The tiramisu cooking class in Rome was not optional for our group for some reason. If EF Tours does not respond or refuses to issue a full refund, the next step is to file a complaint with the BBB. PLAN. Was told that in total I will lose the $749 each person as we also will lose the Global Travel Protection Plan amount as well. 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. For example, you can shoot an email to an executive of a hotel chain when one of the properties refuses to offer a refund you deserve. I have traveled extensively with Expedia, always buy travel insurance, and am covered for any thing, from war to terrorism, to a pandemic. Vol 1, #2. The Return & Refund Policies may vary widely among different types of products and sellers. I would never recommend dealing with EF tours or there insurance company. But use a credit card, and you have the full force of federal law ( the Fair Credit Billing Act) and your credit card's resolution department in your corner. 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. We did not get to select from a menu and were all served the same thing each night, with the exception of those who had special dietary needs. #2. From that time forward I lead 20 overseas tours to Europe for my college. How to Get a Full Refund from EF Tours: A Step-by-Step Guide, Do I Need to Be Vaccinated to Travel to Hawaii? Settling with a debit card, a check or even a wire transfer means the money is gone. throttle thumb display electric . EF Tours uses a wide range of airlines, and travelers do not get to indicate a preference. I cant guarantee this Ive advocated many cases where a company promised a refund in writing but it can help. Recently I was notified by EF Tours that my child was cancelled from the tour after paying off almost whole trip price. Even when customers provided evidence of their dissatisfaction, EF Tours refused to issue refunds or only offered partial refunds. . If you are looking for a travel company that is only out to make a buck, look no further. What can a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher be used for? That EF 12-Day tour was called "Europe with an Alpine Flavor." While the London Eye excursion seemed to go well for those who went on it, it was over priced. Experts advise people to frequently wash their hands in warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds and to avoid touching their face. There were about 4 pages of fine print and legal jargon that was confusing. You can call EF Ultimate Break at 1-800-766-2645. This company is a complete scam. Visit the BBB website to find out how to submit a complaint. This is the biggest scam ever. Do I regret going on an EF Tour? I have been pretty disappointed with EF when I call for questions. how to get a full refund from ef tours. 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. 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. EF will book with whatever airline has space available for the lowest price for the group. So, no refund. Original scheduled departure was from May 15, 2020 September 30, 2022. It was over $8,300," Hignite said. No one asked to go there, and most of us seemed annoyed that we were stopping. All travel needs to be departing prior to the COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher expiration date. To date I paid $1063 on this trip to Peru and canceling it over 1 year in advance due to unforeseen circumstances has cost me $560. how to get a full refund from ef tours. 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. We got to listen to an orchestra perform in Piazza della Signoria in Florence. Did they create a good experience for students who havent done a lot of international traveling? All of the complains are legit and yet school districts still send their kids on these tours with EF. She and her husband, Jerard, had to pay $437 for new tickets. For example, on our first full day of the trip, we visited the Tower of London. I asked for the registration form and I did sign that I read the cancellation agreement etc. She usually did a count to make sure everyone was there when we were ready to leave, but she did leave people behind at least twice during our trip and have to go back and get them. how to get a full refund from ef tours Now I've fought this as much as I could. Vrbo took my $1,270! I work for a competitor of EF and have about a million reasons why groups that go with them get ripped off. The first was in 2018. Often, a brief, polite written appeal to someone higher up can do wonders. Thanks. EF, as a company, offers may types of tours ranging from group trips for adults to organized gap years for high school graduates. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Thursday her office has reached a settlement with EF tours that resulted in more than $1.4 million in additional refunds for nearly 4,200. 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. Other than the local tour guides and maybe the tiramisu class, I wouldnt call just visiting these historic places an experiential learning activity.. Hi! 