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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. If requested after enrollment and up to 130 days before departure, the fee is $195. Give the company at least a week to respond to your refund request and two credit card billing cycles to pay you. I'll look into that. It's just all circular and I can't get anywhere. Sears couldnt deliver my appliances. We were encouraged to invite friends and family to join us on the tour, whether or not they were associated with our school or even local to our area. My mom is part of a tour departing for a 10 day trip to Europe. The Education First class action seeks at least $5 million in restitution damages and injunctive relief preventing the company from refusing full cash refunds. Unlock new opportunities and expand your reach by joining our authors team. 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. For many years I organized and lead group tours to Europe for my college. 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. 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. hodgetwins tour Adjustment to EF Atm Deposit. EF has the group leader/teacher set up deadlines for signing up to go on the trip, sometimes including small discounts to encourage enrollment. We were not given specific dates for our trip, but instead we were given a window of time during which the trip would occur. First, was the chance to rebook the tour at no additional cost to any cities offered . 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. why is there a plague in thebes oedipus. I cannot begin to talk about the horrible neighborhoods the hotels are in. 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. Overall, unless an excursion is of special interest to you, I wouldnt recommend participating in them, simply because they seem overpriced. Enroll online or call 800-766-2645, EF Explore America What EF products can a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher be applied to? I called EF and they directed me to the insurance company-which is an absolute rip off. This place was truly one of the worst hotels Ive ever had the misfortune to stay at (and as a travel blogger, Ive stayed at a LOT of hotels). So, no refund. oil filter john deere l110. Parents understand why CPS canceled the trips. I work for a competitor of EF and have about a million reasons why groups that go with them get ripped off. throttle thumb display electric . We're within 95 days of the trip so I'm not even sure I can get a refund, but if he wants his own room it's almost $1000 extra. So, even the itinerary is a lie! 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. The first was in 2018. The tiramisu cooking class in Rome was not optional for our group for some reason. Stories like hers repeat themselves every hour of every day. Of course we were served a lot of pasta, but we also had braised beef in tomato sauce, gnocchi, and pizza. After travel is completed on the fi rst tour, repeat travelers will receive a $100 Repeat Traveler Discount off future tours. 2/22/2022. In most cases, refunds can be issued electronically with the funds being sent directly back to your current account on file. If it concerns you, definitely mention it to the teacher. Flights cancelled, rerouted. Frugality is the mental approach we each take when considering our resource allocations. Lodging: Some hotel chains may be loosening their cancellation policies, waiving change and cancellation fees that would normally apply to non-refundable rates. 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. They are also putting about 4 kids in a room! I think I would, but I would definitely choose a slower paced itinerary with more time in each destination. We learned that this hotel had once housed men studying to join a monastery, which explained the doritory feel of the place. Our lead teacher did this as well. The Return & Refund Policies may vary widely among different types of products and sellers. Costs for these trips can range widely, depending on the destinations and length of the trip. All breakfasts were served at our hotels. have zero control or influence on these trips. So they offered vouchers that were only good for up to 18 monthsUP TO 18 MONTHS! The trip was booked for June of 2019. Curfews and group rules were left up to our group leader, who didnt set many boundaries for our students. 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 . Again, we found these rooms to be clean and pretty comfortable. But there were several instances where visits to certain locations were dropped off our itinerary completely, and visits to other non-advertised locations were added. The purpose of this article is to provide a step-by-step guide on how to get a full refund from EF Tours. Image courtesy: EF Go Ahead Tours Benefits of EF Go Ahead Tours. As for hotels, travelers know very little about where they are staying ahead of time. Four boys were also booked in a room in London with only a king sized bed! 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. I sent the letter and will contact them again Monday to try and get answers. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I am not canceling the trip, but yet I am the one. 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. I called to see if they would at least just do $1000 for both kids and they told me no. 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. During our trip there were extra excursions offered in any city we stayed in more than one night. So Hignite and other parents contacted EF Tours, to learn they could get only vouchers, or pay a penalty to cancel. 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. According to the folks on our trip who had special dietary needs, the dinners were pretty good for the most part. Traveler's first name: Traveler's last name: Traveler's account number: (I publish a full list of customer service executive contacts on my nonprofit consumer advocacy site, elliott.org. His high school in the Parkway school district decided to book the tour through EF Educational Tours. Do you have any questions about EF Tours that I didnt answer? The cancellation was due to a National Emergency not voluntary of the travelers. Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. "You can accept a travel voucher with no penalties, or you can accept a. What can we do with this company? For what it's worth 4k for a scotland ireland trip is definitely too much. What is a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher? When my husband and I decided to send our daughter, we felt like one of us should go with her since she was only 15 at the time we went on the trip, and had not traveled internationally like this before. I had some incredible experiences in some amazing locations with my only daughter, and I wouldnt trade that for the world. Why am I being charged a total of $550 in cancellation fees? This may or may not be true or all groups that are traveling with EF. I will never, ever even consider sending any of my other kids on one of these trips. Other times it seemed like our guide might be creating these situations by not fully informing us what was available near by. Echoing a similar suit filed against the operators of EF Tours, the lawsuit argues that WorldStrides has violated its contracts with the plaintiffs by collecting their money while failing to provide the trips for which they pre-paid. It's essential for customers to examine a seller's return policy before . EF Explore America said in light of the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, it offered the school three options. You can call EF Ultimate Break at 1-800-766-2645. If you want any other info or even wanted . Whatever happens, weve seen it. 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. EF seems to take the money and doesn't provide much other info. I am self employed so I had to send a letter stating that my business went under and this had created a hardship. They along with their team canceled the tour and refuses to refund the full amount. We were late to our tour of the Colosseum in Rome. Whatever you need, well handle it. All travelers must pay the non-refundable, non-transferable $95 Enrollment Fee upon enrollment in order for the enrollment to be complete. 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. Attention to what, though? And that wasn't even a full guarantee of a full refund. They were giving us the runaround, says Jose, a medical technologist from DeLand, Florida. I overlooked all that because it was time spent with my daughter. We also had the unfortunate luck of awful traffic. All travel needs to be departing prior to the COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher expiration date. 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. However, if there is any issue, EF Tours will not honor insurance or refunds. Jose had approached her online agency and every airline in her itinerary. Be informed, says Michael Foguth, founder of Foguth Financial Group in Brighton, Michigan. Other than the local tour guides and maybe the tiramisu class, I wouldnt call just visiting these historic places an experiential learning activity.. Dinners seemed to improve when we got to France. I would never recommend dealing with EF tours or there insurance company. 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. Things started off poorly when our tour guide was an hour late to meet us at baggage claim and then our bus was over another hour late to pick us up at the airport. The brochure promised that participants would be surrounded by the people, the language, the food, and the way of life of the destinations on our itinerary. These Britrail England Flexi Passes are taking forever to refund. Read 131 . This person is there to direct the group and handle any problems with logistics you may encounter along the way. We toured Europe for 12 days, visiting sites in London, Paris, Florence, Rome, Pompeii and Capri, with no more than two nights in any destination. 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. I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. . EF claims that they are the least expensiveYou get what you pay for. The bus driver was a surly Dutch man, who was gruff and impossible. When something goes wrong, you thing you are covered. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. 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. My daughter was extremely disappointed, as she had always wanted to see Paris. Most of the time we had no idea where we were headed when we were walking to different locations. 110 comments. A most unsatisfactory and life changing (m for the worse) experience. Had it been a different group of personalities, Im not sure how it would have gone. Our guide was able to secure tickets (for an extra fee) for those who wanted them to a performance of Wicked during our free evening. This was saddening but completely understandable. The design and architecture of the building are very unique and modern contemporary. 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. I booked a trip with our homeschool "trip club" to do EF's Great Britain tour with a 2 day extension to Paris. how to get a full refund from ef tours . But learning seemed to take a back seat to just being in another country in most circumstances. Save up to $300. About Ultimate Break tours Meals, transportation, Tour Directors, pace, customization, and who you'll be traveling with. If you have general questions about your enrollment in the travel . You can call EF Ultimate Break at 1-800-766-2645. Were always here to help. While these options are available, the bread and butter of the company is the basic high school student tour which is what we took. May 9, 2 To make matters worse, EF Tours often refuses to issue refunds even after customers have submitted evidence of their dissatisfaction. It is a total scam! The fee for this service is $145 if requested upon enrollment. Why is it taking so long to get a cruise refund? Tours are advertised by the group leader/teacher to students at their school and to their local community. Experts say the paper trail will get you a refund faster. 