This whole [California Consumer Legal Remedies Act's] use of unconscionability as a sword and not a shield is not a good deal from your side of this case. We had to accept them. It has been no surprise that management NEVER called. Signed up in 2019 for a 2020 trip. Would it possible to help US have Better solution? EF Tours was contacted today also and there response was they aren't responsible for the insurance company. 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. EF Tours is just horrible. It is a crime for a youth educational program to take $3800 dollars from a 15 year old after they endorse a trip, then fly us into civil unrest, only to tell us they have no ability to get us home. 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. Your travelers have to cover that. This company canceled our tour claiming Covid caused them to be short of staff to accommodate the tour. (This allows us to partially cover costs related to non-recoverable payments to our suppliers our staff and the investment we have always made and continue to make in itinerary date and destination flexibility.). 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. EF Tours company has gladly excepted the government stimulus hand out. 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. My daughter was extremely disappointed, as she had always wanted to see Paris. Emilia Hovestadt Read those reviews. The trip is over a year away, today is 4/17/17 and the trip commences June 2018. Then, you can't get through on the phone. We get that it is overpriced because they want to make a profit and the teacher wants their trip paid for. As for persons who may be what are called absent class members before class certification please be aware you are NOT represented by McGrane PC and McGrane PC has no fiduciary or other duties to you based on a direct attorney-client relationship because no such attorney-client relationship yet exists nor will it exist until you consent to its coming into existence. Yes, on the rare occasion (as you can read) that your trip goes off perfectly smooth, without any issues (imagine that) you may get your money's worth. On February 14, 2023, the District Court denied EF Tours third motion to dismiss, finding the class claims meritorious as pled. It isn't worth the hassle these people have created. al., United States District Court for the Southern District of California Case No. For over 55 years, weve dedicated ourselves to one global mission: Opening the World Through Education. I was so angry but nothing was done about it. Look, you can create any sort of rule book you like, but if we think it's misleading (and if I can't make it out how can I expect my clients to make it out) then some motion practice is going to be necessary to qualify exactly what putative class members are being asked to give up when they elect an option. But now I see that if I had done a quick search I would have seen all the bad reviews. Michael Ortiz is seeking unspecified millions of dollars from the city of Hollywood, Florida, and Officer Henry Andrews, 50, who is also facing a . 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. He has an unexpected stopover in Munich and no One accompanies him as he Is out of the group Why would I need to do the work for them? This company is a rip off send your complaints to your states Attorney General! Revised tours must depart within one year of the original tour. 15.06 and a full or partial refund pursuant to 940 C.M.R. Read our Newswire Disclaimer. However, EF Tours will override the plan and refuse your refund. We understand that plans can change due to unforeseen circumstances. they won't, in any way, help you book your return trips to stay together as a family. B)there are about 1,000 people in the building and I have yet to see anyone that wasn't white as the driven snow. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST MARCH 15, 2021. I struggled to pay for this trip and now after paying for travel insurance also they are denying full refund. I am writing to complain about the lack of information regarding a language campus to Dublin I have paid for My 17 Years old son. -Sandra Joubarani. Well isn't that what insurance is for??? We wanted to go to Israel and 2 other countries. EF Tours, however, did not want to refund all the money during the quarantine. Every invoice has completely disappeared from my EF go ahead account. 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." Seems a little steep for cancelling a trip that is still almost 2 years away. I have requested my money back. On September 8, 2020, and over vigorous objection, federal District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel granted a motion to change venue from the Southern District of California to the District of Massachusetts that had previously been filed by the EF Defendants and set for hearing on September 11, 2020. Seriously, that was suppose to be the best part?!?!?! Thank you, Unable to travel? The 2020 trip was canceled due to Covid. Wife has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and will not be able to make this trip. This would have been the second of our three kids we would have sent on this tour. If not for her, 30 of your kids would be sleeping in the airport for two nights in a row since their new flight to London has a huge 13 hour layover. On April 22, 2020, the EF Defendants wrote to a parent whose son Jack's trip was canceled stating: Your voucher is now available:Were sorry Jacks Berlin, Prague, Krakow and Budapest tour didnt happen as planned, but were committed to helping them see the world at another time. The day before trip, we were told cancelled due to civil unrest. We were offered a wait and see attitude for the following year 2021 . The communication from EF Tours its grossly nonexistent and generic. 