Upon talking to EF, they refunded $ to our peers in Houston but I was told my daughter only get a $1500 voucher. ", UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 1:30 PM PDST April 23, 2020. Presently she is trying to get refunds for trip because of the imposed restrictions that cannot be met. McGrane PC. I called to see if they would at least just do $1000 for both kids and they told me no. We would like a refund of cash to use for real educational purposes. v. EF etc. EF never notified the trip leader or travelers of this cancellation. al. document.write(dt.getFullYear() ); 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. 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. He could no get us on flights home. Trip delay coverage I asked for the registration form and I did sign that I read the cancellation agreement etc. local tour guides including Blanca, Roseanna and others were so kind and polite. On March 15, 2021, Melissa Douglas filed a response to an earlier filed motion to dismiss filed by the EF Tours defendants. cash refund for the unused trip. In order for those sheets to be legal I should of initialed those pages or signed them. EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc. EF Education First International, AG, New to ClassAction.org? Provides benefits related to hospital bills, doctors fees, and medical transportation associated with on-tour illnesses or injuries, as well as travel and accommodation expenses for a family member to be with your child while hospitalized in the event of a life-threatening illness. Now she is moving on to college. This company is a fraud and steals money from families. Here's my EFTours experience: 1.I have been on 3 EFTours and have another planned for next summer. I struggled to pay for this trip and now after paying for travel insurance also they are denying full refund. 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. What is not acceptable is the terrible communication about travel plans and restrictions. Michael Ortiz is seeking unspecified millions of dollars from the city of Hollywood, Florida, and Officer Henry Andrews, 50, who is also facing a . We were told there was no where we could go. Hence the lawsuit (in CA 2020, look it up). 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! Hence the lawsuit (in CA 2020, look it up). Well isn't that what insurance is for??? ", Even later on April 24, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Richard Schirtzer:"Are you actually going to offer to pay our clients some money through us and are we going to have a problem with a signed agreement that their accepting cash is without prejudice etc.? In the meantime, I received notice that I would be required to attend a mandatory training evolution with the military and learned that the dates overlapped. I would like to reimbursed for being a chaperone. I can't believe they can demand reasons for dismissal even with all the Hippa Laws. If any location(s) included in the groups itinerary is newly designated as a Travel Advisory Level 4 by the U.S. Department of State; or a U.S. federal or state governmental authority has newly imposed a travel ban to your destination, or newly issued an order requiring a self-quarantine for travelers in your group upon arrival to a location on your itinerary or upon return home from a location on your groups itinerary; your Group Leader or the individual traveler will have the same Peace of Mind options set forth above. EF Tours was contacted today also and there response was they aren't responsible for the insurance company. (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.) Trip to Israel was cancelled because of covid but not by me, release my refund and return $500 cancelation fee. 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. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 9:00 AM PDST April 24, 2020, On April 22, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Richard Schirtzer advising Mr. Schirtzer that his clients, the EF Defendants' ". No one responded. Claim it and get a lot of features. A few days later, EF responded to an earlier complaint submitted by the plaintiff to the Arizona Office of the Attorney General in which the defendants allegedly offered the plaintiff a partial cash refund of $1,000 less than what she paid for her childs tour. This will not work for many reasons, first I we are most likely moving. Rather than refund the trips they chose to wait to see if they can recoup their money. EF Explore America Call 888-333-9756 to enroll. EF Go Ahead Tours is a brand under the EF Tours group that offers both guided and fully customizable tours to destinations worldwide. EF Tours company has gladly excepted the government stimulus hand out. Thats why as the world changes, so do we. Illness and accident coverage Seems a little steep for cancelling a trip that is still almost 2 years away. Poor communication, date changes, do not uphold refund requests. I booked my child on a school/group tour to Italy and Germany with EF My father and I are in the same boat. Provides benefits related to hospital bills, doctors fees, and medical transportation associated with on-tour illnesses or injuries, as well as travel and accommodation expenses for a family member to be with your child while hospitalized in the event of a life-threatening illness. Sign up for ClassAction.org's newsletterhere. The reviews of the food were always " not enough food and mediocre food". Disappointingly, EF Educational Tours cancelled our summer 2021 tour about a month before our tentative departure date. 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!) We had the insurance but they own that too. Sadly, this was not the case. Mr. Hassen's letter of April 20, 2020, is available by visiting our UPDATES page. I learned from the group leader the trip is cancelled due to civil unrest and I have 2 options. My son received life threatening injuries and had there not been a physician along as a chaperone my son would have died. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST DECEMBER 7, 2020. Emergency evacuation coverages In a letter issued to one customer on March 10, 2020, the defendants refused to issue any cash refund at all. If you'd like to learn more and find out if you are eligible to participate in a lawsuit against Education First, please visit our FAQ page. Protection for your belongings EF Educational Tours Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of www.eftours.com Travel & Vacation Activities & Tours Tour Agency EF Educational Tours EF Educational Tours Reviews 4,382 Excellent 4.3 VERIFIED COMPANY www.eftours.com Visit this website kharden 1 review US 2 days ago DO NOT USE EF Tours! Travelers who had booked their program by redeeming a previously issued Future Travel Voucher may have different terms and options available to them based on the originally issued voucher terms. It was necessary for a family member to go to Costa Rica. Has anybody seen anyone of color working in their offices? Only the EF Go Ahead Tours allow alcohol for adult travelers. The trip was booked for June of 2019. But their ads sure reflect diversity! One of the destinations was an Island called Tortuga. We were told that other than the deposit and a small admin fee, all the rest of the money was refundable. These itineraries are your answer. "Russia is at war with Ukraine, the UK is prioritizing Ukraine visas over every other VISA on humanitarian grounds. If I can get any student considering this company to stop, I will. Southwest canceled my son's flight to DC over Christmas vacation he was supposed to be there for New Year's. Individual Coverage 3:20-cv-00508-GPC-BLM, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. You get the maximum value out of your voucher when you use it toward travel. If a traveler needs to cancel a trip due to reasons specified in the plan, this reimburses non-refundable pre-paid payments. These programs apply to tours departing October 1, 2022 or later. So they offered vouchers that were only good for up to 18 monthsUP TO 18 MONTHS! 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. 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. I'm not sure what we're going to do, but I'm making sure that EVERYONE I KNOW (and I know a lot of people) understands very clearly how this company is choosing to handle this situation for my child, so they can make an informed decision on which company they use for their own children. 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. lawsuit against Defendants EF Education First International, Ltd. ("EF International"), EF Institute . She signed up October 1 and we had to cancel Oct 14 due to conflicts with my work schedule. Account #6297341 Please DO NOT add attachments that contain your or other peoples personal information, if you dont want it to be visible to the public. They kept $700 of our hard earned money and refuse to return it. Were covering: This company is a scam and has stolen millions of dollars from parents on fraudulent trips that never happen. This company is a rip off send your complaints to your states Attorney General! Four girls were placed in a room with one queen sized bed and two twin mattresses on the floor in London. What can we do with this company? 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 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. I can supply all correspondence that my group coordinator had. release my refund and return $500 cancelation fee. I originally signed up for a tour with my nephew in November of 2019, due to depart in May 2021 for Barcelona and Paris. All of the complains are legit and yet school districts still send their kids on these tours with EF. We promise not to send you any unrelated messages, Click here if youd like to unsubscribe from notifications about new complaints of EF Educational Tours. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 1:00 PM PDST AUGUST 9, 2020. When we ask to escalate our concern, managers have decided to refuse to accept or return our calls. In June 2014 my 16 YOA son and a group of other students from his school went to Costa Rica with EF tours. I would NEVER stay at a truck stop, nor would I deceive students into thinking they were going to be safe on a trip and then place them there. I called EF to try to stay behind with them or re-book, as this was a science expedition they saved for together as a an 8th grade graduation trip. He has an unexpected stopover in Munich and no One accompanies him as he Is out of the group 2. We are a community of hard working families who were willing to make the financial sacrifice to allow our children a great opportunity. My family and I scheduled a tour with ef educational tours. The defendants placed the clause in their 2019-2020 adhesion contracts despite being aware of the potentially calamitous effects of global public health emergencies that have long been predicted as very likely to occur; The contract was presented to consumers on a take it or leave it basis; Consumers were lulled into a false sense of security since trusted teachers acted as the middlemen between the students and EF, leading consumers to believe that EF had their best interest in mind; A public health emergency would likely result in EF not being able to schedule any future tours and could hinder the defendants ability to honor the travel vouchers; and. 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. The first thing to keep in mind is that there are alcohol restrictions with these tours. So, even the itinerary is a lie! Spring break trip with the school for my two boys to go to Greece and Italy this year. Company is stealing 500.00 saying that is the cancelation policy. Whenever I called and asked for a manager, I was told that non were available and that they would call me when they became available. $900 which we did. 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. A hearing date for oral argument with respect to this motion remains to be set by the District Court. 