Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/26/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  My wife and I attended a presentation by ********* enterprises on 5/4/2010 at 7:30PM at Hyatt Place, ******************************************************. ********* enterprises was a reseller of travel services by Tradewinds Vacations. They told us many advantages of becoming a member of the Tradewinds club which we found later to be not true. We paid $2000 in initial fee and then $199 yearly fee for the help in booking vacations. We were told that we can cancel our membership at any time. Over the years, we found out that the service provided is not worth the money we were paying, and we could get the same service elsewhere cheaper. As a result, we decided not to renew our membership. Soon we started getting pushy emails from Tradewinds to call them about our membership. We sent them a couple of emails requesting to cancel our membership, but they kept on coming back to call them & speak to one *** to discuss our options.Finally, I called them at ************** & spoke to ***. She told me that I need to pay $250 in yearly dues that are paid in advance. When I told her that I have already asked for cancellation, she told me that it can be cancelled If I pay a cancellation fee of $995. When I asked why, first she said it is part of the contract I signed. When I mentioned that I dont recall seeing it in the contract and asked her to send me a copy of the contract I signed, she then said that it is not in the contract but is a company policy. My simple question to her was that if it was not in the contract that I signed and it was not communicated and agreed upon by me, why should I be liable, she started shouting at me and would not let me talk & became abusive.Dear Sir/*****, my simple request is that our membership with Tradewinds be canceled without any charges to us as initially mentioned to us and that the business should not contact us anymore. Please help us resolve it. Thanks for your time and help.-*****************************

  Business Response

  Date: 07/26/2023

  The independent sales and marketing office is not a reseller from our company, they are their own entity and have nothing to do with the contract member(s) signed with us, member(s) will find further information regarding this on line #5 of their acknowledgement and Bylaw's; to add member(s) have continued to pay their dues every year since 2010 until 05/12/2023, member(s) have also booked travel with our ***************** and they have received after travel bonuses (cashback) from their bookings. Member(s) were advised on how to properly close their account. As their contract states they have the option to bring their account up to date to sell/transfer as long as their dues are current and we approve the transfer, or to close they will need to complete a Mutual Release signed by both parties releasing from all further contractual obligations. 

   

  These member(s) simply need to contract our office to bring their account up to date to sell/transfer or to close properly through a Mutual Release. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/27/2023

   
  Complaint: 20374763
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  As I mentioned earlier, I contacted the business already by email and by phone. Since dues are paid in advance, cancelling the account per my request should not incur any charges for me.

  Secondly, the business has not answered my question on why their employee *** was asking me a $995 cancellation fee when it was not in my contract and it was never communicated to or agreed upon by me.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Business Response

  Date: 07/27/2023

  Member(s) have been advised that their account came due on 05/12/2023, dues have not been paid, our office has mailed member(s) invoices on 7 different occasions letting member(s) know their account was past due. 

  Again, as stated in previous response as member(s) contract paperwork states, they agreed to sell/transfer as long as their dues are current and we approve the transfer, or to close they will need to complete a Mutual Release signed by both parties releasing from all further contractual obligations.

   

  These member(s) simply need to contract our office to bring their account up to date to sell/transfer or to close properly through a Mutual Release. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/03/2023

   
  Complaint: 20374763
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  As I have stated a few times, the dues are paid in advance per the contract and the dues mentioned by the business are for coming year which I don't intend to avail and have requested a cancellation. Also upon receiving the dues notice in July, I asked for a cancellation. Tradewinds has not explained why they need to charge me for the next year I don't plan to avail. They have also not explained why they asking me $995 to cancel which is NOT in the contract and NEVER mutually agreed. This is customer harrassment as I have explained the above a few times and the business is not addressing it but rather keep on saying what they have to say. this is customer badgering and money extortion. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/21/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  My spouse died in 2016. In 2014 he called TradeWinds Vacations and cancelled our membership. About a year ago I was contacted by them telling me I owed a cancellation Fee. This Fee was never mentioned to ***** when he cancelled. I just received a notice from ***************************** that per *** publication **** they are going to report the amount due to the *** as a cancelled debt as ordinary income from the cancellation of debt on my tax return. But, they did give me the option to contact their office so they could offer me a settlement.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/24/2023