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. My mom had to put hotel rooms for 30 students in her credit card. My AT&T bill is wrong. But they are excited to travel with their friends. how to get a full refund from ef tours. My daughter insisted on being signed up for her school trip in 2020. Why is Good UI/UX Design Imperative for Business Success? Lunches were not included in the initial price of our trip and were paid out of pocket each day. Jose waited three months before contacting me. consumer advocate is called the three Ps., WHAT YOU CAN DO WHEN YOUR TRAVEL COMPANY WON'T SEND YOUR REFUND. Each participant in our tour was required to submit a copy of our passport to EF to insure that we had the proper documentation to travel. Adults did need to pass a background check in order to participate in the trip, since adult tour participants are traveling with minors. My daughters room had the same layer of dirt in the bathroom, plus a shoe print from where someone killed a bug on the wall. In addition the insurance company retained by EF initially declined to pay to have my son evacuated from Cost Rica. Once we arrived in Rome, the Villa Aurelia was our home base for two nights. Would I go on another EF Tour? Four students are continuously placed in rooms meant for two people. We simply got information from our Tour Guide when and where to meet up with the group after dinner and selected a nearby local pub so we could have a traditional English dining experience. Having extra free time to see the sites of your choice seemed to be the best option during our tour. how to get a full refund from ef tours; how to get a full refund from ef tours. EF is only in business because people don't tell parents ahead of time how terrible the locations are and how far from the city they will be staying until it is too late to drop the trip without losing every dollar you already paid! We saw the stunningly beautiful sites of Capri from a private boat tour. There are usually two or three optional excursions that can be added to any tour. Friday 24 March - London, The O2. If you happen to wander around the Charles River, it is worth of walking toward the Zakim Bridge and stopping by North Point Park. This all changed, as soon as I offered to pay him extra, per person, for his help. Its been eight months. The EF Go Ahead Tours app supports and connects our global community. There were no linens or towels available to him whatsoever. I am now retired, but have organized and will be leading another "Best of Europe" tour this September. The airline say to call the company that is organizing. We were frequently told we could just grab a bite to eat at the train station or the airport, only to be left with minimal time and very limited options. Call 888-333-9756 to enroll, EF College Study You're in!) These tours are usually walking tours, but sometimes are bus tours, depending on the location. Edited: 11 years ago . Trminos y Condiciones de los Crditos de Viaje Futuro, Beverages and meals (when not indicated in itinerary), Customary gratuities (for your Tour Director, bus drivers, and local guides), Porterage or any applicable baggage-handling fees imposed by the airlines, Expenses caused by airline rescheduling, cancellations, or delays caused by the airlines, bad weather, or events beyond EFs control, Passport, visa, and reciprocity fees or any other fees associated with entry to or exit from a specific destination. 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. She did make sure we were always wary of our passports and where we were keeping them during our travels. 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. Check out our directory. 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. Students can expect to room with one to three other students, and possibly have to share beds. Four kids to a room was common on our tour. Airlines hate it when you get a third party involved, and may respond favorably. . For this trip it really came down to adjusting expectations once we were traveling. That means that I will receive less than half that amount back! Students and parents can then sign up directly through the EF Tours website, and submit all payments directly to the company. Thailand (/ t a l n d,-l n d / TY-land, -lnd), historically known as Siam (/ s a m, s a m /) and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning 513,120 square kilometres (198,120 sq mi), with a population of almost 70 million. In Italy, the dinners were quite good. It was a disaster. In most cases, refunds can be issued electronically with the funds being sent directly back to your current account on file. One thing is guaranteed. My son is (or perhaps was) traveling on an EF tour this summer with a very small group from our high school. For a fee, a single room can be requested for the tour. Your password has been sent to the specified email address. Five families who are very angry with EF Educational Tours have. 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. Cancellation Terms when Rebooking with a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher. Fully Refundable Booking Period Feel good about your decision by enrolling in AutoPay or paying in full when you book your tour. The tour dates are as follows: Thursday 23 March - Manchester, AO Arena. Pre-sale tickets for Ed Sheeran's tour go live on Wednesday, March 8 at 9am for anyone who has preordered the new album via the Ed Sheeran website. The EF in EF Tours stands for Education First. For what it's worth 4k for a scotland ireland trip is definitely too much. If EF Tours still refuses to issue a full refund, the next step is to contact your credit card company. Can I get a refund for my Marriott Vacation Club Points? Check out Elliott Advocacy Today, our free, daily newsletter with links to your favorite commentary, tips and news about consumer advocacy. EF Tours are set up to be hosted by a local teacher who is then designated as the group leader. Teachers are incentivized with free and reduced price travel to recruit students to join their tours. Which btw the ticket was $100!!! Also, I want to upgrade my kids' flight on the way home - EF passes the responsibility to their "booking" agent in Switzerland or they say to call the airline. They canceled my flight. