Earn benefits like one spot on tour for every six travelers you bring. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. Live, unedited & independent traveler reviews. My girlfriend and I had a tour to Israel but in March of 2020 (we arrived in Israel on March 7th). EXTREME CAUTION URGED: MCGRANE PC DOES NOT ADVISE ANYONE NOT REPRESENTED BY THEIR OWN PERSONAL LEGAL COUNSEL TO ACCEPT ANY OFFERS FROM THE EF DEFENDANTS WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING THE ADVICE OF SUCH LEGAL COUNSEL. However, we had already paid and were still excited to be spending 2 weeks in Europe together. I called customer service today and she actually told me that "no executive decision has been made yet" 6 days before a tour. Four students are continuously placed in rooms meant for two people. I am seeking a full refund, not a partial one. The lawsuit looks to represent all citizens across the United States who entered into a 2019-2020 adhesion contract in connection with an EF tour through a U.S. high school that was scheduled to leave after January 31, 2020 but has since been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak and who were refused a full refund based on the public health Trip to Israel was cancelled because of covid but not by me, release my refund and return $500 cancelation fee. 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. Help Center; How It Works; About EF; Blog; Customer Reviews; Stay connected. EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc. EF Education First International, AG, New to ClassAction.org? However, the problem has wider implications for your clients. 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].". Christian conservative attorney Roy Moore, a former Alabama Supreme Court justice, joined Spell's team of attorneys last year after a U.S. district judge dismissed his lawsuit in Baton Rouge . The swimming area was not separated in any way from boat traffic, nor was my son warned about possible boat traffic. It has been no surprise that management NEVER called. The 2020 trip was canceled due to Covid. Coronavirus Tour Cancellations Spark Refund Lawsuit (1) . DO NOT USE EF Tours! ", UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 1:30 PM PDST April 23, 2020. Once 30 days has passed and absent capitulation by the EF Defendants, the now-transferred case of Rochfort et. They simply answered the phone, we provided the tour, dates and names of our family members and paid a deposit for each of us. Your travelers have to cover that. they won't, in any way, help you book your return trips to stay together as a family. They have horrible people on the chat, like actually rude. Just don't use them. Erin works primarily on ClassAction.orgs newswire, reporting on cases as they happen. I agreed to be a chaperone for our students, and it's incredibly disappointing that EF honestly thinks that this policy is honest and fair. 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. 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. 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. Please DO NOT add attachments that contain your or other peoples personal information, if you dont want it to be visible to the public. This plan includes Trip Cancellation coverage. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD ON AN EF TRIP!! Defendant, EF Travel, Inc., is a Massachusetts corporation having a principal place of business at Two Education Circle, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 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. What can we do with this company? 4. The first thing to keep in mind is that there are alcohol restrictions with these tours. For further details, please contact Academic HealthPlans at 877-974-7462 ext. 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. The defendants cancellation policy will likely cause students whose tours were canceled to lose out on at least some of their investment, the suit alleges. Two straight hours of calling the ef tours emergency hotline and no still no answer. So talking to the customer service representative, I asked how if we hadn't paid so much into the trip that they would be receiving that much back in fees. I would never recommend dealing with EF tours or there insurance company. The teacher wouldnt return my phone call, or emails. IS this the only forum about this place? Our 50,000+ staff and faculty members around the world provide a local presence and are able to react quickly and in person where necessary. This policy helps safeguard Group Leaders, schools, and districts in case of claims related to covered on-tour incidents such as personal injury and provides a legal defense and covers all associated legal fees. We were offered a wait and see attitude for the following year 2021 . however, in the 2 weeks that we were enrolled we had made payments amounted to $800. When you decide to travel with EF, we want you to feel secure in that decision. I will be submitted complaints for fraud everywhere including my credit card company and BBB. For over 55 years, weve dedicated ourselves to one global mission: Opening the World Through Education. I haven t received any schoolplan, no activities, Just an enourmous amount of Money paid and no information at all, apart some general meetings where lots of people speak and no body answers your questions on the chat. if this is how they treat us before the trip? They are making a profit off of cancellations!!!! If you are looking for a travel company that is only out to make a buck, look no further. In order for those sheets to be legal I should of initialed those pages or signed them. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 1:30 PM PDST April 12, 2020, On April 10, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Richard Schirtzer regarding Natalia Grabovsky, etc., et. 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. ", Later on April 22, 2020, Mr. Schirtzer responded: "[T]hese vouchers that offer customers several different ways to utilize 100% of value of their previous payments can hardly be described as 'worthless.' We also were traveling to all the countries during the world cup. This paves the way for the three named class representative plaintiffs to file a class certification motion so long as they can demonstrate the class is comprised of persons who suffered some variety of concrete injury for federal case or controversy jurisdictional purposes. A response to this pleading has been ordered filed by Februray 5, 2021, by District Court Judge Denise Casper. Joining the EF family means youll have the support of our community of educators, tour architects, operations wizards, and ever-curious explorers. Have had 2 separate travel experiences with EF. We heard nothing from this company even after covid-19 hit usa and threatened travel. I feel like everything was rushed. 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. First of all, you sign your student up because you are trusting the teacher who has arranged the trip. The school uses them for all there spring break trips and this is very disappointing that they are doing this to us. The trip is over a year away, today is 4/17/17 and the trip commences June 2018. as the premier companies. 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. Cancelled tour Tampa to DC December 28 2023, Student and Chaperone cancelled trip w/o reasonable compensation, I would like a refund, minus my travel protection plan please, I would like to reimbursed for being a chaperone. al. Plus you have more than two years to explore your possibilities. [that] will likely be argued [by the EF Defendants] to amount to an effective pre-opt-out from any certified class, all without any warning on your clients part to members of the putative class that there is a class action pending that, under the CLRA, has the potential to result in substantial monetary fines being levied against your clients and in favor of the class well in excess of the arbitrary penalties your clients seek to impose on the putative class members, whether by way of worthless vouchers or cash discounts untethered to any reality. Coverage for baggage in cases of theft or delay. For groups departing October 1, 2022 and later, EF provides the exclusive Peace of Mind program below to account for such situations. 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. From: Emilia Hovestadt 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. EF Explore America Call 888-333-9756 to enroll. Our group leader and another chaperone attending the trip tested positive for covid and were unable to attend. And you can. McGrane PC. I would like a refund, minus my travel protection plan please. A copy of the demand letter can be viewed by visiting our UPDATES page. We sent emails. This whole company should be shut down. 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. 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. 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. My son didn't create this problem, and it's not his fault. Recently I was notified by EF Tours that my child was cancelled from the tour after paying off almost whole trip price. A situation completely out of the control of myself and other families. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 3:30 PM PDST MARCH 30, 2020, On Friday, March 27, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Richard Schirtzer regarding Natalia Grabovsky, etc., et. 5. Per the cancellation policy, there is a $95 non-refundable charge and a $300 cancellation fee. If not resolved I will go through my lawyer. 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. *$190 is the current cost for tours departing on or after October 1, 2023. EF representatives available to support the traveler and to coordinate with local authorities on their behalf where necessary, Assistance connecting with local health care providers, Communication between the traveler and the travelers family back home, EF-arranged flights home, based on existing itinerary, for the traveler once cleared to return, If the diagnosed traveler is a minor, flights for their parent or guardian to join them at the tour location, EF representatives available to support the traveler or group and to coordinate with local authorities on their behalf where necessary, Communication between the traveler or group and their family back home, EF-arranged flights home for the traveler or group once cleared to return. Travelers missing any payment deadlines must pay any incurred late fees to qualify for this program. -Sandra Joubarani. EF will make every effort to accommodate revised tour requests. 