  Member has received yearly ********, re-********, calls, emails along with weekly newsletters with current specials and offers. We have made multiple attempts to contact the member to help them either bring their account up to date to utilize the services they purchased, bring it up to date to sell/transfer as their contract states, along as the account is current and we approve the transfer or to close the account through a Mutual Release. There has been no response on the members part to resolve the account. 
  
  We are here to help the member in resolving the account. These members are no different than other members who have failed to pay as agreed and had previously never requested to cancel.These members simply need to contact our office to either pay their fees up to current to use the benefits or to sell/transfer their membership themselves just as their contract states with our approval of that sell/transfer or the other option is to contact our office to reach a fair settlement agreement to properly close/cancel through a Mutual Release document which breaks the current agreement then having no further cost or obligations. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/24/2023

   
  Complaint: 20356199
  
  I am rejecting this response because: it was cancelled in 2014.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ** *************************

  Business Response

  Date: 07/26/2023

  Member(s) account has not been closed, there has not even been a request to close by mail, phone or email. If member(s) did in fact close they would have completed a Mutual Release, and would have proof of such!

  Member has received yearly ********, re-********, calls, emails along with weekly newsletters with current specials and offers. We have made multiple attempts to contact the member to help them either bring their account up to date to utilize the services they purchased, bring it up to date to sell/transfer as their contract states, along as the account is current and we approve the transfer or to close the account through a Mutual Release. There has been no response on the members part to resolve the account. 
  
  We are here to help the member in resolving the account. These members are no different than other members who have failed to pay as agreed and had previously never requested to cancel. These members simply need to contact our office to either pay their fees up to current to use the benefits or to sell/transfer their membership themselves just as their contract states with our approval of that sell/transfer or the other option is to contact our office to reach a fair settlement agreement to properly close/cancel through a Mutual Release document which breaks the current agreement then having no further cost or obligations. 

   

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/27/2023

   
  Complaint: 20356199
  
  I am rejecting this response because: My husband closed the account in 2014. I did not get any notice from them until 2022, at which time I called them and told them it was closed in 2014. The lady was extremely rude, said she would 'take it to the powers that be' and hung up. It was closed in 2014. All verbal. They never asked for written notice, nor did they give us a cancellation number. Now they want a fee?
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ** *************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/03/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  In 2012 my wife and I attended a presentation done by Trade ******************* in *********, **.It was very hard sell and unfortunately we signed up. During the presentation many claims were made, including an A+ BBB rating. When I got home I got online and discovered that this was far from true. The next day I went back to the hotel where they were doing their presentations and requested a refund and cancellation. They were no longer interested in speaking to me, told me no refund would be made, but that they would cancel me after the first year was up.I never heard a word from them until about two years ago when I got a letter saying they had mailed bills, sent emails and tried calling me every year and that I had never responded. I have since received letters from them saying I owed money and I needed to contact them asap. I ignored the letters. I recently received a letter from FSA, a collection agency, threatening to report me to the *** if I don't reach a settlement with them. What a bunch of malarkey. This whole thing is a scam and it needs to stop.

  Business Response

  Date: 07/18/2023

  Member(s) did not purchase the membership from us, they purchased from an independent sales and marking office called 'Simplicity Travel' we simply work of the contract of which the member(s) signed with us on terms and conditions. Member(s) account has already been closed with no further contractual obligations. Member(s) received a mailing dated 05/23/2023 in error, no further mailings have been sent out to member(s). 

