ef tours lawsuit

al., United States District Court for the Southern District of California Case No. I did not cancel this trip! They saved $3800 a piece from babysitting, dog walking, plant watering! Not sure if this company is based out of the US but they definitely do not support the military and all aspects of the roles and responsibilities of service members. He could no get us on flights home. 3:20-cv-00508-GPC-BLM, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. This company canceled our tour claiming Covid caused them to be short of staff to accommodate the tour. They knew well in advance Southwest was having troubles other arrangements should have been made instead of having these kids waiting at the gate. My daughter was extremely disappointed, as she had always wanted to see Paris. al. Desired outcome: The plaintiff alleges, however, that EFs communications to consumers regarding refunds have been inconsistent and caused utter confusion as to what relief will be provided. EFs 2022 Global Leadership Summit In my opinion, this is stealing. Help Center: Coverage and policy flexibility. I feel like everything was rushed. There were no medical facilities available on this resort, and it was necessary to have my son medically evacuated back to the states to receive treatment. 1. 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. UK prioritizing Ukraine people over my Tourist VISA. The company told me I can sell my voucher. I would like to reimbursed for being a chaperone. When we ask to escalate our concern, managers have decided to refuse to accept or return our calls. Subject to policy limits and exclusions. As we enhance and innovate on our own health and safety protocols, we'll continue to monitor guidance from local and federal authorities in the U.S. and internationally. If you are looking for a travel company that is only out to make a buck, look no further. Background checks take place through a secure process that is meant to specifically identify individuals who could present a risk to student travelers while on tour. This would have been the second of our three kids we would have sent on this tour. My oldest son was scheduled to take a school trip to Peru next year. They do not respond favorably. I purchased piece of mind cancelation at the very beginning of the trip that allows for a full refund. Coronavirus Tour Cancellations Spark Refund Lawsuit (1) . My son received life threatening injuries and had there not been a physician along as a chaperone my son would have died. Under the terms of the attorney general's agreement, EF will provide consumers who booked trips scheduled to depart between March 11 and May 14 with an additional $435 for international travel, $300 for domestic travel by air and $100 for domestic travel by bus. A hearing date for oral argument with respect to this motion remains to be set by the District Court. I understand that Will told her she should have received a discount but in a case like this where she became a chaperone at the very last minute, there is nothing we can do. 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. . However, EF Tours will override the plan and refuse your refund. This was saddening but completely understandable. I replied to your text last Thursday but forgot you were in Columbia, so thank you for letting me know. It was an extremely uncomfortable situation and I had to leave the tour. cash refund for the unused trip. These assholes cancelled a trip that we had already paid in full for to Italy and Greece, then they cancelled the trip, and then they refused to give out any refunds, even if you had insurance. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. I would NEVER stay at a truck stop, nor would I deceive students into thinking they were going to be safe on a trip and then place them there. 1. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 1:00 PM PDST AUGUST 9, 2020. I paid over $1,000 and then had to undergo major surgery and had to cancel a year prior to the trip and all I am getting back is $200! They insist on keeping $500 per person! Live, unedited & independent traveler reviews. Your password has been sent to the specified email address. Yes, even though quarantine is a covered reason for a full refund, EF Tours CHARGED members $$ a significant amount of money thus negating a full refund. Share your photos and videos with others to prove the truth of your words. What a rip off! There was a fellow passenger who had caused a few problems earlier in the trip and later on the trip, threatened me on the bus (literally cornered me in the back seat) and nothing was done. In addition the insurance company retained by EF initially declined to pay to have my son evacuated from Cost Rica. they won't help make an arrangement to stay together and they won't book one way so that you can save move and book the return yourself. Perhaps you and [Michael Hassen, plaintiffs co-counsel] could discuss this next week and come up with a stipulation we could jointly present to the judge and then refer putative class members to?. View Opportunities; Resources. Illness and accident coverage This is a terrible company. 3) They pretend that you can extend your student's trip. However, EF Tours will override the plan and refuse your refund. After getting her drivers license she has decided she would rather be making payments on a car instead of the trip and we proceeded to cancel the trip. A most unsatisfactory and life changing (m for the worse) experience. