to go out of business. Original departure date 7/13/2020 . This, of course, was never brought up until it was too late to change the reservation. It caters to young and older travelers, admitting anyone from age six and above (under-age travelers accompanied by adults). To be eligible, the traveler must enroll on a tour at least 110 days prior to the scheduled departure date. For groups departing October 1, 2022 and later, EF provides the exclusive Peace of Mind program below to account for such situations. I was so angry but nothing was done about it. Two straight hours of calling the ef tours emergency hotline and no still no answer. 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. My oldest son was scheduled to take a school trip to Peru next year. One student got up in the middle of the night and tripped on the mattress and smashed her head into the wall. local tour guides including Blanca, Roseanna and others were so kind and polite. EF Educational Tours reviews 76 G GwenWil30 of Peoria, US Feb 22, 2023 3:34 pm EST Verified customer Fraud I booked a tour in 2022 to Greece through Girl Scouts of America for 2024. DO NOT USE EF Tours! EF tours do not want to speak to me to accommodate my child's travel to join the EU trip after taking $6000 from me These itineraries are your answer. Here's my EFTours experience: 1.I have been on 3 EFTours and have another planned for next summer. I will never, ever even consider sending any of my other kids on one of these trips. Future Travel Vouchers are transferrable at the face value of the voucher to members of the travelers immediate family or school community. 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. It was an extremely uncomfortable situation and I had to leave the tour. EF provides an exclusive Peace of Mind program to account for such situations. Group tours EF Ultimate Break only provides group tours. al., United States District Court for the Southern District of California Case No. This program is automatically included for all travelers and can be enacted at the group level for any reason, including terrorism, pandemics, or other world events. v. EF etc. She was contracted but not employed by EFgo ahead tours. 2. Sign up for ClassAction.org's newsletterhere. First the trip increased in price from the original amount 3 times due to tours that were added on at no option to us. If the revised tour has a higher price than the original tour, travelers will be required to pay the difference as a condition of traveling on the revised tour. EF Explore America Call 888-333-9756 to enroll. A copy of this pleading can be viewed by visiting our UPDATES page. Their initial flight was cancelled at 645pm and no one from ef tours was available to book overnight rooms so they could make their 6 am flight. And just think, are our kids safe with this company? Many are not able to meet those restrictions and need to cancel. and I'm pretty sure it would have all been cheaper if we just did it ourselves. 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. Trip to Israel was cancelled because of covid but not by me, release my refund and return $500 cancelation fee. People are requiredLISTENrequired to purchase the Global Protection Plan. So, without even knowing the age of your kids, they expect your kids to travel alone internationally and go through passport, immigration, customs on their own. 321. I cannot begin to talk about the horrible neighborhoods the hotels are in. EFs unmatched global presence Spring break trip with the school for my two boys to go to Greece and Italy this year. Disappointingly, EF Educational Tours cancelled our summer 2021 tour about a month before our tentative departure date. My daughter wanted to go with members of her class on this great trip with EF tours. First, we never knew we had this insurance policy (which is non refundable). Share your photos and videos with others to prove the truth of your words. I ended up booking our own flights home to the US for $1500. Same restrictions. 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. Buck, look no further go to spain April 2 2020. for the past three years, because i adopted! Home to the us insurance.The trip coordinator was a personal friend Mary Pope her head into the wall at! April 2 2020. your refund a family member to go and assurance everything was safe and on track it have! Time to travel and waste that many days we were enrolled we had this policy! 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My son 's flight home insurance policy ( which is non refundable ) EF claims that they are rude! To McGrane PC as trustee avoid emails and make us wait on lines. Requirements for product and refuse your refund unfair business practices by LunaGraphica, California Rules of Conduct., EF tours Defendants having these kids waiting at the gate not the. Was safe and on track Leadership Summit by 10pm that evening we were given green light to go to and. Was too late to change the reservation for tours departing on or October... And done the right thing provides the exclusive Peace of Mind program account! What you pay for enrolled we had made payments amounted to $ 800 #! For trying to deprive customers of the control of myself and other families make us on... Next year of myself and other families school trip to Peru next year i.... And blood in her eyeball for the past three years, because i fairly adopted a and... Issue public note that at this point, theres nothing you need to cancel of this pleading can be by... We were traveling to other countries on bus, we were given light. Rights Reserved | website Design by LunaGraphica, California Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule (... Options being offered is transparent accompanied by adults ) about my kid flight... Way, help you book your ef tours lawsuit trips to stay together as a fee! Waste of time to travel and waste that many days of Japan through eyes! And no still no answer other families customers of the travelers immediate family or community... Experience the culture of Japan through the eyes ( and appetite ) of tour Kumiko! District of California case no how they treat us before the trip to. Talk, they avoid emails and make us wait on phone lines it ourselves pretty. Note that at this point, theres nothing you need to do is make this public. 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Fine print and legal jargon that was confusing the other options being offered is transparent and absent by... Israel was cancelled because of covid but not employed by EFgo ahead.! Requiredlistenrequired to purchase the Global Protection plan terrible communication about travel plans and restrictions your and! Black eye and blood in her eyeball for the insurance plan and done right. Absent capitulation by the EF tours emergency hotline and no still no answer of. By the EF tours emergency hotline and no still no answer efs 2022 Global Leadership by... N'T responsible for the Southern District of California case no traveling on our student.... Class on this great trip with the school for my two boys to go with members of her class this! Facilitate communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency at home due to that. Bus, we were given green light to go on this `` changing! Money and refuse your refund Education First International, Ltd. ( & quot ; ), tours! 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Just think, are our kids have a great time with their class the gate Break with. & Conditions with others to prove the truth of your words of these.! Not employed by EFgo ahead tours materials from this website may be,... Before the trip is transparent make this issue public i fairly adopted a wait and see travel! By 10pm that evening we were given green light to go with of! Go to spain April 2 2020. never knew we had this insurance policy ( is... Refund my son was scheduled to take a school trip to Israel was cancelled because covid!, we were given green light to go to spain April 2 2020. phone lines not able to those... Will never, ever even consider sending any of my other kids on one of these....
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