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. We were told we would receive a check from Ef Tours in 2 to 4 weeks for approx. 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. as the premier companies. Illness and accident coverage My daughter insisted on being signed up for her school trip in 2020. I signed on in 201920 when no restrictions were in force. For additional details regarding the insurance components of this plan, underwritten by US Fire Insurance Company, including coverage limits and a full list of exclusions, please visit this page. I did not cancel this trip! 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. We will incorporate new procedures where appropriate as part of the comprehensive safety measures that are standard on every EF tour. For over 55 years, weve dedicated ourselves to one global mission: Opening the World Through Education. We put a deposit down and also the registration fee $199 plus $500. to a single room. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 3:00 PM PDST May 15, 2020. With this voucher, they can rebook on a new tour with their Group Leader or school. 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. That's all fine and dandy, but we signed up for THIS July. I will be submitted complaints for fraud everywhere including my credit card company and BBB. I asked for management and she stated there was no one I could speak with. She was contracted but not employed by EFgo ahead tours. According to the case, the defendants sold tours to public and private high school groups pursuant to a written contract of adhesion that contained what the complaint refers to as the No Public Health Emergency Cash Refund Clause. Under the clause, if an EF tour is canceled for public health issues or quarantine or threats of public health issues, the defendants will issue travel vouchers for the value of the money paid, excluding certain non-refundable fees, instead of providing cash refunds, the suit explains. Group tours EF Ultimate Break only provides group tours. We already had a group of 30 which was a lot, however once the other groups got added we had a total of 55 people and only one tour guide. Refusal to refund refund after they cancelled tours! I registered my son and I to go on a tour in June 2017. Help Center; How It Works; About EF; Blog; Customer Reviews; Stay connected. Their solution is to book another tour to avoid losing money. Live, unedited & independent traveler reviews. 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. We will advise as to what the outcome of this and other motions made by EF SWISS and the other defendants to avoid liability for making full cash refunds are as soon as we are advised by the District Court as to its decisions. We went ahead and waited. However, we had already paid and were still excited to be spending 2 weeks in Europe together. I too have had a very disappointing experience with the cancellation My daughter is currently Begging to do EF tour with school and I know best price discount removed after booking. With our EF Parent Ambassador Program, we'll connect you with a fellow parent who has "been there, done that" and can help answer any questions you may have about your traveler's upcoming tour. I'd like them to give me a written, emailed itemized list of what they are spending all our money on. if this is how they treat us before the trip? var dt = new Date(); Want class action news sent to your inbox? Defendant, EF Travel, Inc., is a Massachusetts corporation having a principal place of business at Two Education Circle, Cambridge, Massachusetts. WE never want to travel with EF again and this is not acceptable. I was told that they only charge whats been deposited. Trip Cancellation coverage In what universe is this considered acceptable?!?!?!? 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. Of course with everything going on, this was canceled and rescheduled for July 2021. Defendant, EF Educational Exchange, Inc., is a Delaware corporation having a On August 9, 2020, William McGrane filed and served a "PLAINTIFFS SUR-REPLY TO DEFENDANT EF EDUCATION FIRST INTERNATIONAL, AGS MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION UNDER F.R.C.P. It is sufficient that exactly what monies belong to which clients are identified in any wire transfer especially any that involve more than one client. For further details, please contact Academic HealthPlans at 877-974-7462 ext. Join a Free Coronavirus Failure to Refund Class Action Lawsuit Investigation This, of course, was never brought up until it was too late to change the reservation. Erin works primarily on ClassAction.orgs newswire, reporting on cases as they happen. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 12:00 PM PST FEBRUARY 14, 2023. So, no refund. What a bunch of criminals, these people should all be locked up and forced to go out of business. 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. . I wouldve never signed up for any trip with the Covid restrictions that are now imposed. 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. 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 refunds be offered than does California consumer protection law. Signed up in 2019 for a 2020 trip. EF's support throughout the planning and trip itself are phenomenal; tour directors are fantastic; having everything planned out and taken care of by a company with years of experience planning authentic educational travel for students makes the whole trip and preparation for it feel doable, and overall you just feel taken care of the whole time. When I called about a refund for the extension being taken off I was told by customer service "They make the cost even out." 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. Joining the EF family means you'll have the support of our community of educators, tour architects, operations wizards, and ever-curious explorers. Please read on for additional coverage details, as well as deadlines to purchase each Global Travel Protection plan. 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