When complimentary doesn't mean free

[stephen_s]

This is always a case of he said-she said. I think one of the ways that this can be handled is for people (like Anita) to actually go to that presentation and see exactly what's going on and read over the contract.

This way they can tell the person (and us) what's really going on and set the record straight.

[Ned]

I agree, but some of these contracts are impossible to understand unless you're a trained attorney. I don't know if this contract is like that, but I'd bet that Watson didn't understand it, nor many others, regardless of how impossible the company says that is.

The company is right that "'Complimentary' doesn't necessarily mean 'free,'" however, it also doesn't mean "costs more than the regular price" as was the case with the "complimentary" cruise she wanted to take.

Based on what Anita found out about the cost of that cruise, this is a company from which I'd steer clear.

Regardless, as Anita said, Watson ignored the old adage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

[jfrenaye]

If anyone wants one, I will give you a complimentary certificate for a week in London.

[msnovtue]

I agree, but some of these contracts are impossible to understand unless you're a trained attorney. I don't know if this contract is like that, but I'd bet that Watson didn't understand it, nor many others, regardless of how impossible the company says that is.


This is true, but I'm constantly amazed by how many people just sign off on something (contract, etc.) without even *trying* to read it. I may not have passed the Bar (did do that law school thing, tho), but I never sign anything without at least glancing over what I'm signing.

Yes, some of the language would confuse a Supreme Court Justice, but often there are basic things that you can read (e.g. the classic "all legal fees in any dispute will be paid by undersigned"). I really doubt the lady in the article did that. And this goes for 'initialling" anything too-- that's usually a legal indication that you've read & understand that particular section.

Vacations, homes, cars, anything--actually read it before you sign, folks!!!:eek:

[Gesualdo]

The problem with that contract is, much like other contracts we sign, we usually have someone standing over us waiting for us to sign so they can get on with whatever else they have to do. With every apartment I've rented in the past, the leasing agent always took time to go over the entire lease with me. That is not the case with anything else, like buying cars, buying my home, renting a car, etc. (Okay, maybe I did have time to read my contract when I took a cruise, but it's a rare exception and I did go hunting for that contract language before I bought.)

Even if you did read every bit of the contract, would you understand not only its meaning, but also its ramifications? I bring this up over the mandatory arbitration clause that is so popular these days. You practically can't do business without agreeing to arbitration, but the language in the contract always makes it sound like a positive thing. The ramifications are that the company generally chooses the arbitrator, the customer almost always loses the dispute, and the customer then pays all the legal fees. This is not general knowledge, so even if you did read the contract and understand it, you might not REALLY get it.

And while it's always advisable to have a lawyer look over contracts before buying a house, perhaps even a car, who ever asked a lawyer to look over an apartment lease? Or a cell phone contract? And when the high-pressure sales rep is standing over you, tapping his foot, while you try to read, there's no way you're going to comprehend what you're reading, much less even really try to read it. You're going to make a small show of defiance by trying to read before finally conceding that you can't concentrate enough to read it and making a snap decision that the salesman sounded above-board so you're going to buy. That's why these companies are still in business. They are well aware this is how most people handle such contracts and they take advantage of it. And it's all legal because you signed, indicating that you read and understood it.

(Yes, that doesn't necessarily make it legally binding, but who has the money to hire a lawyer to fight these things? They've already spent thousands on this worthless "product" and have no more money with which to go to court. The ones who do have the wherewithal to fight it generally settle quietly out of court because the companies know it's cheaper to settle than to duke it out in court. And there we are...)

[Anita Dunham-Potter]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the comments!

I agree....people really need to be very cautious regarding these travel club/timeshare spiels. Many are legit, some are not.

The jury is still out on Travel To Go. When speaking with Travel To Go they seemed genuine in trying to help book her travel, but refused to answer the one thing Grace Watson wanted - a refund. She has been asking for her money back since June!

I went around in circles for over a month trying to get them to give Grace Watson's money back. But they skirted the issue every time. A big red flag -- I've never had a company just not deal with something like this.

If they don't refund her money, I think this is a case for small claims court.

Best,
Anita

[DCTravelAgent]

Now they're all in California - what about the "Seller of Travel Law"?

[stacynan]

Anita, Travel To Go needs to pick up a Webster dictionary:

Complimentary ---

given free as a courtesy or favor <complimentary tickets>
— com·pli·men·ta·ri·ly http://www.webster.com/images/audio.gif (javascript:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?compli19.wav=complimentarily')) http://www.webster.com/images/audio.gif (javascript:popWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?compli18.wav=complimentarily')) \-ˈmen-t(ə-)rə-lē, -(ˌ)men-ˈter-ə-lē\ adverb

[jfrenaye]

Was it a complimentary certificate for a cruise

or a certificate for a complimentary cruise

[Anita Dunham-Potter]

Hey John,

I heard the "certificate" made a good liner in the cat box.

LOL

Anita

[Ned]

I don't know about that Anita. It's stench might be too much for the kitty litter to handle. :lol:

Hey John,

I heard the "certificate" made a good liner in the cat box.

LOL

Anita

[NW CTC]

It's so interesting to me that people will plunk down substantial sums to join a "travel club" or some other outfit that promises to save $$ on their travel but will balk at working with a travel agent because they have been brainwashed into thinking it will cost more.

It's pretty sad, really.

I hope she can recover her funds and agree that California's Seller of Travel provisions offer the best chance for doing so - but I'm not holding my breath!