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. Enroll online or call 800-766-2645, EF Go Ahead Tours If you need help with any problem,please contact us through this form. The company is known for its strict refund policies and lack of customer service. . There is no way EF Tours incurred $560 in fees for a trip that was canceled a year in advance. Our tour left some of these promises unfulfilled, but did give us a glimpse at some fantastic destinations in Europe and some amazing memories. My first year to Europe with a group was through EF Tours. This caused problems for a few kids on our trip who werent expecting these costs, and they unfortunately had to miss out on some of the better additions. Usually if you haven't paid in full you could get a cancel for any reason insurance which will give you about 75% back. websites, advertisements, etc. (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? By enrolling on an EF Educational Tour pursuant to a COVID-19 Voucher redemption, the traveler is agreeing to the most current version of the Booking Conditions, which is available at www.eftours.com/bc. She lost her engagement ring in a rental car. Dinners seemed to improve when we got to France. We were assured that the stop there would only last 30 minutes, but it ended up taking three times that, leaving us only an hour and a half to visit the Louvre before we had to be back on the bus to catch a flight to Italy. On May 1st I lost my job and we immediately contacted Ef Tours to cancel. You can call EF Ultimate Break at 1-800-766-2645. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. 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. All total they are withholding $760. EF Go Ahead Tours also allows you to change the date of tour or destination up until your final payment day. Focus on maintaining . We were late to our tours in London, Florence, and the Vatican. It is a trip run by a business who just happens to recruit participants through the school system. Accommodations and rooming Hotels and hostels, rooms and roommates, amenities, and upgrades. I sent the letter and will contact them again Monday to try and get answers. There was a layer of dusty film all over my bathroom and my pillow had an unidentified crusty stain on it. Image courtesy: EF Go Ahead Tours Benefits of EF Go Ahead Tours. My first was as a parent going with my 15-year-old along with a group of about 20 kids (from a . 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! That means that I will receive less than half that amount back! It is a total scam! In most cases, refunds can be issued electronically with the funds being sent directly back to your current account on file. The school is only involved in the process as far as whether they allow teachers to hand out information in schools or not. Settling with a debit card, a check or even a wire transfer means the money is gone. Your password has been sent to the specified email address. A freaky feel to it. About 3-4 months before our trip, and after we had already paid IN FULL, we were notified that because of our small group, our group leader had only signed 5 people up..hindsight tells me people saw what a rip off it was and didn't sign up to take it in the rear from EF. If necessary, set a calendar reminder so that you dont forget. 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. Would I travel with EF Tours again? The design and architecture of the building are very unique and modern contemporary. There were no linens or towels available to him whatsoever. We stayed 20 miles outside of Salzburg at a ski resort youth hostel. Once we arrived in Rome, the Villa Aurelia was our home base for two nights. I am now leaning towards not going with this tour and planning our own itinerary and trip. Electric Bike Thumb Throttle 12-84v LED Display Voltmeter & ON OFF Kil torquetech.co.uk. About Ultimate Break tours Meals, transportation, Tour Directors, pace, customization, and who you'll be traveling with. Only the EF Go Ahead Tours allow alcohol for adult travelers. That was during our terrible last night in Rome when we had to walk from our hotel to our dinner restaurant through some pretty sketchy areas of the city. You might be able to work something out. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. When something goes wrong, you thing you are covered. 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. If you want to make sure you get your travel refund every time, remember to use a credit card, keep every email and be ready to appeal your case. Were going to start with the breakdown of how things work with EF and what to expect as a participant or a parent, and then move on to our specific experience with our tour. They are in trouble financially and that is ok with me!!! Senior trips that were canceled by EF Explore America Tours due to the Coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak should be refunded in FULL, ALL travelers' trip costs minus the travel protection plan cost per traveler since the reason for cancellation was out of the school or the travelers' control. Does anyone have experience with this type of thing? Once I realized that time would be much more limited at every destination than I expected it to be, the trip went much more smoothly. 44 days or less prior to departure: No refund will be issued. If you happen to wander around the Charles River, it is worth of walking toward the Zakim Bridge and stopping by North Point Park. Consumers who booked domestic trips through the EF Explore America tours program should call 888-333-9756 to request a refund. 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. Im thrilled to share all my ideas with you and hope you like what you find here in my little home on the internet. 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. 