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:05/10/2022

  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.

  Ship & Shore deposited our checks dated 12/20/19 and 2/5/2020, totalling $6,762.00 covering prepaid paid-in-full payments for us and our family for different overnight trips. Our cover letter included an additional 10% (over and above the tour price) to qualify for Vincent L*****'s "10-90 A.C.T." plan. As explained by Mr. L*****, we agreed to terms in effect at that time. When a business will only accept checks, that is a red flag warning!! Google his name, or the ****************. Public records reveal Mr. L***** has less than a stellar background; ie, 3 businesses destroyed by fire, failed Asian massage parlor ventures, solicitation of prostitution, judgement liens, etc. WE DID NOT DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE! On 3/11/2020, the W.H.O. declared a pandemic. Travel vouchers did not exist. Mr. L***** began revising his Terms & Conditions often and dramatrically. Mr. L***** chose NOT to honor his "10-90 A.C.T." plan. TRUSTWORTHY? Travel vouchers did not exist! After numerous e-mail requests for our agreed-upon 100% refund, his response was, "All qualified cancellations are suspended at this time." His newly-created website advised guests would receive a voucher equal to the amount of their prepaid tour price.. Reserve a trip and if the tour price was more than the voucher price, the guest paid the difference. Conversely, if the tour price was less than the voucher, no change was given! FAIR? A call was made to Mr. L***** regarding a medical emergency advising we could not board a bus the next day. His replies were, "You lost your money", "You should have cancelled 60-days ago" and "People in The Villages get sick and die all the time and they are not given a refund!" MORAL CHARACTER? Seniors vs Crime and the Orange County Consumer Protection Fraud Unit both felt we were being scammed and conned. Both offices were disappointed they were unable to arrange a mutually agreeable settlement.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/23/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 8, 2022/05/26) */ Plse See Attachment for the Business Response Consumer Response /* (3000, 10, 2022/06/03) */ Our #1 Complaint has been and still is no response, or refund from Mr. L*****. We agreed to all his Terms & Conditions which included purchasinmg, at his urging,his "10-90 A.C.T." plan. The W.H.O. declared a Pandemic MARCH 11, 2020! Mr. L***** made his DISHONORABLE decision by not honoring his "10-90 A.C.T." plan! He lists voucher numbers but conveniently DOES NOT include INS 101 acknowledgeing our PRE-PANDAMIC payment, copy attached. We trusted him to live up to his obligation! To be crystal clear, his plan, copy attached, states: "Cancellations more than 60-days: 100% REFUND." "The guest will receive a 90% refund of their original tour price." "By paying for any prepaid Ship & Shore Group Tours, Inc. travel tour or cruise package, the above terms and conditions are accepted and agreed upon by each guest, without exception." A REFUND is repayment of a sum of money to someone who is NOT SATISFIED with goods, or services bought! A copy of his Cancellation Policy dated "2017 SHIP & SHORE GROUP TOURS" is again attached." Too date, there has been NO RESPONSE or REFUND regarding his "10-90 A.C.T." plan...so much for Mr. L*****'s honesty! This Complaint involves our checks dated 12/16/2019 and 2/3/2020, deposited 12/19/2019 and 2/5/2020, respectively, covering prepaid paid-in-full trips. The primary source of Mr. L*****'s revenue stream comes from people like us, retired Senior Citizens on a fixed income living in The Villages! Mr. L***** began his POST-PANDEMIC additions/ deletions by changing his Terms & Conditions! At that time, HIS VOUCHERS DID NOT EXIST! There were no options, or alternatives. Our choice was "take it or lose it". Two examples of his additions/ deletions are attached with specific reference to the words "will" and "may"! At the suggestion of Seniors vs Crime, a CERTIFIED-RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED letter was forwarded to Ship & Shore JUNE 10, 2021, copy attached. Although the letter was acknowledged "Received", there was NO RESPONSE! Our letter was forwarded AFTER numerous e-mail requests