   

  Customer Answer

  Date: 07/18/2023

  It may very well have been a company contracted to represent Tradewinds Vacations. If there will be no future communication and demands from them I am fine with things and consider it resolved.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/14/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  ******* from Tradewinds ************* called recently to inform me that I had signed a "lifetime" contract in 2011 and owed years of dues. She went on to say they tried to contact me via mail. This was the first time I heard I had an outstanding membership in something we had cancelled over 10 years ago. After 12 years this fraudulent company is trying to intimidate me by saying they will send me to collection if I do not pay what is owed for years but they will agree to terminate my contract for a fee. This is a scam. I feel victimized by Tradewinds who's services I never even used.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/15/2023

  Member(s) did not speak with me, I simply sent the cancellation document to member(s) updated email they provided one of our representatives on 06/12/2023. Just in 2023 we have mailed out 3 mailings so far. Member(s) have been contacted and over the years they have simply either not responded or when we would speak with member(s) via phone the line would disconnect. 

  The representative the member(s) spoke with had done their part in helping member(s) resolve account by offering a reduction on the account to either get their account brought up to date to sell/transfer as they agreed per their contract or to close their account through a Mutual Release. 

  Member has received yearly ********, re-********, calls, emails. We have made multiple attempts to contact the member to help them either bring their account up to date to utilize the services they purchased, bring it up to date to sell/transfer as their contract states, along as the account is current and we approve the transfer or to close the account through a Mutual Release. There has been no response on the members part to resolve the account. 
  
  These members simply need to contact our office to either pay their fees up to current to use the benefits or to sell/transfer their membership themselves just as their contract states with our approval of that sell/transfer or the other option is to contact our office to reach a fair settlement agreement to properly close/cancel through a Mutual Release document which breaks the current agreement then having no further cost or obligations. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/07/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  To The ****** ********** of ******* We joined Tradewinds Vacations *********** in 01/2010. We regrettably paid $7,093.00 dollarsto join after hearing of the deep discounts, travel savings and customer support services. We additionally paid $199.00 annual membership fees for the first few years after joining the ********* of the service highlights we received for our membership include: Higher airfares than we could have booked ourselves.Accommodations reserved in two different cities for the same night.No hotel reservations.Return flights a day early, requiring 2 additional return airfare costs.Inability to log on to their website with our membership number.Phone messages that were never responded to.After finally getting someone on the phone, we did try to cancel our Membership with Tradewinds Vacations, we were told that we could not use Tradewinds services unless we continue to pay the annual fee. No fee= no service. Fine by us. We were also told that we did not have to pay the annual fee, unless we were going to start using their services again, and pay back dues when reconnecting.Until 2021, when we started getting phone calls and letters requesting back membership fees plus additional exit fees, totaling over $1,700.00 dollars. Recently we received a letter from ; ********* Services of ******* ***********************, Director of Operations ******************************************************************** ************ Threating to report us to the I R S for failing to report the forgiveness debt, as income unless we pay the balance post haste. Tradewinds owners have been convicted of Fraudulent Business practices in the past. Many people have been complaining online of similar harrasement. (*******************************) We have not seenanything indicating class action lawsuitsto this sham, which is unfortunate. However, we would just like them to leave us, and others alone.

  Business Response

  Date: 06/07/2023

  Member(s) need to review their contract paperwork as it goes over the benefits, and it does indeed state that the discounts on airfare, hotels and car rentals alone are minimum if any, it continues to state that member(s) did not purchase it for just those alone, but purchased the membership as a whole to utilize or all travel related bookings. That being said member(s) did book 2 airfares through ** along with 3 hotels and did receive the cashback bonuses from the hotels which are between 5%-12%. Everything that was promised per the contract we have honored. Member(s) had access to the site and even updated the site password in 2014. 

  There has not been any request to close the account by mail, phone or email. We have continued to bill, re-bill, email and call with no response.We have continued to send out yearly ********, re-********, calls, emails along with weekly newsletters with current specials and offers. We have made multiple attempts to contact the member to help them either bring their account up to date to utilize the services they purchased, bring it up to date to sell/transfer as their contract states, along as the account is current and we approve the transfer or to close the account through a Mutual Release. There has been no response on the members part to resolve the account. 
  
