Signed up as Individual Travel Agent, after being solicited by Grand Voyager Travel, and attending presentation Jan. in FL. Travel Sales Rep., was Geo. Roberts. (Maybe he is an innocent employe).
When I attended the presentation, Voyager wanted to sell me this "agent" deal for $6,995.00 $195.00 annual renewal fee and $295.00 registration fee which would be total of $7,485.00, to join. After I refused to pay this amount Mr. Roberts (after speaking to someone outside the room) they graciously negotiated the cost down to total of $3,485.00. This should have alerted me that something was not right, but you like to think people are honest. DUMB ME!
As part of the presentation, Voyager offered a "free" incentative for attending. We could choose a cruise, Las Vegas hotel getaway or all-inclusive resort, for attending the presentation, but had to complete the form while we were there and advise the name (allowed to take one person) of who would be going with you. When I tried to book my free trip at an all-inclusive, I was asked to pay an additional non-refundable fee of over $300.00, before they would even give me any information. When I questioned the place where I wanted to go, they could not tell me anything about the area or guarantee a date or the place so needless to say I didn't do it.
Since I signed up with Grand Voyager Travel (Vacation American Travel) which was located at 14850 Montford Dr., Suite 165, Dallas, TX. 75254, they have changed the name to American Travel Network at 17780 Preston Rd., 2nd FL., Dallas, TX. 75252. Most of the employe's we contacted for help are no longer with the company. I wonder why?
In Nov. I paid the annual dues (was emailed to pay then and get a discount). After numerous calls and emails, and submitting new picture's (they told me when changing systems the old ones were lost and new picture's needed) I finally got the new ID card in Feb. and it showed Adam Travel, and IATA number 45948895 where the original number had been 52-441233. They kept telling me when I inquired about the card that there were over 5,000 agents which they had to issue new cards for so it was going to take a while. (When we originally signed up at the presentation, the picture was taken and the card issued before we left that day)
NO COMMISSIONS paid as of today! I have repeatedly called and left messages (they don't return calls) and emailed since Mar., to see when I would be paid commissions that were due me? I always get the standard reply by email they are working on getting the records straight. I wonder if we will ever get paid? (When I scheduled a cruise for myself, they did let me deduct my commission from balance I needed to pay. How do I know the amount they deducted was the actual amount due me for the commission?)
I scheduled a cruise for a client over a year ago and when I called about the final payment due, I was told it had already been due weeks before and probably the cruiseline would no longer honor it so client would loose the DP. They had not contacted myself or the client when the balance was due and tried to blame this problem on a previous employe. I called the cruiseline myself and explained the situation and they gave me the balance due so client didn't loose their DP and cruise papers were issued.
As of today, I am still getting emails for cruise's and it shows "COMMISSION REBATE APPLIES FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY." Why would we consider these trips when we already are not getting paid the commission? You know we probably won't be paid this either.
Owners of this company are Melissa "Hilliard" Samei and Mathew Samei. I was told by a previous employe the agency has been paid commissions by the vendors, but they were not paying (supposed to pay us 50%) their agents. At training sessions, Gordon Kirk, (Training Director) has been asked why we were having trouble getting paid? He tells us he has been advised that Melissa, is working on getting problem solved and it occured when company changed names. However, when you look at all the consumer complaintss there has been a problem for several years.
I have reported this company and the problems to the Florida Dept. Of Agriculture & Consumer Service (have to send them a notarized form each year - Sellers of Travel Independent Sales Agents Statement of Exemption) Div. Of Consumer Services Apalachee Pkwy., Tallahassee, FL. 32399 (www.800help. Fla.com) and Office of the Attorney General, P.O. Box 12548, Austin, TX. 78711. Can anyone give me more suggestions?
A previous employe told me that Mathew Samei, is from Iran. (Also, noted this in other Rip-Off comments) Why does our Gov't., let people like this and people from our own country get away with a scam against innocent victims?
BEWARE and don't let these people sucker you in like they did me.
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