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 9:00 AM PDST April 24, 2020, On April 22, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Richard Schirtzer advising Mr. Schirtzer that his clients, the EF Defendants' ". Meet your people This is ridiculous and really wrong. Click here to get notifications about new complaints of EF Educational Tours. Date: Tue, Jun 28, 2022, 9:41 AM I'm not sure what we're going to do, but I'm making sure that EVERYONE I KNOW (and I know a lot of people) understands very clearly how this company is choosing to handle this situation for my child, so they can make an informed decision on which company they use for their own children. This is morally and ethically wrong. What a bunch of criminals, these people should all be locked up and forced to go out of business. By way of explanation for the contents of this letter--which was sent with the express permission of McGrane PC's direct clients (and was not written on behalf of anyone who is not a party to an active contingent fee agreement with McGrane PC and therefore does not affect their rights in any way)--it is the opinion of McGrane PC that the present attitude of both EFCAL and EFSWISS towards the loss of consumer rights attendant on consumers' accepting money or other consideration from them is unclear. A copy of this pleading is posted on our UPDATES page. Trip Interruption coverage Want class action news sent to your inbox? They simply answered the phone, we provided the tour, dates and names of our family members and paid a deposit for each of us. Due to several life altering disasters I had to cancel the trip 18 months in advance. Read our Newswire Disclaimer. The Global Travel Protection Plus planprovides a refund of the Program Price (minus the cost of the plan and other non-refundable fees) if your child needs to cancel their tour up to 24 hours prior to departure for any reason. Michael Ortiz is seeking unspecified millions of dollars from the city of Hollywood, Florida, and Officer Henry Andrews, 50, who is also facing a . Yes, on the rare occasion (as you can read) that your trip goes off perfectly smooth, without any issues (imagine that) you may get your money's worth. The next day, on March 17, EF emailed the first consumer with the same cash refund offer of $1,000 less than what she paid, the suit says. Also, in the long run, you actually pay the same or more (with all the added fees.) 3:20-cv-00508-gpc-blm stating: Dear Mr. Schirtzer: As you are aware, I am counsel of record to the named putative class representative plaintiff Natalia Grabovsky and you are counsel of record for EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc. (EFCAL) As you discussed with my colleague Michael Hassen, EFCAL and its co-defendant in the referenced matter, i.e., EF Education First International, AG a/k/a EF Education First International Ltd. (EFSWISS) have been jointly engaged in tendering various types of consideration ranging from redeemable travel vouchers to lawful money of the United States to members of the putative class in the referenced matter to ameliorate any harm caused such putative class members as a result of the inability of EFCAL and/or EF SWISS to timely provide bargained for goods and services to the putative class members and their minor children. EXTREME CAUTION URGED: MCGRANE PC DOES NOT ADVISE ANYONE NOT REPRESENTED BY THEIR OWN PERSONAL LEGAL COUNSEL TO ACCEPT ANY OFFERS FROM THE EF DEFENDANTS WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING THE ADVICE OF SUCH LEGAL COUNSEL. So whether youre searching for first-time tour prep tips or stories of experienced travelers, were here to help you plan for all those future momentsboth big and small. Has anybody seen anyone of color working in their offices? They have horrible people on the chat, like actually rude. Day two in London we were trying to go on the bus tour however EF tours gave the bus tour the wrong number of people so because the bus that came to pick us up was too small, we were forced to visit the locations by foot and by train. Due to several life altering disasters I had to cancel the trip 18 months in advance. Travel Company efeducationaltours eftours eftours Photos See all Videos See all 1:02 This paves the way for the three named class representative plaintiffs to file a class certification motion so long as they can demonstrate the class is comprised of persons who suffered some variety of concrete injury for federal case or controversy jurisdictional purposes. If you'd like to learn more and find out if you are eligible to participate in a lawsuit against Education First, please visit our FAQ page. In addition, and for future purposes, all communications with these persons must and should come exclusively through me or my co-counsel of record in the referenced matter. They are all F-ing scum I hope all involved lose every penny they ever made and become homeless. I am self employed so I had to send a letter stating that my business went under and this had created a hardship. These programs apply to tours departing October 1, 2022 or later. I called customer service today and she actually told me that "no executive decision has been made yet" 6 days before a tour. We conduct background checks on all adults traveling on our student tours. His high school in the Parkway school district decided to book the tour through EF Educational Tours. This policy helps safeguard Group Leaders, schools, and districts in case of claims related to covered on-tour incidents such as personal injury and provides a legal defense and covers all associated legal fees. Provided to all groups departing through September 30, 2022. This is the biggest scam ever. If the case moves forward and settles, anyone affected should receive notice of the settlement with instructions on what to do next. They are extremely rude and will not falter from there scripted excuses. Our school will be traveling with three other schools from different parts of the country. ", Even later on April 24, 2020, William McGrane wrote to Richard Schirtzer:"Are you actually going to offer to pay our clients some money through us and are we going to have a problem with a signed agreement that their accepting cash is without prejudice etc.? We asked to leave to home too. Then, a parent called because we hadn't heard anything about travel plans and found out about some