  We are here to help the member in resolving the account. These members are no different than other members who have failed to pay as agreed and had previously never requested to cancel.These members simply need to contact our office to either pay their fees up to current to use the benefits or to sell/transfer their membership themselves just as their contract states with our approval of that sell/transfer or the other option is to contact our office to reach a fair settlement agreement to properly close/cancel through a Mutual Release document which breaks the current agreement then having no further cost or obligations. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/30/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Continuous harassment from Tradewinds Vacations.....my husband initially contacted them (at that time it was TRAVEL SERVICES) May 2012 on getting a vacation pkg put together. We never used them and so I called them from my workplace soon thereafter cancelling our membership. The gentleman said he cancelled and that was that. Never rec'd email on the cancellation or anything further until 8-9 years later (we believe 2019 or 2020)!!!!! Why on earth did they wait that long to start saying we owe money. We've been rudely harassed these past couple years and now by their collection agency who said the *** would then be notified as well! My husband and I both 'tried' to talk to the lady today and tell her I'd cancelled this way back when and she just talked over us and insisted we pay up. We really would love this to stop.....they'd sent emails too over the past couple years which we now don't even open as they just won't listen to us. We're honest law-abiding citizens and if this was legit, we'd pay up....but we cancelled, we owe them nothing and want them to STOP and please leave us alone! Thank you.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/30/2023

  Member(s) purchased the Tradewinds Vacation package from an independent sales and marketing office called ******* Direct/Great Getaways', that office simply sold our services, the contract is between the member(s) and ** the fulfillment company ******* Services AKA Travel Center' 

  Member(s) claim of cancelling the membership soon after is a false statement as they paid dues for several years after purchase and booked travel with us on many occasions the following years. 

  Member has received yearly ********, re-********, calls, emails along with weekly newsletters with current specials and offers. We have made multiple attempts to contact the member to help them either bring their account up to date to utilize the services they purchased, bring it up to date to sell/transfer as their contract states, along as the account is current and we approve the transfer or to close the account through a Mutual Release. There has been no response on the members part to resolve the account. 

  We are here to help the member in resolving the account. These members are no different than other members who have failed to pay as agreed and had previously never requested to cancel.These members simply need to contact our office to either pay their fees up to current to use the benefits or to sell/transfer their membership themselves just as their contract states with our approval of that sell/transfer or the other option is to contact our office to reach a fair settlement agreement to properly close/cancel through a Mutual Release document which breaks the current agreement then having no further cost or obligations. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/13/2023

  We are replying to Re: ID # ******** - ***************************** - as just saw response. We did not use service after 6/2014. I cancelled before paying 2015 membership. We did not receive "late fee" for 2015 dues but if we did, I would have contacted them (hence they got my new email) and said, no we cancelled . WE NEVER USED THEIR SERVICES after 6/2014. Common sense: we wouldn't continue to be a member of something we don't use ever again - we DID cancel and if we had received late notices (which we did not), we would have resolved this issue back then! But why did they wait until (don't know exact date) 2019 or 2018 to say we owe money - doesn't make sense. Their acctg people messed up because I DID cancel, I swear. Not remembering we used them at all is due just not remembering way back then. Anything to do with them was gone when I cancelled. We never contacted them until they started harrassing us, *** would call and say NO WE CANCELLED but again.....that's years (YEARS) later. If truly we were still members, why did we never get that LATE FEE in 2015 or 2016 or 2017 or whatever! Really, it's just not right - I'm livid that they just don't get it - we are honest people.....if I'd received a late notice in 2015, I would have called them then and said NO WE CANCELLED and this would all be OVER back then! Truly, please reconsider our stance here. THank you for listening

  Business Response

  Date: 06/13/2023

  Once again, if member(s) closed they would have obtained a Mutual Release document signed by both parties, member(s) claiming they cancelled is simply that as there is no proof. Member(s) have not requested to close the account. 