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I just hope the tour goes well. Things like this happened over and over again throughout the trip. how to get a full refund from ef tours EF Tours have a pretty straightforward process during the sign up period, prior to departure and during your trip. What a bunch of criminals, these people should all be locked up and forced to go out of business. Feel free to ask me in the comments!! Recently I was notified by EF Tours that my child was cancelled from the tour after paying off almost whole trip price. 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. Children are not monitored, left to find their own way in cities across the . If you wanted a refund, there was a fee. 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 have a consumer problem,please contact our team at Elliott Advocacy through this form. 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 . That invoice for antivirus protection is a scam, How a company could easily get a false F rating from the BBB. The Elliott Report is supported by Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that offers free advice and advocacy for consumers. The tour guide was a London college student who had traveled little, not having been to many of our tour destinations. And the airlines deferred to Expedia. Toll-free 1-877-974-7462 ext. When Will Hawaiis Safe Travels Program End? They also provide a fundraising page, where friends and family can pay EF directly to offset the cost of your trip. Although she sent Expedia all of her receipts, the online travel agency refused to refund the unused leg or the new ticket she had to buy. Consider hiring a lawyer who specializes in consumer protection and travel law. We had a fantastic time seeing the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. When Chicago Public Schools canceled all district-sponsored international travel for the upcoming spring break because of the threat of coronavirus, Derek Dattner assumed he would be refunded the. About Ultimate Break tours Meals, transportation, Tour Directors, pace, customization, and who you'll be traveling with. As someone who travels pretty frequently, I usually make most of my own travel arrangements, from flights to hotel reservations to activities. They promised the moon, but did not deliver. We were late to our tours in London, Florence, and the Vatican. At the time of this publication, EF Tours has been notified of this unacceptable hotel and has yet to respond. Youll also connect with other readers who want to make the world a better place. It felt like a complete waste of time to travel and waste that many days. 109 to 45 days prior to departure: Full refund less $95 non-refundable deposit, all Non-Refundable fees, and 50% of program price. 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. If I cancel, I lose about $400 in cancellation fees. If your Group Leader has chosen not to reschedule your original tour/program, you will receive a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher valued at 100% of monies paid toward your original tour/program. I have been a group leader with EF for 10 years and they have been getting so bad that I will no longer travel with them. This company is a fraud and steals money from families. Experts say you shouldnt use a credit card dispute unless you have no other choice, which is to say the travel company wont refund your purchase even though its agreed to do so. EF Tours is a travel company that specializes in international tours for students. When you travel with EF, you get the benefits of our 55+ years of experience and our unmatched global network. The rooms at these Hiltons were very new, immaculately clean and extremely comfortable. 824. We were able to marvel at the unparalleled artwork inside St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican. 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. We stayed 20 miles outside of Salzburg at a ski resort youth hostel. Before our trip, our group leader did make sure to advise us about pickpocketing and theft at major tourist sites in Europe, and advised us to be prepared. how to get a full refund from ef tours how to get a full refund from ef tours 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. It was an equally devastating experience. Hence the lawsuit (in CA 2020, look it up). Prefieres leer en espaol? That EF 12-Day tour was called "Europe with an Alpine Flavor." 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! We knew going into this tour that our itinerary would be extremely hectic. My moms stairlift has a big problem it does not work outside! EF Tours makes a big deal out of their tours being focused on education. If I elect to exchange a COVID-19 Future Travel Voucher for a refund how long will it take for me to receive my refund? Enroll online or call 800-766-2645, EF Go Ahead Tours For example, airlines love to send you vouchers, but that funny money expires after a year. We found that participants can sign up just about any time before the trip departs. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Proudly powered by WordPress Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. How do I fix this $499 mistake? 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. It includes time, money, convenience, and many other factors. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to get a full refund from EF Tours. ?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. I can't believe they can demand reasons for dismissal even with all the Hippa Laws.