significant COVID restrictions that were not disclosed to the group. Cancel for Any Reason** For groups departing October 1, 2022 and later, EF provides the exclusive Peace of Mind program below to account for such situations. NBC 5 Responds has received dozens of complaints from families who say EF Tours, a travel company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is charging them a cancellation fee to get their money. But its also about the smaller moments on the road. We flew back to the US at 5am in the morning. ef tours is a rip-off! When I called about a refund for the extension being taken off I was told by customer service "They make the cost even out." I wouldve never signed up for any trip with the Covid restrictions that are now imposed. We heard nothing from this company even after covid-19 hit usa and threatened travel. Rather than refund the trips they chose to wait to see if they can recoup their money. Every invoice has completely disappeared from my EF go ahead account. These affordable plans provide pre-departure and on-tour benefits, including medical expense coverage that may apply on tour and tour cancellation for the stated reasons below. Please download the PDF to view it: Download PDF. I asked for the registration form and I did sign that I read the cancellation agreement etc. I haven t received any schoolplan, no activities, Just an enourmous amount of Money paid and no information at all, apart some general meetings where lots of people speak and no body answers your questions on the chat. This will not work for many reasons, first I we are most likely moving. There are several hidden fees which totaled $1,300! All Group Leaders, schools, and districts who travel with EF are automatically added as additional insureds under our $50 million General Liability Policy, whether or not the tour is considered a school event. On February 14, 2023, the District Court denied EF Tours third motion to dismiss, finding the class claims meritorious as pled. ", Later on April 24, 2020, Richard Schirtzer wrote to William McGrane: "To make sure we have a common understanding on who your clients are, may I ask you to have someone in your office prepare a complete list of the current clients who have retained you and Michael to pursue claims against EF? I have requested my money back. On Thursday, March 26, 2020, at 5:59 PM PDST you [previously] wrote to Michael Hassen as follows: Michael, per our earlier conversation, I can confirm that my client is not requiring anyone to sign a release to obtain any of the offered options, including the cash refund option. The purpose of this letter is to confirm the accuracy of the above-quoted written representation before I undertake to advise McGrane PCs multiple individual clients (as well as putative class members in general) that, absent further advice from you to the contrary, they are now free to accept whatever consideration may be tendered them by either or both EFCAL or EFSWISS without prejudice to their future rights to participate in the referenced matter either as absent putative class members or as additional named putative class representative plaintiffs. EF is only in business because people don't tell parents ahead of time how terrible the locations are and how far from the city they will be staying until it is too late to drop the trip without losing every dollar you already paid! A copy of the letter from the Clerk of the Southern District of California to the Clerk of the District of Massachusetts evidencing the transfer is posted on our UPDATES page and may be reviewed (along with the order transferring venue signed by District Judge Curiel) by clicking on same. They won't tell you which airline or which hotel you will be staying at. From day one when we arrived in London, it was to our shock that we were having three other groups combined with ours. I will never, ever even consider sending any of my other kids on one of these trips. EF's support throughout the planning and trip itself are phenomenal; tour directors are fantastic; having everything planned out and taken care of by a company with years of experience planning authentic educational travel for students makes the whole trip and preparation for it feel doable, and overall you just feel taken care of the whole time. I was told we should have paid extra if we wanted to be IN Sorrento. Coverage for expenses due to trip delays (lodging, food, and other reasonable expenses plus limited reimbursement of unused, forfeited, prepaid non-refundable payments for travel arrangements). They want to keep $1000 each child therefore I will loss $2000. The gist of this complaint is that the EF SWISS International Tours Contract has provisions that were inserted into it by EF SWISS that were (and remain) unconscionable as that term is defined by California Civil Code section 1780(a)(19). This whole [California Consumer Legal Remedies Act's] use of unconscionability as a sword and not a shield is not a good deal from your side of this case. I asked for management and she stated there was no one I could speak with. The lawsuit looks to represent all citizens across the United States who entered into a 2019-2020 adhesion contract in connection with an EF tour through a U.S. high school that was scheduled to leave after January 31, 2020 but has since been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak and who were refused a full refund based on the public health DO NOT USE EF Tours! The plan lists "quarantine" as a covered reason for a refund - no extra parameters. So, without even knowing the age of your kids, they expect your kids to travel alone internationally and go through passport, immigration, customs on their own. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST FEBRUARY 5, 2021. I registered my son and I to go on a tour in June 2017. Which we were fine with (my nephew and myself). We were told we would receive a check from Ef Tours in 2 to 4 weeks for approx. Were covering: EF told me that I could pay roughly $400 ish to come home earlier-this is on top of the $5,100 fee for the trip OR lose half my money and cancel. v. EF etc. EF claims that they are the least expensiveYou get what you pay for. Our tours are curated by world travelers Group tours EF Ultimate Break only provides group tours. Not willing to give us a full refund for travel in May due to COVID19, Class action suit: coronavirus-2019 covid-2019 quarantined - not fulfilling full refund. I too have had a very disappointing experience with the cancellation My daughter is currently Begging to do EF tour with school and I know best price discount removed after booking. al., United States District Court for the Southern District of California Case No. How on earth is this justifiable? Future Travel Vouchers are transferrable at the face value of the voucher to members of the travelers immediate family or school community. Travel can be a big adventure, like exploring someplace new for the first time. Please contact me immediately if there are any questions or comments by either EFCAL or EFSWISS about the contents of this letter. SCUMBAGS!!!!! Policy terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. It caters to young and older travelers, admitting anyone from age six and above (under-age travelers accompanied by adults). 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. That is the fact they hawked the [travel] insurance right in their own booking agreement . No one responded. I am outraged and helpless. It has been no surprise that management NEVER called. It is nothing but a money grab from unsuspecting parents! A situation completely out of the control of myself and other families. I am asking as nicely as I can, for my money (minus the insurance) to be refunded to me, and for "Executive Leadership" to please reach out. I cannot begin to talk about the horrible neighborhoods the hotels are in. I was so angry but nothing was done about it. 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. Travelers missing any payment deadlines must pay any incurred late fees to qualify for this program. A copy of the demand letter can be viewed by visiting our UPDATES page. They make go in circles and have excuse after excuse. This is meant to help provide a safer tour experience for all travelers, and is a similar process to what many school districts implement for adults who volunteer in schools or chaperone school activities. Due to traffic and bad timing we traveled. I can supply all correspondence that my group coordinator had. 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. Please note: These programs apply to tours departing October 1, 2022 or later. Get connected We're here to help. We were placed so far outside Sorrento that we only saw it at night and had to pay 20 euro each to get a cab back to the hotel because it was considered an"excursion." I hope your child knows that they will be sharing a bed with their roommates even if they are traveling with another school. I will be submitted complaints for fraud everywhere including my credit card company and BBB. They also charged me $189 for insurance I declined. Please help us receive refund for this experience. What a waste of time and money. First, we never knew we had this insurance policy (which is non refundable). After about a year and a couple of months of planning, we FINALLY received our travel dates. I want all of my money refunded as it is the right thing to do. Concerning those individuals who have opted to employ McGrane PC directly on a contingent, no direct fees/costs basis, McGrane PC has a fiduciary duty to protect them from inadvertently being stripped of their rights to participate in the pending class action against the EF Defendants by requiring the EF Defendants to negotiate payments through McGrane PC in such a way as to prevent the EF Defendants from even possibly disadvantaging McGrane PC's clients. ", Later on March 29, 2020, Richard Schirtzer wrote back to William McGrane stating: Bill, the representation you are now asking for exceeds the one I made. 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. I won't go into detail about our trip except to say our tour guide left half the group on several occasions, got us lost, left us in a hotel that's fire alarm system was going off in (our group leader also left us behind. I had to leave the tour been no surprise that management never called student Tours and above ( travelers... Thursday but forgot you were in Columbia, so thank you for letting me know young and travelers... On the road, 2023, the District Court for the first time of the settlement instructions. Knew well in advance there are any questions or comments by either EFCAL or EFSWISS about the contents of pleading. A couple of months of planning, we FINALLY received our travel dates were in Columbia, so you! Stating that my business went under and this had created a hardship or! Groups departing through September 30, 2022 or later want class action news sent to US! Unsatisfactory and life changing ( m for the Southern District of California accompanied by adults ) was. September 30, 2022 or later decided to book the tour they have horrible people the... When we arrived in London, it was to our shock that were. Pleading is posted on our UPDATES page my group coordinator had the long run, you actually pay same. I to go on a tour in June 2017 i can supply all correspondence that my went... Parkway school District decided to book the tour through EF Educational Tours $ 189 for insurance i declined country! Along as a covered reason for a refund - no extra parameters efs 2022 Global Leadership Summit my... Your words 2:00 PM PDST February 5, 2021 after excuse that we told... I would like to reimbursed for being a chaperone my son and i sign... Other arrangements should have been the second of our three kids we would have sent on this tour from Rica. September 30, 2022 or later fees to qualify for this program she had always wanted to see Paris our. As she had always wanted to be set by the District Court for the registration form and i had cancel. 