  This all can be solved by member providing the documentation proof of the closure. 

  We are here to help the member in resolving the account. These members are no different than other members who have failed to pay as agreed and had previously never requested to cancel. These members simply need to contact our office to either pay their fees up to current to use the benefits or to sell/transfer their membership themselves just as their contract states with our approval of that sell/transfer or the other option is to contact our office to reach a fair settlement agreement to properly close/cancel through a Mutual Release document which breaks the current agreement then having no further cost or obligations. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/16/2023

   
  Complaint: 20119885
  
  I am rejecting this response because:
  I KNOW I cancelled this membership...by phone while at work.  The man said ok .....there was never a mention of a $995 fee or anything, it was a simple cancellation.  I no longer have access to work emails as I am retired.  My husband and I both DO know we then never heard from ****** Services again until we started getting calls in ....my husband believes 2019 and I honestly don't know if 2018 or 2019 or whatever but we both KNOW for a fact that we were never contacted late 2015, 2016, onward re past dues. And when they started harrassing us, we paid no attention but occasionally my husband would call and say "we owe you nothing" as they talked over what he kept trying to tell them.  They were downright rude and obnoxious on their phone calls.   I still just don't understand why anyone can't see this - even from all the other complaints I've read on BBB about this company contacting years later about past dues.  If we were still affiliated with the company, then we should've been contacted in 2015 (dues were apparently due in February) about late dues, even in 2016 and we were NOT.  Then all of a sudden years later, we get all this!  Again, I cancelled and then thought nothing of it after the phone conversation was over. No I have no record of that phone call and this company has no record of my NOT calling and cancelling either.  From their records, we used one time 2012, 2x in 2013 and 1x in 2014(BOOKED first of 2014).  After that we no longer used the service and I had retired and CANCELLED THIS as we no longer wanted the service.   I don't recall exactly the date but obviously it was in 2015 that we cancelled as we did NOT pay for the dues 2015, the man cancelled and we never heard again, especially on any late fees!  For them to continuously state that they were in constant communication with us all those years is a fabrication on their part, honestly.  As I've stated, if in fact they claim no cancellation, then why were we not contacted in 2015 on late dues then, or even contnuously throughout 2016 on all this - everything would have been resolved back then.....but no, they never contacted us then .....as it was cancelled...and somehow new management is doing something, I just don't understand it.  And quite frankly, this is emotionally draining me and I really don't appreciate them stating that everything I say is a lie. I can't say it enough:  if what I say is not true and we owed them monies, we would have resolved this back in 2015 or even 2016 IF in fact we did owe and they had contacted us as such.  Not years, years, later!   I'm sorry BBB that this is continuing and it is exhausting but they are wrong.

  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/30/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On 11/20/2012 after an hours long high pressure sales presentation for Tradewinds Vacations, I paid $2598 for a travel membership. The sales presentation and membership binder promised luxury all-inclusive resorts, cruises, and vacation packages. However, every time I called to book, there was no availability, or the properties offered were of low quality. Often the deals were higher than packages offered by travelocity or any travel site. When I tried to cancel I was told it was a lifetime membership, that could not be canceled, only sold. I continued to search for destination availability several times a year, for several years, finding nothing. I was finally able to reach someone and given the option to suspend the membership. On 1/6/17 I received email confirmation the membership would remain expired unless contacted to reinstate with membership dues paid to reactivate the account. I have not contacted or received correspondence from this company for years. Then Tradewinds started sending bills. A letter dated 12/21/22 stated my account had a balance of $1353, or I could pay $597 to sign a mutual release and end membership. On 2/14/23 I received another letter for membership dues, $199 + a $25 billing fee. On 2/28/23 another letter for membership dues. Then on 3/14/23 I received a letter from ******************** Services stating they were attempting to contact me regarding a debt owed to Tradewinds, no amount stated. I responded with a cease and desist, and disputed the debt, fearing damage to my credit. They signed for my cease and desist on 4/17/23, and sent a letter dated 4/19/23 from ********* Services of ******* threating to report me to the *** for a debt, a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, over a debt that does not exist, for an account closed 6 years ago on a membership never used due to their failure to deliver the contractually promised product. On 4/21/23 Tradewnds sent a bill for $448, account ********.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/30/2023

