Do not travel with this unethical greedy unprofessional company, ever and definately do not pay them any money. EF never notified the trip leader or travelers of this cancellation. . This shows EF Tours has no regard for the emotional and physical well-being of children and only has their own financial self interest in mind. They have tarnished their reputation and people are not as comfortable traveling with them anymore. however, in the 2 weeks that we were enrolled we had made payments amounted to $800. Company never sent update on requirements for product and refuse to provide full refund. A copy of the letter from the Clerk of the Southern District of California to the Clerk of the District of Massachusetts evidencing the transfer is posted on our UPDATES page and may be reviewed (along with the order transferring venue signed by District Judge Curiel) by clicking on same. 3. Careers at EF. Desired outcome: 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. The communication from EF Tours its grossly nonexistent and generic. I can reschedule to next year. We were quoted a price and told the insurance was a great thing to have because with it you could cancel up to 24 hrs before the trip for a full refund minus the cost of insurance. . 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. This plan includes coverages that can provide a benefit in the unlikely event a traveler should need to return home unexpectedly due to a natural disaster or unrest. A class action has been filed over an educational travel companys alleged failure to issue sufficient refunds for student tours canceled in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. This program is automatically included for all travelers and can be enacted at the group level for any reason, including terrorism, pandemics, or other world events. Also out of all four excursions throughout the trip, THREE OF THEM WERE CANCELLED! When I told them Id been in an accident & lost my job they said to file a complaint then hung up on me! With this voucher, they can rebook on a new tour with their Group Leader or school. My family and I scheduled a tour with ef educational tours. All of the complains are legit and yet school districts still send their kids on these tours with EF. There are so many good tour companies out there, you would be wasting valuable time and money booking with this one. Dear Sirs 15.06 and a full or partial refund pursuant to 940 C.M.R. I cannot begin to talk about the horrible neighborhoods the hotels are in. Customer service is the WORST! What can we do with this company? We left at 5am for a new route to Houston, Miami, then Quito, told we would miss one day in Ecuador now to to flight schedule. In my opinion, this is stealing. This company is a scam. This will not work for many reasons, first I we are most likely moving. Coverage for baggage in cases of theft or delay. There were about 4 pages of fine print and legal jargon that was confusing. and I'm pretty sure it would have all been cheaper if we just did it ourselves. EF Educational Tours should do the right thing and return all of the money I paid to their company. Ms. Alaina Kommer from Grant High School does only think about herself and her travelling experience. This plan includes Trip Interruption coverage. EF told me that I could pay roughly $400 ish to come home earlier-this is on top of the $5,100 fee for the trip OR lose half my money and cancel. Seriously, that was suppose to be the best part?!?!?! Our people are your people. Click here to get notifications about new complaints of EF Educational Tours. She was more worried about herself and her family I guess. We believe travel is for everyone. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST MARCH 15, 2021. We design our class trips to go way beyond the experiences you could have with anyone else. 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. (EF SWISS Immunity Clause). Now she is moving on to college. If a traveler needs to cancel a trip due to reasons specified in the plan, this reimburses non-refundable pre-paid payments. Now that I see I cannot . Said she would pay for it herself as the total cost for her to go alone would be enough to take my entire family on a nice vacation. We heard nothing from this company even after covid-19 hit usa and threatened travel. Trip Interruption coverage Was informed of the price to cancel was $199 not the $95 listed. Has anybody been to the office of EF? Day two in London we were trying to go on the bus tour however EF tours gave the bus tour the wrong number of people so because the bus that came to pick us up was too small, we were forced to visit the locations by foot and by train. If I can get any student considering this company to stop, I will. I struggled to pay for this trip and now after paying for travel insurance also they are denying full refund. My son didn't create this problem, and it's not his fault. if this is how they treat us before the trip? this absurdity not previously announced ", UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 1:30 PM PDST April 23, 2020. v. EF etc. 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. Recently I was notified by EF Tours that my child was cancelled from the tour after paying off almost whole trip price. We asked to leave to home too. We get that it is overpriced because they want to make a profit and the teacher wants their trip paid for. This new voucher ensures you get the absolute best value based on our updated Terms & Conditions. 