Passports cleverly has the would be travelers sign a release in very small, light colored print that states that if there is a cancellation, they will retain a portion of the money. The contract also states that they can increase their fees at will. The money retained would depend on the number of days between cancellation and departure plus fees.
We did sign the unconscionable contract. Nine weeks prior to the departure date, passports adds surcharges forcing the travelers (High School Latin Club) to either pay the charges or loose about $700 due to cancellation. Sound like a co-incidence?
The trip was to begin June 17th, Passports informed trusting parents of a $109 fuel surcharge and a Currency surcharge of $215 on April 12th making the total $411.60 per day, This amount is $274 per day less than a trip taken by other students at GHS that summer.
We were informed by Passports of the $324 increase during the cancellation penalty time frame of 60-89 days before departure.
Even if we were to have responded immediately, $480, plus $95 membership fee and $100 service fees would be conveniently retained by Passports for cancellation.
We lost over $1000, because we cancelled during the 30-59 day time frame. We had no choice.initially, we were unaware that all of the other students and chaperones would be canceling.
Utilizing the legitimacy of a questionably legal contract along with the failure to notify customers about a $324 surcharge until the time frame earned the company at least $700 in cancellation fees from every student appears to be deliberately deceptive. The April 12th letter left valued customers with just a few days before the next increase in fees would go into effect. Cancellations were made as a direct result of the surcharge increase, not through indecisiveness of families who had put their faith in Passports.
After relaying what occurred to another GHS parent, I was informed that this has been done in prior years when there was not fuel price constraints on the economy and the the currency charge would not have been an issue. The unethical contract specifies the possibility of this practice.
One thing to note is that another trip for Europe was scheduled by our school in which the children had a wonderful experience. The other company also increased their prices, but after the increase their total cost was about $3650 for three weeks visiting 3 countries ($174 a day). Both trips did include airfare.
Last, our trip was originally about $3250 for seven days ($464 a day) There was an initial extra charge of $525 for three extra days.
I guess the president of Passports needed $1000 more than I did.
I believe the adults in our society should set examples for goodness.
Please join me in rejecting what you know is wrong and help America be a kinder gentler place where our future will have less self and more giving.
Thank you in advance for your consideration
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