  Member(s) only placed 2 travel request for *****'s, those were available and quotes were sent to member(s). Member(s) did not inform the Travel Agents of any concern on pricing, when our Travel Agents quote pricings they quote 3 options to choose from based on member(s) criteria of pricing, destination, rooms, etc. If member is finding something cheaper or better it is up to the member(s) to contact the ***************** to tell them what and where to verify their claim. 

  As Member(s) contract states the services are expired, not the dues, the contract states dues accrue with 5% increase or the cost of living, whichever is greater. Simply not paying the dues does not make it go away, member(s) were made aware in 2017 that the dues would need to be paid up to current. In order to close the account member(s) will need to complete a Mutual Release, or they have the option to bring the account up to date as contract states to sell/transfer as long as we approve the transfer. 

  
  We have done our part in trying to help member(s) by offering reduced amounts to complete the closure to no avail. We are collecting on a debt owing to the company, and have the right to collect on all unpaid fees.

   

  These members simply need to contact our office to either pay their fees up to current to use the benefits or to sell/transfer their membership themselves just as their contract states with our approval of that sell/transfer or the other option is to contact our office to reach a fair settlement agreement to properly close/cancel through a Mutual Release document which breaks the current agreement then having no further cost or obligations. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/09/2023

   
  Complaint: 20113739
  
  I am rejecting this response because: the statements made are untrue.  Tradewinds has a history of running this exact scam over and over.  The fact that this company has an F rating with the BBB, and numerous complaints alleging the same devious tactics speaks for itself.  In a study released this year, Unpacking timeshare and vacation club sales, the BBB issued a warning specifically about Tradewinds and its various alias companies that operate from a ********** , ** address, for the exact behavior my complaint describes.  *************************** has been sued by state officials in *******, ***************, and ********* for his vacation businesses.  How is this company still allowed to operate, and pull the same scam over and over? Can the BBB link all of the **********, ** alias businesses so that future victims see the full extent of this companys unscrupulous behavior?  Why would I pay to sign a release for a service I never user?  The blatant lies from this company are unbelievable.

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/09/2023

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I received a letter from this company trying to collect a debt that they claim I owe to Trade Winds Vacations. We sat in on a vacation timeshare back in 2010 and after paying them over $6,000, we learned they were a scam and we received nothing from them. After learning of the scam, we told the customer service person, everything was to be cancelled and we would never use any membership with them again. We never heard anything from the *********** again until last year, when we received a letter from the club requesting payment of back dues. Both letters state that they've made multiple attempts via mail, (sending invoices), emails and also phone calls. These statements are false. The first letter we did received from them, I contacted the number on the letter and was given a run around about the fees. I advised I would not pay them anything based on ** cancelling back in 2010 and that the timeshare was a scam. We have never used any services with them. I advised if they were a legit company they needed to provided documentation and send. We have received nothing till we received a new letter attempting to collect a debt from **. The 2 letters we received are the first we had heard from this company in 14 years! In reading online, there have been multiple complaints against this vacation company and multiple alerts about the *****************************. At this point we want the company to stop contacting **, as we don't owe a debt and have no service with this company in 14 plus years.

  Business Response

  Date: 05/09/2023

  Members did not purchase membership from **, they purchased from an independent sales and marketing office called Southwest Travel, whatever monies paid at the time of purchase is the sole responsivity of that office. We simply work off the contract paperwork members have with **, which was sent out in December of 2022 per members request validating the debt owing. Member has received yearly ********, re-********, calls, emails along with weekly newsletters with current specials and offers. We have made multiple attempts to contact the member to help them either bring their account up to date to utilize the services they purchased, bring it up to date to sell/transfer as their contract states, along as the account is current and we approve the transfer or to close the account through a Mutual Release. There has been no response on the members part to resolve the account. 
  