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. Travelers missing any payment deadlines must pay any incurred late fees to qualify for this program. Company is stealing 500.00 saying that is the cancelation policy. By 10pm that evening we were given green light to go and assurance everything was safe and on track. In what universe is this considered acceptable?!?!?!? A copy of this pleading is posted on our UPDATES page. And you can. Joining the EF family means youll have the support of our community of educators, tour architects, operations wizards, and ever-curious explorers. Out of that $550, $95 is the none refundable deposit but come on, the rest if ridiculous, especially when the cancellation request is made OVER A YEAR in advance. This is meant to help provide a safer tour experience for all travelers, and is a similar process to what many school districts implement for adults who volunteer in schools or chaperone school activities. I cannot travel with EF Go Head Tours due to their restrictions. Filed against EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc. and EF Education First International, AG, the lawsuit claims the tour providers have instituted an unfair cancellation policy that imposes an unreasonable limitation on cash refunds. The reviews of the food were always " not enough food and mediocre food". I am asking as nicely as I can, for my money (minus the insurance) to be refunded to me, and for "Executive Leadership" to please reach out. release my refund and return $500 cancelation fee. Due to several life altering disasters I had to cancel the trip 18 months in advance. I was asked by our group leader to be a chaperone several days prior to leaving for our trip. I want all of my money refunded as it is the right thing to do. If you wanted a refund, there was a fee. Paid full price with insurance.The trip coordinator was a personal friend Mary Pope. 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. I registered my son and I to go on a tour in June 2017. Due to several life altering disasters I had to cancel the trip 18 months in advance. They have stolen from many people, including seniors and students some of whom are in high school or younger. No one responded. I sent the letter and will contact them again Monday to try and get answers. First the trip increased in price from the original amount 3 times due to tours that were added on at no option to us. With 600 schools and offices in 50 countries worldwide, including regional offices dedicated to on-tour support, our global presence is truly unmatched. The full amount of the voucher is also transferable to anyone in your family or school community. . Four students are continuously placed in rooms meant for two people. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 12:00 PM PST FEBRUARY 14, 2023. Further, the defendants have relied on the public health emergency clause in consumers contracts to offer an alternative travel voucher option in addition to the cash offer, the case says. COVID-19 required everybody to be quarantined. 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. Unfortunately, there isnt a way for us to give Darianne a discount. Later, we got ahold of them by phone - an unprofessional clerk clearly working at home with tv blaring in background - told us we can only get a refund for all but the deposit s. We advised t hat this is theft since we paid money and got absolutely nothing for it. I was so angry but nothing was done about it. Original departure date 7/13/2020 I purchased piece of mind cancelation at the very beginning of the trip that allows for a full refund. 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. Of course our trip was rescheduled for another year due to COVID. al. var dt = new Date(); 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. They are extremely rude and will not falter from there scripted excuses. EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc. - Class Action Lawsuits . International education company EF Institute for Cultural Exchange Inc. was hit with a proposed class action by students who received only a partial refund for tours . We bottled some of this events magic in our student Summit video recap. They have horrible people on the chat, like actually rude. Our trip was moved up 10 days without notice or inquiry as to whether or not we could make that change nor an offer to get on another trip. 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 school uses them for all there spring break trips and this is very disappointing that they are doing this to us. For more than 15 years we have helped nearly 50000 customers resolve their issues and will never stop striving to ensure further improvements on our platform for a better communication between companies and customers. It is a total scam! 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. This browser does not support PDFs. EF Tours for High School Graduates Enroll online or call 800-766-2645. :? al. 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! WE never want to travel with EF again and this is not acceptable. Read more here: Camp Lejeune Lawsuit Claims. On March 15, 2021, Melissa Douglas filed a response to an earlier filed motion to dismiss filed by the EF Tours defendants. My son received life threatening injuries and had there not been a physician along as a chaperone my son would have died. 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. Why am I being charged a total of $550 in cancellation fees? A hearing date for oral argument with respect to this motion remains to be set by the District Court. Why is no one investigating them for fraudulent business practices, deceptive practices, false advertisement, etc, etc, etc?? Or they can redeem it for any other EF travel product. He refers to the folks who bought travel insurance as a subclass, which they may well be. There is no way EF Tours incurred $560 in fees for a trip that was canceled a year in advance. Submit a complaint and get your issue resolved. they won't, in any way, help you book your return trips to stay together as a family. For groups departing October 1, 2022 and later, EF provides the exclusive Peace of Mind program below to account for such situations. Its a joke. 