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. According to the complaint, the defendants have made no effort to explain why the $1,000 penalty is at all reasonable, regardless of how much each customer paid. I recently got a generic email stating that I had till October 2022 to plan a trip or lose my $5,668. When you decide to travel with EF, we want you to feel secure in that decision. Emergency evacuation coverages To be eligible, the traveler must enroll on a tour at least 110 days prior to the scheduled departure date. One student got up in the middle of the night and tripped on the mattress and smashed her head into the wall. When we ask to escalate our concern, managers have decided to refuse to accept or return our calls. Just don't do it. View Opportunities; Resources. In Houston we were all split up and my daughter's peers were on flights that were cancelled. Safety First Program Peace of Mind Program al., United States District Court for the Southern District of California Case No. We did not have enough free time (which we were promised). Find out more details today at 1-800-438-7672. If I can get any student considering this company to stop, I will. They said if we wanted to appeal we had to send them a letter from my company explain why I am no longer employed or show a death certificate that I died. We would like a refund of cash to use for real educational purposes. 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. My mom is part of a tour departing for a 10 day trip to Europe. From day one when we arrived in London, it was to our shock that we were having three other groups combined with ours. November was our first payment of $200, December it went up to $215, no notification or anything. For plans issued in New York, customers can purchase the non-insurance Cancel for Any Reason waiver separately from the rest of the travel protection plan. That's when we found out it would be around $800 to cancel. This is a class action lawsuit for monetary and equitable relief arising out of Defendants' . Avoid at all costs! Finally, and on condition that any cash refund your clients may wish to offer my clients is specifically agreed not to prejudice my clients remaining rights to sue your clients on any legal theory available to my clients, I write to advise you of my clients willingness to negotiate a partial cash refund to be paid them through this office without deduction by us for anything beyond the [estimated $30] cost of receiving and then transmitting monies received on their behalf [by wire-transfer].". I was told to call EF to see what my options are. They kept $700 of our hard earned money and refuse to return it. Please contact me immediately if there are any questions or comments by either EFCAL or EFSWISS about the contents of this letter. 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. It was discovered by a parent who was monitoring the flight status. Was informed of the price to cancel was $199 not the $95 listed. Desired outcome: EF Go Ahead Tours Call 800-590-1161 . This browser does not support PDFs. Terrible customer service. A copy of this pleading is posted on our UPDATES page. We were told that other than the deposit and a small admin fee, all the rest of the money was refundable. This plan includes Trip Cancellation coverage. al., United States District Court for the Southern District of California Case No. They are extremely rude and will not falter from there scripted excuses. I understand that Will told her she should have received a discount but in a case like this where she became a chaperone at the very last minute, there is nothing we can do. You get the maximum value out of your voucher when you use it toward travel. If you booked a trip like this as an adult, you would scream from the rooftops for a refund but since these are kids, apparently EF doesn't have to listen because there will be another crop of unsuspecting students waiting to go next year. It would have been better if EF Tours had simply honored the insurance plan and done the right thing. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 12:00 PM PST FEBRUARY 14, 2023. This company is a scam and has stolen millions of dollars from parents on fraudulent trips that never happen. It was necessary for a family member to go to Costa Rica. 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. 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 am outraged and helpless. Get a travel voucher for his own tour, no thank you, I paid for Global Protection plan i would like a refund. These affordable plans provide pre-departure and on-tour benefits, including medical expense coverage that may apply on tour and tour cancellation for the stated reasons below. Meet Carlos, an expert local guide I paid over $1,000 and then had to undergo major surgery and had to cancel a year prior to the trip and all I am getting back is $200! Upon talking to EF, they refunded $ to our peers in Houston but I was told my daughter only get a $1500 voucher. Before commenting, please review our comment policy. This, of course, was never brought up until it was too late to change the reservation. People should be able to get a refund, without all of the hidden fees. This company is a scam. My daughter insisted on being signed up for her school trip in 2020. Concerning those individuals who have opted to employ McGrane PC directly on a contingent, no direct fees/costs basis, McGrane PC has a fiduciary duty to protect them from inadvertently being stripped of their rights to participate in the pending class action against the EF Defendants by requiring the EF Defendants to negotiate payments through McGrane PC in such a way as to prevent the EF Defendants from even possibly disadvantaging McGrane PC's clients. . With 600 schools and offices in 50 countries worldwide, including regional offices dedicated to on-tour support, our global presence is truly unmatched. Or they can redeem it for any other EF travel product. Anyways, we were told the new trip was "similar/almost identical" to the one we had signed up for, but there would be no extension to Paris and it would be 2 days shorter. ComplaintsBoard.com is a leading complaint resolution website on the Internet. 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. 