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. What a rip off! Travelers canceling from a revised tour will be charged a cancellation fee based on the date that the original tour was revised or the date of cancellation from the revised tour, whichever is higher. These itineraries are your answer. EFs unmatched global presence Group tours EF Ultimate Break only provides group tours. Illness and accident coverage I would love for someone from EF Tours to get back to me about my kid's flight home. My signature was on paperwork for a trip THIS July. Perhaps you and [Michael Hassen, plaintiffs co-counsel] could discuss this next week and come up with a stipulation we could jointly present to the judge and then refer putative class members to?. al. al. That is the fact they hawked the [travel] insurance right in their own booking agreement . Tour # 2130465UX - London, Paris, and The Alps I learned from the group leader the trip is cancelled due to civil unrest and I have 2 options. Unfortunately, there isnt a way for us to give Darianne a discount. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Careers at EF. I overlooked all that because it was time spent with my daughter. I will not let this go if need be I will take them to court and sue there asses. We understand that plans can change due to unforeseen circumstances. Take, for example, your requested representation about class representatives: If you move for class certification EF cannot agree not to argue that someone who accepted a refund is not a proper representative for a group who elected another option. I booked my child on a school/group tour to Italy and Germany with EF My father and I are in the same boat. Date: Tue, Jun 28, 2022, 9:41 AM Defendant, EF Educational Exchange, Inc., is a Delaware corporation having a I hope your child knows that they will be sharing a bed with their roommates even if they are traveling with another school. (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.). 8 weeks.It has been 8 weeks so my son contacted the insurance company and was told the money would be put back into our account between June 20 to 25th. That's all fine and dandy, but we signed up for THIS July. and subject matter experts who understand I was told we should have paid extra if we wanted to be IN Sorrento. 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. We went ahead and waited. On May 15, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Richard Schirtzer stating: "Attached is the first amended complaint I had earlier informed you I would file on behalf of my clients. How on earth is this justifiable? 3) They pretend that you can extend your student's trip. Find out more details today at 1-800-438-7672. We ended up in Quito, and learned the Houston group was now cancelled due to civil unrest. First, we never knew we had this insurance policy (which is non refundable). 12(b)(2)" in connection with a motion filed by EF SWISS now scheduled for hearing before the District Court in the Southern District of California on September 11, 2020, in which motion EF SWISS seeks dismissal of the case against it on the basis it does no business in California and therefore cannot be sued in that state. 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. Get connected We're here to help. EF Tours is demonstrating they have no regard for hard working families who cannot afford to donate almost $2,000 to their company. Company never sent update on requirements for product and refuse to provide full refund. New cases and investigations, settlement deadlines, and news straight to your inbox. They are so many other excellent companies out there. This company is a scam. Cancel for Any Reason** "Russia is at war with Ukraine, the UK is prioritizing Ukraine visas over every other VISA on humanitarian grounds. If you wanted a refund, there was a fee. Flights had been re-booked. My daughter's peers in Houston were sent home. They know they are being dishonest and scamming these kids and their families. 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. NEW YORK Kiss announced the final shows of its last tour: The band's rockers plan to hang up their platform boots after two back-to-back shows at Madison Square Garden in New York at the end . They also charged me $189 for insurance I declined. This plan includes Trip Interruption 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. 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. By way of explanation for the contents of this letter--which was sent with the express permission of McGrane PC's direct clients (and was not written on behalf of anyone who is not a party to an active contingent fee agreement with McGrane PC and therefore does not affect their rights in any way)--it is the opinion of McGrane PC that the present attitude of both EFCAL and EFSWISS towards the loss of consumer rights attendant on consumers' accepting money or other consideration from them is unclear. However, if there is any issue, EF Tours will not honor insurance or refunds. EF Educational Tours is keeping $700.00 as a cancellation fee. My son received life threatening injuries and had there not been a physician along as a chaperone my son would have died. 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