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! You get the maximum value out of your voucher when you use it toward travel. Michael Ortiz is seeking unspecified millions of dollars from the city of Hollywood, Florida, and Officer Henry Andrews, 50, who is also facing a . When we called to cancel, they refuse to give us our full refund and claim to keep $500 despite their poor communication, COVID restrictions, and the paid insurance plan which has turned out to be a scam too. 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.". These programs apply to tours departing October 1, 2022 or later. Tour Consultant, EF Education First, Desired outcome: When something goes wrong, you thing you are covered. For over 55 years, weve dedicated ourselves to one global mission: Opening the World Through Education. What a waste of time and money. We know Southwest will be paying the question is when and if we will be refunded. Travel Company efeducationaltours eftours eftours Photos See all Videos See all 1:02 Sadly, this was not the case. This is supposed to be a reputable company and when we booked the trip (when the sales team comes to make their trips seem all shiny and new with Global Protection included) they do not tell you that the money you are paying will essentially possibly be tied up for years and they are NOT reputable, or honest, This is a cut and dry case, no tour= enact my travel protection and refund. Policy terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. It has been no surprise that management NEVER called. From: Emilia Hovestadt If so, I'd like to know.". A freaky feel to it. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST SEPTEMBER 22, 2021. I called EF and they directed me to the insurance company-which is an absolute rip off. Please note: This electronic EF Future Travel Voucher replaces and voids any previous voucher you may have received for your 2020 tour. 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. We will incorporate new procedures where appropriate as part of the comprehensive safety measures that are standard on every EF tour. In addition the insurance company retained by EF initially declined to pay to have my son evacuated from Cost Rica. Same restrictions. 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 are so many other excellent companies out there. I booked a trip with our homeschool "trip club" to do EF's Great Britain tour with a 2 day extension to Paris. The Global Travel Protection Plus planprovides 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. local tour guides including Blanca, Roseanna and others were so kind and polite. *$190 is the current cost for tours departing on or after October 1, 2023. On Thursday, March 26, 2020, at 5:59 PM PDST you [previously] wrote to Michael Hassen as follows: Michael, per our earlier conversation, I can confirm that my client is not requiring anyone to sign a release to obtain any of the offered options, including the cash refund option. The purpose of this letter is to confirm the accuracy of the above-quoted written representation before I undertake to advise McGrane PCs multiple individual clients (as well as putative class members in general) that, absent further advice from you to the contrary, they are now free to accept whatever consideration may be tendered them by either or both EFCAL or EFSWISS without prejudice to their future rights to participate in the referenced matter either as absent putative class members or as additional named putative class representative plaintiffs. 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. Just don't do it. 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. Later on April 20, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Mr. Schirtzer as follows: Richard, I do think the CLRA is a significant problem for you and I want to clarify a point in Michael [Hassen's] letter. 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. This program is automatically included for all travelers and can be enacted at the group level for any reason, including terrorism, pandemics, or other world events. Our only hope now is that our kids have a great time with their class. I am seeking a full refund, not a partial one. Payments made should be made to McGrane PC as trustee. It was so uncomfortable. Some of it was just bad luck however I feel like most of it was EF tours being lazy and not trying to help make the experience the best that it could have been. 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. McGrane PC. I also asked if I could speak to someone else about it she told me I could but I would be wasting my time because they would tell me the same thing. However, I was never allowed to speak with management. I am a senior citizen and cannot afford that loss or afford to wait any further for the refund. (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.) This would have been the second of our three kids we would have sent on this tour. 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. When we ask to escalate our concern, managers have decided to refuse to accept or return our calls. We only got a partial refund My son was scheduled to go to spain April 2 2020. IS this the only forum about this place? Illness and accident coverage I feel like EF tours did not take our interests and feelings into consideration and I feel like this trip was a complete waste of time and money. On Monday, April 20, 2020, Michael Hassen wrote to Richard Schirtzer regarding Natalia Grabovsky, etc., et. The local guide said we could fly to panamaThat was it. But their ads sure reflect diversity! Dedicated Tour Director. Mr. Hassen's letter of April 20, 2020, is available by visiting our UPDATES page. Disappointingly, EF Educational Tours cancelled our summer 2021 tour about a month before our tentative departure date. Peace of Mind Program The defendants knew it would not be realistically possible for students to reschedule their tours in light of a public health emergency and they would likely lose some or all of their pre-paid deposit. 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