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. They also charged me $189 for insurance I declined. Camp Lejeune residents now have the opportunity to claim compensation for harm suffered from contaminated water. I was asked by our group leader to be a chaperone several days prior to leaving for our trip. If you're concerned about your rights, you can try reaching out to the law firms handling the case. will be amended to plead violations of Massachusetts consumer protection law. EF College Study Call 877-485-4184 to enroll. Protection for your belongings The trip was booked for June of 2019. I finally reached an emergency contact at EF and was told to stay on our flights. This has happened all over the US and people are not standing down. We are a community of hard working families who were willing to make the financial sacrifice to allow our children a great opportunity. EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc. - Class Action Lawsuits . Please download the PDF to view it: Download PDF. My daughter's peers in Houston were sent home. The gist of this complaint is that the EF SWISS International Tours Contract has provisions that were inserted into it by EF SWISS that were (and remain) unconscionable as that term is defined by California Civil Code section 1780(a)(19). Protection for your belongings Get connected We're here to help. Four boys were also booked in a room in London with only a king sized bed! Desired outcome: They have tarnished their reputation and people are not as comfortable traveling with them anymore. Same restrictions. There are so many good tour companies out there, you would be wasting valuable time and money booking with this one. 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 v. EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc., et. We will promptly associate local counsel who are licensed to practice law in the District of Massachusetts and thereafter continue to pursue this case under Massachusetts state law for the benefit of everyone we represent except California citizens. I will make sure and tell everyone I know not to take these tours. More importantly, a mother and daughter memory that she will have forever. As you can imagine the difference between 0 and 55 is immaculate and only caused problems throughout the entire trip. et. Desired outcome: Coverage for baggage in cases of theft or delay. 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. $900 which we did. 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 . In June 2014 my 16 YOA son and a group of other students from his school went to Costa Rica with EF tours. 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. v. EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc., et. But guess what? Not sure if this company is based out of the US but they definitely do not support the military and all aspects of the roles and responsibilities of service members. Which btw the ticket was $100!!! I will never, ever even consider sending any of my other kids on one of these trips. The company told me I can sell my voucher. They know they are being dishonest and scamming these kids and their families. 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. They won't tell you which airline or which hotel you will be staying at. Other EF tour brands. Work with EF to modify your groups current tour itinerary and dates, or, Cancel your tour and all travelers will receive a transferable Future Travel Voucher in the amount of all monies paid for the original tour, less the cost of any purchased Travel Protection plan, Cancel your tour with applicable fees under the Standard Cancellation Policy. Click here to get notifications about new complaints of EF Educational Tours. 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. I went on my trip June 11, 2014-June 25, 2014. Join a Free Coronavirus Failure to Refund Class Action Lawsuit Investigation Coronavirus Tour Cancellations Spark Refund Lawsuit (1) . Is this your company? Only the EF Go Ahead Tours allow alcohol for adult travelers. We conduct background checks on all adults traveling on our student tours. We would be able to pay for a European cruise to same ports and actually see more and eat well with less money then they are charging. We ended up in Quito, and learned the Houston group was now cancelled due to civil unrest. A situation completely out of the control of myself and other families. Three weeks after enrolling, our circumstances changed so I called to cancel, expecting to pay the $95 cancellation fee x2. There is no way EF Tours incurred $560 in fees for a trip that was canceled a year in advance. They claim the $700.00 is money that was already spent to secure travel details. Payments made should be made to McGrane PC as trustee. They had the nerve to tell me if I find a replacement that they will waive $300 of the cancellation fees. They should be ashamed of themselves. EF Gap Year Call 800-726-9746 to enroll. I don't even know how it is legal to have these moron bastards do business. They are so many other excellent companies out there. Please read on for additional coverage details, as well as deadlines to purchase each Global Travel Protection plan. The first thing to keep in mind is that there are alcohol restrictions with these tours. that compelling itineraries should be full of 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.". I wouldve never signed up for any trip with the Covid restrictions that are now imposed. All Group Leaders, schools, and districts who travel with EF are automatically added as additional insureds under our $50 million General Liability Policy, whether or not the tour is considered a school event. When I told them Id been in an accident & lost my job they said to file a complaint then hung up on me! EF Ultimate Break Enroll online or call 800-766-2645. This program was created to provide the safest possible tour experience for our customers. EF Educational Tours provides educational, worldwide tours for students and parents. Customer service is the WORST! Your Group Leader may choose from the following options: Terms & Conditions They are making a profit off of cancellations!!!! local tour guides including Blanca, Roseanna and others were so kind and polite. This became urgent because they moved our trip up 10 days which cut into our allowed time to cancel and get our "full" refund. The Global Travel Protection plan includes insured components that are underwritten by US Fire Insurance Company and cancellation fee waivers provided by EF Educational Tours. COVID-19 required everybody to be quarantined. 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