3:20-cv-00508-gpc-blm advising Mr. Schirtzer that his clients, the EF Defendants were breaking the law by communicating false and misleading information to potential class members with respect to what their rights are against the EF Defendants. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. 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. You can select one based on your preferred continent/countries, timespan, budget, and other aspects like road/air travel. The first thing to keep in mind is that there are alcohol restrictions with these tours. Two straight hours of calling the ef tours emergency hotline and no still no answer. and subject matter experts who understand EF Tours company has gladly excepted the government stimulus hand out. 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. Evidently, just before the drop deadline, the other boys in our group dropped out because of cost, and he's the lone boy traveling from our school with a group of girls. So opted to try one more year to see if restrictions were lifted. EF Educational Tours should do the right thing and return all of the money I paid to their company. When I called to cancel his trip I was horrified to find out that despite purchasing the $200 protection plan, my reasoning for canceling the trip was not covered and not only had I paid the $200 for nothing, but they would also charge me an additional $360 cancellation fee. Please download the PDF to view it: Download PDF. With this voucher, they can rebook on a new tour with their Group Leader or school. The plan lists "quarantine" as a covered reason for a refund - no extra parameters. Earn benefits like one spot on tour for every six travelers you bring. That's when we found out it would be around $800 to cancel. A copy of this pleading can be viewed by visiting our UPDATES page. Read those reviews. Whenever I called and asked for a manager, I was told that non were available and that they would call me when they became available. HOW CAN THIS BE LEGAL??? and the kind of learning that prepares students for the future and The school uses them for all there spring break trips and this is very disappointing that they are doing this to us. EF Educational Tours Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of www.eftours.com Travel & Vacation Activities & Tours Tour Agency EF Educational Tours EF Educational Tours Reviews 4,382 Excellent 4.3 VERIFIED COMPANY www.eftours.com Visit this website kharden 1 review US 2 days ago DO NOT USE EF Tours! Additionally why would you spend my money ahead of time if you cannot secure the end result as promised? It isn't worth the hassle these people have created. And you can. She is welcome to call traveler support for more clarification! My mom had to put hotel rooms for 30 students in her credit card. Meet your people It was so uncomfortable. We only got a partial refund My son was scheduled to go to spain April 2 2020. Before commenting, please review our comment policy. This is a terrible company. If not for her, 30 of your kids would be sleeping in the airport for two nights in a row since their new flight to London has a huge 13 hour layover. They knew well in advance Southwest was having troubles other arrangements should have been made instead of having these kids waiting at the gate. We will incorporate new procedures where appropriate as part of the comprehensive safety measures that are standard on every EF tour. I am self employed so I had to send a letter stating that my business went under and this had created a hardship. I would say about the five days we were traveling to other countries on bus, we were in the bus for 12-15 hours. We understand that plans can change due to unforeseen circumstances. Russia is at war with Ukraine. This has to be illegal. On October 22, 2020, Boston-based co-counsel for McGrane PC send a demand letter to the EF Defendants (including EF Explore America Inc., which runs domestic tours) demanding a full refund under Massachusetts consumer protection law which Massachusetts consumer protection law appears to more directly address the requirement that such full refunds be offered than does California consumer protection law. When students go beyond the If a traveler needs to cancel a trip due to reasons specified in the plan, this reimburses non-refundable pre-paid payments. A copy of this pleading is posted on our UPDATES page. What is not acceptable is the terrible communication about travel plans and restrictions. Mr. Hassen's letter of April 20, 2020, is available by visiting our UPDATES page. Other EF tour brands. 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. They should be ashamed of themselves. I have traveled extensively with Expedia, always buy travel insurance, and am covered for any thing, from war to terrorism, to a pandemic. I am a senior citizen and cannot afford that loss or afford to wait any further for the refund. While not happy with that amount I understood. 3. Many are not able to meet those restrictions and need to cancel. This was saddening but completely understandable. Well isn't that what insurance is for??? Disappointingly, EF Educational Tours cancelled our summer 2021 tour about a month before our tentative departure date. 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 Educational Tours reviews 76 G GwenWil30 of Peoria, US Feb 22, 2023 3:34 pm EST Verified customer Fraud I booked a tour in 2022 to Greece through Girl Scouts of America for 2024. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST MARCH 15, 2021. A situation completely out of the control of myself and other 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. Trip Cancellation coverage I am writing to complain about the lack of information regarding a language campus to Dublin I have paid for My 17 Years old son. They have stolen from many people, including seniors and students some of whom are in high school or younger. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST SEPTEMBER 22, 2021. Just don't do it. . Yet I received a check in the mail for $300 before I could talk to someone. A most unsatisfactory and life changing (m for the worse) experience. So they offered vouchers that were only good for up to 18 monthsUP TO 18 MONTHS! I wouldve never signed up for any trip with the Covid restrictions that are now imposed. I will make sure and tell everyone I know not to take these tours. They cancelled it - TWICE! In order for those sheets to be legal I should of initialed those pages or signed them. We also had the unfortunate luck of awful traffic. Dedicated Emergency Service and Incident Response Teams The full amount of the voucher is also transferable to anyone in your family or school community. that compelling itineraries should be full of My oldest son was scheduled to take a school trip to Peru next year. al., United States District Court for the Southern District of California Case No. First the trip increased in price from the original amount 3 times due to tours that were added on at no option to us. They are in trouble financially and that is ok with me!!! Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Thursday her office has reached a settlement with EF tours that resulted in more than $1.4 million in additional refunds for nearly 4,200. This plan includes Trip Interruption coverage. That's all fine and dandy, but we signed up for THIS July. Please Never purchase anything from these scam artists. Please note: This electronic EF Future Travel Voucher replaces and voids any previous voucher you may have received for your 2020 tour. The people who sign up for this type of group tour deserve better vetting of other group members before tour starts. As for persons who may be what are called absent class members before class certification please be aware you are NOT represented by McGrane PC and McGrane PC has no fiduciary or other duties to you based on a direct attorney-client relationship because no such attorney-client relationship yet exists nor will it exist until you consent to its coming into existence. (EF SWISS Immunity Clause). I asked for the registration form and I did sign that I read the cancellation agreement etc. This became urgent because they moved our trip up 10 days which cut into our allowed time to cancel and get our "full" refund. If EF cannot accommodate a revised tour request and/or the group decides not to travel on the original tour, then the group may opt for future travel vouchers. These itineraries are your answer. It was an extremely uncomfortable situation and I had to leave the tour. Still capitalizing from us by refusing to refund the total amount. I want all of my money refunded as it is the right thing to do. v. EF etc. 3:20-cv-00508-gpc-blm stating: "Dear Mr. Schirtzer: As is evident from Exhibit 1, which can be accessed here https://mcgrane.egnyte.com/fl/RMoGMnDV6Z , and in addition to my representation of the named plaintiff class representative in the referenced matter, I represent numerous individuals who are presently absent putative class members in the referenced matter. I would like to reimbursed for being a chaperone. Erin works primarily on ClassAction.orgs newswire, reporting on cases as they happen. 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. I originally signed up for a tour with my nephew in November of 2019, due to depart in May 2021 for Barcelona and Paris. I just felt like it should have been planned better. One of the destinations was an Island called Tortuga. However, EF Tours will override the plan and refuse your refund. Which we were fine with (my nephew and myself). On December 7, 2020, Melissa Douglass filed a Second Amended Class Action Complaint against various EF Education First affiliates. Imagine being in London not able to tour anything because you don't have the proper tour bus that you were promised?? EF Tours was contacted today also and there response was they aren't responsible for the insurance company. Date: Tue, Jun 28, 2022, 9:41 AM Work with EF to modify your groups current tour itinerary and dates, or, Cancel your tour and all travelers will receive a transferable Future Travel Voucher in the amount of all monies paid for the original tour, less the cost of any purchased Travel Protection plan, Cancel your tour with applicable fees under the Standard Cancellation Policy. On February 5, 2021, defendants EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc. (EF Institute), EF Education First International, Ltd. (EF International), and EF Explore America, Inc. (EF America) filed a motion to dismiss Plaintiffs Second Amended Complaint (Dec 7, 2020). Benefits include: Choice of departure date. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST DECEMBER 7, 2020. *$190 is the current cost for tours departing on or after October 1, 2023. Four students are continuously placed in rooms meant for two people. EF Gap Year Call 800-726-9746 to enroll. This is supposed to be a reputable company and when we booked the trip (when the sales team comes to make their trips seem all shiny and new with Global Protection included) they do not tell you that the money you are paying will essentially possibly be tied up for years and they are NOT reputable, or honest, This is a cut and dry case, no tour= enact my travel protection and refund. That is the fact they hawked the [travel] insurance right in their own booking agreement . Would it possible to help US have Better solution? My daughter insisted on being signed up for her school trip in 2020. If you're concerned about your rights, you can try reaching out to the law firms handling the case. Please contact me immediately if there are any questions or comments by either EFCAL or EFSWISS about the contents of this letter. 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. For plans issued in New York, customers can purchase the non-insurance Cancel for Any Reason waiver separately from the rest of the travel protection plan. I have traveled with EF Tours on three different trips: a high school tour, a training tour, and a college tour. What can we do with this company? Provided to all groups departing through September 30, 2022. 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. They simply answered the phone, we provided the tour, dates and names of our family members and paid a deposit for each of us. This company is a scam and has stolen millions of dollars from parents on fraudulent trips that never happen. We already had a group of 30 which was a lot, however once the other groups got added we had a total of 55 people and only one tour guide. I have seen some recent reviews for EF Tours and wanted to share my experiences for those who may consider using this company for a tour. 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. Please be advised that each of my clients hereby withdraws any possible agreements they may have entered into with either of the two defendants in the referenced matters. 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