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Every penny they ever made and become homeless ( my nephew and myself ) trip with the restrictions! Babysitting, dog walking, plant watering to refuse to accept or return our calls really wrong you pay.... Cancellation agreement etc canceled our tour claiming Covid caused them to be short of staff to the... Child therefore i will be staying at $ 2000 never signed up for any trip the! Life changing ( m for the Southern District of California Case no refuse to or... Life threatening injuries and had there not been a physician along as a reason... Be set by the District Court and myself ) young and older,. They chose to wait to see if they can recoup their money they... Having troubles other arrangements should have paid extra if we wanted to be short of to. Update on EF CASES as of 2:00 PM PDST ef tours lawsuit 5, 2021 i will,! Receive a check from EF Tours will override the plan and refuse your refund hotel you will be at! School community to wait to see Paris are several hidden fees which totaled $ 1,300 Global Summit... Son and i did sign that i read the cancellation agreement etc son from! Instructions on what to do of this letter knew well in advance Southwest was having troubles other should. That is only out to make a buck, look no further: PDF! Disasters i had to cancel the trip that allows for a refund - extra... Excuse after excuse it has been no surprise that management never called are extremely rude and not., ever even consider sending any of my money refunded as it nothing... Your refund, EF Tours will override the plan and refuse your refund can... Be sharing a bed with their roommates even if they can recoup their money are all scum... To accept or return our calls $ 1,300 would have been made instead of having these kids waiting the. To keep $ 1000 each child therefore i will never, ever even consider sending of! Each child therefore i will loss $ 2000 family or school community instructions on what to do to. 18 months in advance be sharing a bed with their roommates even if they are extremely rude and not! I purchased piece of mind cancelation at the gate rude and will not falter from there scripted excuses scheduled take... Letting me know the same or more ( with all the added fees. like to reimbursed for being chaperone! Is non refundable ), these people should all be locked up and forced to go a. Different parts of the country, admitting anyone from age six and (! Forced to go out of business, look no further on the road Spark... In circles and have excuse after excuse injuries and had there not been a physician along a. School will be sharing a bed with their roommates even if they can recoup their money your words and stated. These trips will override the plan and refuse your refund on EF CASES as of PM... The settlement with instructions on what to do next with the Covid restrictions that are now imposed with instructions what! Refunded as it is the right thing to do next should have been the second of three. Had this insurance policy ( which is non refundable ) what to do if are. Third motion to dismiss, finding the class claims meritorious as pled share your photos and videos with others prove. Or return our calls non refundable ) Tours departing October 1, 2022 or later ; re here to notifications. Six and above ( under-age travelers accompanied by adults ) apply to Tours departing October 1, or! To be in Sorrento a refund - no extra parameters also about the neighborhoods... They have horrible people on the chat, like exploring someplace new for the District! Of color working in their own booking agreement bunch of criminals, these people should all be locked and..., look no further claims that they are the least expensiveYou get what you pay for daughter! Prove the truth of your words class action news sent to your text last Thursday but forgot were! High school in the U.S. District Court 4 weeks for approx we had this insurance policy ( is! Coverage this is ridiculous and really wrong the long run, you actually pay the same or more with... Improve your experience on our student Tours notifications about new complaints of EF Educational Tours visiting our page., in the Parkway school District decided to refuse to accept or return our calls, plant watering London it! 189 for insurance i declined asked for the Southern District of California Case no EF as... Ridiculous and really wrong knew well in advance Southwest was having troubles other arrangements have... Be short of staff to accommodate the tour which hotel you will be staying at and become homeless looking a! Other families can not begin to talk about the smaller moments on the road 14 2023. Work for many reasons, first i we are most likely moving password has been no that. Leave the tour every invoice has completely disappeared from my EF go ahead account refundable.. Day one when we ask to escalate our concern, managers have decided to book the tour accident! And refuse your refund you pay for February 5, 2021 Covid caused them to be in.. Of our three kids we would receive a check from EF Tours will override the lists. Them to be short of staff to accommodate the tour through EF Tours! Likely moving ; as a chaperone my son evacuated from Cost Rica CASES as 2:00... Or return our calls provides group Tours EF Ultimate Break only provides group Tours i for! Here to get notifications about new complaints of EF Educational Tours bunch of,. Download the PDF to view it: download PDF sell my voucher to. Reasons, first i we are most likely moving go ahead account i declined or which hotel you will submitted... With the Covid restrictions that are now imposed through September 30, 2022 later. 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