  We are here to help the member in resolving the account. These members are no different than other members who have failed to pay as agreed and had previously never requested to cancel. These members simply need to contact our office to either pay their fees up to current to use the benefits or to sell/transfer their membership themselves just as their contract states with our approval of that sell/transfer or the other option is to contact our office to reach a fair settlement agreement to properly close/cancel through a Mutual Release document which breaks the current agreement then having no further cost or obligations. 

• Initial Complaint

  Date:04/19/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Since our acquisition of this sale of "Tradewinds", we found later that the advertised high pressure sale that was put on us is now a scam and has no benefit other than claiming yearly dues for no reason. We have held this so called vacation club for probably over 20 years now and it hasn't saved us any money, in fact it cost more than ************* our own vacations. We had in the past not paid dues as we were told we would just not be getting the benefit of using the service as I was ok with. This was fine with me as I didn't want to waste anymore yearly dues/money for no reason. After sometime we started to receive letters that we were past due for dues and to call and set up a meeting to "better help us" get the most help with our membership. I did try this once all I got was another sales pitch to buy another type of vacation package upgrade. We said NO WAY! We weren't using it anymore. They offered us to catch up on our yearly dues for only one years amount of $199 and that would cover the years past that we had not paid or used. We decided to go ahead and pay. Later that year decided to book a cruise with the membership and actually try to use it. Its saved us over a $$$ which was almost our yearly dues so it had no benefit. Later when our cruise was set, we got cancelled from Covid outbreak and stopped our dues. It took ** months and 10 of hours on the phone to try and get our refund back because TW said they could help because we had not paid our dues. After that I was done and didn't want anything to do with TW anymore. Thousands of dollars out of pocket for nothing but hassles and NO benefits. Now they are demanding ** to pay our dues again OR obtain a Mutual Release through a settlement agreement to close/cancel your membership account which I am completely fine with however the cost for this is ridiculous. To pay more money to them after losing $$$$ is absurd at this point as I know I'll never get any of my money or time back.

  Business Response

  Date: 04/28/2023

  These members excuse of not paying dues due to ***** and still expecting help goes against what they agreed to when they signed and agreed to the terms and conditions for use of services/benefits as the membership contract is clear that their annual dues must be up to date to get help from our ************** ***** is something we all went through and there are no exceptions for this kind of issue and understand we never closed for even a day during the pandemic and our members continued to use services just changing the way they travel to what they felt was safe for them. These members clearly knew and were told repeatedly that we were happy to help as soon as they brought their account up to date but refused to comply with the terms and conditions of their membership contract!

  These members are no different from anyone else and need to contact our office to either bring their membership account up to date or close/cancel through a fair settlement agreement.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 04/28/2023

   
  Complaint: 19951798
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  The last time we used our membership was when the original outbreak of Covid started as our vacation (Cruise) was cancelled. It took ** months to try and get our refund back and because of booking through Trade winds we had extreme difficulty communicated to receive our money back. We had NOT renewed our dues after that because of the difficult and lacking support that Trade winds did not help us with even though this was a preexisting booking they still refuse help until we paid our dues. After a long battle of weeks we finally were able to contact a manager that made an exception to assist us to getting the refund. After this I was extremely disappointed with the service Trade winds offered. Even though we never decided to use them at all after this, we were constantly pressed to pay dues and call to take advantage of a "New program" that basically would just cost us more money for a service that does no good. I told them to stop trying to contact me for this as I have wasted enough time and money to be bothered anymore. When dealing in the past with another representative I asked if I even need to pay dues anymore. She said as long as I am not using the service then no, but I would no get the benefit out of the membership. I replied great! I didn't care that I lost thousands of dollars invested in this vacation scam that I should have never have purchased in the first place.