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 is very expensive, and I'm just hoping for a positive experience. If you have general questions about your enrollment in the travel . $900 which we did. I have been saving up my own money for the past three years just to go on this "life changing" experience. Children are not monitored, left to find their own way in cities across the . EF tours looks like another fish altogether.a money-making venture of little value for the parents. Be informed, says Michael Foguth, founder of Foguth Financial Group in Brighton, Michigan. Did EF Tours create the trip of my dreams? But in the end, Expedia was responsible for her refund; as her travel agent, it needed to work with those airlines to determine the right refund. ?we were then offered a tour of a castle which was supposedly a make up gift from ef tours for the bus situation however, once we got there we only had about 45 mins- an hour to tour the entire castle. Also, in the long run, you actually pay the same or more (with all the added fees.) Fully Refundable Booking Period Feel good about your decision by enrolling in AutoPay or paying in full when you book your tour. They make zero effort to please traveller once fees paid. 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. We enjoyed a truly magical and unexpected sunset under the Eiffel Tower in Paris. While not happy with that amount I understood. But why cant I get a refund? Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. I think our experience would have been better with a more seasoned Tour Guide. We paid an extra $85 USD above and beyond the base tour price to experience it. Students and parents can then sign up directly through the EF Tours website, and submit all payments directly to the company. She told us we only had five minutes to use the restroom and get back on the bus. Per the website, tour participants are assured that travelers can count on safe, clean and comfortable hotels with private bathrooms but much beyond that the info is sparse. Whatever you need, we'll handle it. I really did expect to spend some quality time at these major historic sites. But relinquishing that control does require a certain amount of trust. Parents have paid thousands of dollars for student tours abroad -- and those refunds aren't coming. We choose not to participate in the excursion in London because Im not the biggest fan of heights, and in Paris because my daughter wanted the opportunity to spend some extra free time in the city. To make matters worse, EF Tours often refuses to issue refunds even after customers have submitted evidence of their dissatisfaction. When will I be issued a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher? It was quite nice not to have to worry about any of that. SCUMBAGS!!!!! A money grab. I had to also pay $500.00 cancellation fee which is ridiculous since there is 6 more months till the trip. I find that unreasonable - they initially said another roommate, now I am finding 4 kids in a room. If you want any other info or even wanted . As for hotels, travelers know very little about where they are staying ahead of time. While our tour guide was a very sweet, personable woman, she didnt seem to understand how to manage the timing logistics for a group of 40 travelers. The tour guide was a London college student who had traveled little, not having been to many of our tour destinations. Original scheduled departure was on or before May 14, 2020. It took me to every floor and A) the offices are gorgeous! - Make a personalized map of where you've been and where you want to go. We learned that this hotel had once housed men studying to join a monastery, which explained the doritory feel of the place. Anyone was allowed to sign up for the trip. Against my better judgement. In addition the insurance company retained by EF initially declined to pay to have my son evacuated from Cost Rica. If you want a quality tour experience, with a reliable professional tour company, I wholeheartedly recommend that you contact TSA Tours. That invoice for antivirus protection is a scam, How a company could easily get a false F rating from the BBB. They are so many other excellent companies out there. I would just like some advice if there's any way to lessen the blow. Get Involved; Contact; Donate! We've got you covered. . Email insurance@riskstrategiestravel.com. While this may seem like a school trip, it is not. However, we understand the existing account on file may be inactive, or that you may prefer a check to be sent to you by mail instead. It has been no surprise that management NEVER called. On our way to Rome, our guide added a stop in Ovierto, a beautiful small town with picturesque views, wonderful dining and great little shops which we enjoyed immensely. But they are excited to travel with their friends. They along with their team canceled the tour and refuses to refund the full amount. I was told we should have paid extra if we wanted to be IN Sorrento. Things took a turn for the worse on our last night of the tour, when we stayed at Hotel La Pergola in Rome. This hotel was a bit older than the Hiltons wed stayed in, but it was clean, spacious, and comfortable. He refused to take us anywhere on our free time. EF Go Ahead Tours also allows you to change the date of tour or destination up until your final payment day. The Elliott Report is a consumer news site supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. We had a fantastic time seeing the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. We also learned that our high school would not give any credit to students who participated in these trips, even though much was made of the educational credit during the pitch to get us to join the tour.