I am out of $4,200.00, what is EF Tours out of??? Account #6297341 Coverage for baggage in cases of theft or delay. Provides benefits related to hospital bills, doctors fees, and medical transportation associated with on-tour illnesses or injuries, as well as travel and accommodation expenses for a family member to be with your child while hospitalized in the event of a life-threatening illness. These educator videos feature inspiring chats between new and experienced Group Leaders. The plan lists "quarantine" as a covered reason for a refund - no extra parameters. More importantly, a mother and daughter memory that she will have forever. steer clear of this scam! Get the latest on closing arguments in the Alex Murdaugh case, charges for a college football star and a settlement over photos taken after a helicopter crash site killed Kobe al. The reviews of the food were always " not enough food and mediocre food". Even with the "Global traveler's protection" insurance I purchased at $165 per traveler, which I paid for both my daughter and I. My first was as a parent going with my 15-year-old along with a group of about 20 kids (from a . EFs unmatched global presence EF never notified the trip leader or travelers of this cancellation. If the group does not travel on the original tour, travel on a revised tour, or receive a Future Travel Voucher, standard cancellation fees will apply. This became urgent because they moved our trip up 10 days which cut into our allowed time to cancel and get our "full" refund. Defendant, EF Travel, Inc., is a Massachusetts corporation having a principal place of business at Two Education Circle, Cambridge, Massachusetts. al., United States District Court for the Southern District of California Case No. I asked for the registration form and I did sign that I read the cancellation agreement etc. On September 8, 2020, and over vigorous objection, federal District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel granted a motion to change venue from the Southern District of California to the District of Massachusetts that had previously been filed by the EF Defendants and set for hearing on September 11, 2020. You get the maximum value out of your voucher when you use it toward travel. We will incorporate new procedures where appropriate as part of the comprehensive safety measures that are standard on every EF tour. 3) They pretend that you can extend your student's trip. 3. (Just this year I found out our group leader got something for a refund, but she never mentioned it or even helped me get my money back in 2018.thanks for that.) No one responded. Is this your company? Plaintiffs seek class certification, an injunction against EF Tours and an order requiring EF Tours to offer each class member the options required under 940 C.M.R. This company is a scam. If a traveler needs to interrupt a tour due to serious injury or illness, this provides a benefit. We had to accept them. 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. They are basically stealing our money and find this to be okay. My daughter wanted to go with members of her class on this great trip with EF tours. When we called to cancel, they refuse to give us our full refund and claim to keep $500 despite their poor communication, COVID restrictions, and the paid insurance plan which has turned out to be a scam too. However, EF Tours will override the plan and refuse your refund. Has anybody been to the office of EF? Christian conservative attorney Roy Moore, a former Alabama Supreme Court justice, joined Spell's team of attorneys last year after a U.S. district judge dismissed his lawsuit in Baton Rouge . 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. Just don't use them. DO NOT USE EF Tours! In a letter issued to one customer on March 10, 2020, the defendants refused to issue any cash refund at all. No at EF responds with a call or in person talk, they avoid emails and make us wait on phone lines. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 1:00 PM PDST AUGUST 9, 2020. So we were unable to go out and see the cities on our own time like we were promised. Customer service is the WORST! We asked to leave to home too. Future Travel Vouchers are transferrable at the face value of the voucher to members of the travelers immediate family or school community. My family and I scheduled a tour with ef educational tours. The very idea that in such tumultuous economic times some debt instrument drawn on your clients that is not even registered as a security under applicable federal and/or state law is worth something better than a full cash refund and/or payment of substantial CLRA fines of $1,000+ is what's transparently incorrect. 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. The Future Travel Voucher is not a merchandise credit or a gift certificate and may not be redeemed for cash unless specifically noted on the voucher. Erin works primarily on ClassAction.orgs newswire, reporting on cases as they happen. It was an extremely uncomfortable situation and I had to leave the tour. Trip delay coverage If so, I'd like to know.". ef tours is a rip-off! COVID-19 required everybody to be quarantined. If you booked a trip like this as an adult, you would scream from the rooftops for a refund but since these are kids, apparently EF doesn't have to listen because there will be another crop of unsuspecting students waiting to go next year. However, I was never allowed to speak with management. They have tarnished their reputation and people are not as comfortable traveling with them anymore. Desired outcome: Hence the lawsuit (in CA 2020, look it up). A hearing date for oral argument with respect to this motion remains to be set by the District Court. al. lawsuit against Defendants EF Education First International, Ltd. ("EF International"), EF Institute . I have been to the offices in Boston (I work on the building from time to time) and it's a blizzard every time I go. The number of travelers in each group is capped at 14-38, and small group tours only . He could no get us on flights home. 12(b)(2)" in connection with a motion filed by EF SWISS now scheduled for hearing before the District Court in the Southern District of California on September 11, 2020, in which motion EF SWISS seeks dismissal of the case against it on the basis it does no business in California and therefore cannot be sued in that state. This program is automatically included for all travelers and can be enacted at the group level for any reason, including terrorism, pandemics, or other world events. Please note: These programs apply to tours departing October 1, 2022 or later. I could honestly go on for 10 pages about the terrible food and the fact that you will only be given warm milk, cereal, coffee and last night's rolls for breakfast every day! the unforeseen. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST DECEMBER 7, 2020. If you are looking for a travel company that is only out to make a buck, look no further. If the revised tour has a higher price than the original tour, travelers will be required to pay the difference as a condition of traveling on the revised tour. Provides benefits related to hospital bills, doctors fees, and medical transportation associated with on-tour illnesses or injuries, as well as travel and accommodation expenses for a family member to be with your child while hospitalized in the event of a life-threatening illness. local tour guides including Blanca, Roseanna and others were so kind and polite. 3:20-cv-00508-GPC-BLM, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. This browser does not support PDFs. Plus, the staff in each office and school are trained to respond to a wide range of emergency situations. After only 3 days on tour Israel kicked everyone out because of Covid. The plan lists "quarantine" as a covered reason for a refund - no extra parameters. Live, unedited & independent traveler reviews. and subject matter experts who understand -Sandra Joubarani. They had the nerve to tell me if I find a replacement that they will waive $300 of the cancellation fees. Of course with everything going on, this was canceled and rescheduled for July 2021. 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. (This allows us to partially cover costs related to non-recoverable payments to our suppliers our staff and the investment we have always made and continue to make in itinerary date and destination flexibility.). EF College Study Call 877-485-4184 to enroll. 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). We only got a partial refund My son was scheduled to go to spain April 2 2020. McGrane PC. 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. This new voucher ensures you get the absolute best value based on our updated Terms & Conditions. 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. There are several hidden fees which totaled $1,300! Not only did I make a complaint to the Better Business Bureau but I also requested that a manager call me and I have yet to hear from anyone. and the kind of learning that prepares students for the future and I have traveled with EF Tours on three different trips: a high school tour, a training tour, and a college tour. They also facilitate communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency at home. Avoid at all costs! I signed on in 201920 when no restrictions were in force. The lawsuit looks to represent allcitizens 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 emergency clause. A situation completely out of the control of myself and other families. Hands-on experiences and collaborations with experts in the field. Desired outcome: UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 2:00 PM PDST OCTOBER 23, 2020. As a working class family that was attempting to give our child a wonder experience, I am outraged that a company would gain such a profit off of a cancellation! I sent the letter and will contact them again Monday to try and get answers. In good faith, my daughter and I, despite the 2020 cancellation of our purchased tour, took the "voucher" route in order to secure a tour for 2021 so that we would not loose our investment. Have had 2 separate travel experiences with EF. They simply answered the phone, we provided the tour, dates and names of our family members and paid a deposit for each of us. 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. By using this website you agree to our Cookies Policy. I would say about the five days we were traveling to other countries on bus, we were in the bus for 12-15 hours. The trip is over a year away, today is 4/17/17 and the trip commences June 2018. Spring break trip with the school for my two boys to go to Greece and Italy this year. EF Educational Tours 159 reviews Unclaimed Historical Tours, Walking Tours, Travel Services Edit Closed 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM See hours See all 49 photos Write a review Add photo " chaperone for a high school senior trip to London, Paris and Barcelona. This is a class action lawsuit for monetary and equitable relief arising out of Defendants' . Wife and daughter were planning to go on a trip to Italy in over a year. I didn't think sharing was a big deal until I found out that he's expected to share a ben with a complete stranger. 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. Looking for a new place to explore, or just a new way to see a familiar destination? I was super excited to go experience 6 countries however from day one everything seemed to go wrong. Its a joke. their futures. Coverage for baggage in cases of theft or delay. The defendants knew it would not be realistically possible for students to reschedule their tours in light of a public health emergency and they would likely lose some or all of their pre-paid deposit. It has been no surprise that management NEVER called. Look at all the one star reviews. My son is Flying with a Flight from Malpensa and he has to arrive at 3 am in the night to the Airport and apart from On December 7, 2020, Melissa Douglass filed a Second Amended Class Action Complaint against various EF Education First affiliates. Why is no one investigating them for fraudulent business practices, deceptive practices, false advertisement, etc, etc, etc?? 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' ". Nonrefundable fees are outlined in EFs Booking Conditions. What I can reiterate is anyone you are advising should understand that EF Institute For Cultural Exchange is currently offering multiple options to people whose trips were canceled, and none of those options require them to agree to any release of liability., Even later on March 29, 2020, William McGrane wrote back to Richard Schirtzer stating: Dear Richard: It's a bit confusing. Flights had been re-booked. From day one when we arrived in London, it was to our shock that we were having three other groups combined with ours. EF Tours was contacted today also and there response was they aren't responsible for the insurance company. She was more worried about herself and her family I guess. My mom is part of a tour departing for a 10 day trip to Europe. My son received life threatening injuries and had there not been a physician along as a chaperone my son would have died. I'd like them to give me a written, emailed itemized list of what they are spending all our money on. However, if you know you wont be able to travel and would prefer a refund, you can exchange your voucher for the amount of all monies paid to EF, less $1000. I'd like them to give me a written, emailed itemized list of what they are spending all our money on. Sadly, this was not the case. EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc. - Class Action Lawsuits . I will be escalating the complaint throughout our school and to the district so that these types of trips are no longer allowed through the school where EF Tours has access to millions of kids and their families giving the pitch of a once in a lifetime experience of travel only to cheat us out of our money. Group tours only relief arising out of Defendants & # x27 ; just a new place explore. 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