were sent, BEFORE he sent out his OCTOBER, 2020 vouchers and BEFORE we took the trip to WV, prepaying for but not receiving the highlighted train ride, with lunch! As previously mentioned, we seek reimbursement of $150.00! The SIMPLE REASONS we did not show up for: Queen City was a medical emergency! Sweet Savannah was e-mail cancellation notices well in advance of 60-days! Smoky Mtn Special: same as above! Two FL State Investigative Agencies said we were being scammed! Mr. L***** has a less than stellar background! Do your due diligence! Public records reveal 16 companies and 6 people used his address in association with their businesses. The majority were failed massage spas: 1978: He owned ******* Transport. 1981: A blaze gutted his charter bus company. 1984: A fire totalled his Atlantic City boardwalk concession stand. 1987: He promoted a failed event at the Osceola County Fair and was escorted off the grounds by the Osceola Sheriff's Department officers. 1990: Owner of ****************** Museum, Kissimmee, FL. 1991: Real Estate license issued which has since expired. 1991: Filed an arson claim against ***** Insurance due to fire which gutted his ****************** Museum. 1994: Court records show solicitation to commit prostitution. 2006: ****************** Condominium Assoc. action to foreclose. 2008: Court records show unlawful speed. 2009: $10,812.53 judgment lien filed by Santa, Inc., No. Miami Beach, FL. 2012: Court records show unlawful speed. 2014: $55,362.22 judgment lien filed by ******************, Altamonte Springs, FL. 2014: Filing fee made to FL Division of Corporations, Tallahassee, FL for "Ship & Shore" proposed corporate name. 2014: Applied for U.S. Federal EIN/TIN number. 2016: Court records show failure to obey traffic control device. 2018: Court records show failed to stop at a steady red. TIP #1: DISREGARD HIS "10-90 A.C.T." PLAN! ALTHOUGH WE AGREED TO HIS TERMS PRE- PANDEMIC, MR. L***** CHOSE NOT TO HONOR! TIP #2: NOTIFY MR. L***** MORE THAN TWO MONTHS IN WRITING BEFORE YOU ARE SICK OR HAVE A MEDICAL ISSUE! TIP #3: DO NOT DIE! MR. L***** TOLD US, "PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGES GET SICK AND DIE ALL THE TIME AND THEY ARE NOT GIVEN A REFUND!" The foregoing as information to potential customers which may allow them to make an educated travel decision. The Better Business Bureau shows SHIP & SHORE IS NOT AN ACCREDITED BUSINESS! There are many REPUTABLE travel agencies available in The Villages! Choose wisely, good luck and..."LET THE BUYER BEWARE"! Business Response /* (4000, 13, 2022/06/09) */ Our position remains the same: 1. Mr. ****** accepted his Travel Vouchers in October of 2020. 2. He then made reservations for 4 Ship & Shore tours using his Travel Vouchers as payment. ( His handwriting on each reservation request ) 3. By signing each Travel Voucher he, Mr ******, agreed to their terms ( "no refunds under any circumstances" ). 4. Mr. ****** took one tour using his Travel Voucher as payment with no complaints., 5. He then tried to cancel one of his scheduled tours the day before it left. 6. The other two tours that Mr. ****** requested, reserved, and paid for using his Travel Vouchers, he did not show up for ( "no refunds under any circumstances" ). Please feel free to contact us if we can be of any further help. Thank you very much, Consumer Response /* (4200, 15, 2022/06/13) */ Plse See Attachment Business Response /* (4000, 21, 2022/07/18) */ Our position remains the same. Thank you very much, Vincent Consumer Response /* (4200, 27, 2022/08/10) */ Our rebuttal is as follows: To restate, Mr. L***** deposited our two checks (12/16/2019 & 2/3/2020 totalling $6,762.00. This amount included purchasing his "10-90 A.C.T." plan (at his urging) providing refund protection. He would not, and does not, accept credit card payment. This is a red flag...there is no way to challenge charges when he only accepts checks! He would not, and does not give receipts. We agreed to his Terms & Conditions in effect at that time. Most importantly, his "travel vouchers" did not exist! All changes he has made in his Terms & Conditions "after our deposits" puts everything in his best interest. His responses to our Complaint is, and always has been, totally UNSATISFACTORY. The purpose of our Complaint is to urge BBB readers not to make the same mistake!