  At this point, wasting all the time, money and effort that this high pressure sales pitch has caused me, however to be fair I don't think I need to waste anymore money on this. I just want to be released of this membership with no other penalties.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Business Response

  Date: 05/08/2023

  The member(s) refund on their cruise canceling is not anything to do with us, those come back through the cruise line directly and we have control over the time it takes for the ************** to refund on a canceled booking. We are more than happy to assist in contacting the cruise line on members behalf which we did. The member(s) have signed and agreed to pay the annual fees per the contract they signed with **.  There has not been any discussion of cancelling the account previously by mail, phone or email. Members have the option to bring account up to date to utilize services purchased, bring the account up to date to sell/transfer as long as we approve the transfer or to close the account through a Mutual Release.

  These members are no different than other members who have failed to pay as agreed and had previously never requested to cancel but claimed so in an effort to try and get out of a debt owed. These members simply need to contact our office to either pay their fees up to current to use the benefits or to sell/transfer their membership themselves just as their contract states with our approval of that sell/transfer or the other option is to contact our office to reach a fair settlement agreement to properly close/cancel through a Mutual Release document which breaks the current agreement then having no further cost or obligations. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 05/09/2023

   
  Complaint: 19951798
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  The fact of the matter here is that Tradewinds has not provided any positive support and their action have proven so. Taking months to assist with a refund that they originally denied assistance because of our yearly dues were not up to date with a pre existing booked cruise with them is uncalled for. The lack of support and Tradewinds only hounding us to make yearly dues even though originally we were told "we did not have to pay membership dues if we were not to use the service" as we acted on because of this response. Now with covid breakout with last three years causing travel agencies to not receive constant business, Tradewinds started to demand payment be made even though I never ever decided to use them again based on what was told to me. Tradewinds had pushed me to pay a Mutual agreement fee of $995 to end the contract with them. I denied as said this was absurd for a two page document stating I would forfeit the membership and provide my credit card info for payment. They later replied and said they were waiving the outstanding dues of the last three years and only requiring the so called $995.00. I asked them to provide me with the signed document agreement to which this shows a $995.00 cancellation fee and what I am paying for. They said there was no closure clause in my contract and they couldnt provide this information I requested. Later I received another email as they all of sudden changed their demand because of this and said they no longer needed the $995.00 cancellation and instead are now requiring $796.00 to bring the so called account membership up to date to sell/transfer. I found this ridiculous as it now seems they are just trying everything to maneuver more money out of my pocket just to lose my membership that Ive wasted so much money on over the years. It is clear to me that Tradewinds is not about provided a honorable family vacation club membership but instead are more interested in leaching funds out of good families that were originally miss lead to believe this was a valued vacation investment. With the Covid outbreak and the fact that most families lost loved ones in the past 3 years, Tradewinds still demands past membership dues even though traveling was not suggested with the pandemic through those years. For all of these reasons is why I am requesting that Tradewinds to acknowledge that fact that they have made a long term customer very unhappy with their responses to a mislead service membership that has lasted way too long and should now be discontinued. For this I will "only" provide with the agreement of paid dues for the last year 1 year of dues even though I have never exercised the want or use of this program anymore. I believe this a fair request and should thoughtfully be considered under the current circumstances as I am losing a very long investment that did not benefit me one bit a cost me thousands and thousands of dollars for what I have experienced as a uncomfortable long term so called vacation club.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/21/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  In 2012 we bought a tradewinds travel club package for $6000 for services whichwould provide a travel agent for lower cost travel on the 3rd day we called the company to cancel the contract we changed our mind as per texaswecan. The company saidit was too lateand would noton the5th day we called the credit card companywhich also neglected to refund our money. We neverreceived services of any kind and didnt hearfrom them again until recently a letter that aredues were passed and wanting to collect. We cancelled with them right away after they took our money and we got suckered. We want a letter stating that our membership is cancelled and we owe nothing. As it should be because we received nothing.