Refunds to be issued in Vacation Station settlement

ATLANTA (WTOC) - The Governor's Office of Consumer Protection announced Thursday that it has reached a settlement with Vacation Station LLC, which also did business as CTA Vacations and its principals, Randy Gardner and Joseph Shirley.

Vacation Station has been selling memberships ranging from $3,000 to $8,000 in Atlanta, Brunswick and Savannah since December 2010.

An investigation by the Governor's Office of Consumer Protection found that the company mailed promotional material to consumers promising free roundtrip airline tickets in exchange for attending a sales presentation about travel club membership.

After attending the presentation, consumers found out they had to pay in order to get the free airline tickets, according to the consumer protection office.

The Vacation Station was operating as an unlicensed buying club and that it refused to honor consumers' requests to cancel memberships and get refunds, according to the consumer protection office.

Under the settlement, Vacation Station is required to refund consumers and pay a $100,000.00 civil penalty.

An estimated $90,000 will be paid to consumers who have already filed complaints with Governor's Office of Consumer Protection.

Consumers who are not happy with the company's services, but have not yet submitted complaints may be eligible to full or partial refunds, according to the consumer protection office.

According to the Governor's Office of Consumer Protection news release, Vacation Station is required to cancel vacation travel club contracts and issue full refunds to these consumers:

Consumers who signed a membership contract with Vacation Station in Georgia between Dec. 1, 2010 and Feb. 15, 2012; and did not buy travel services from Vacation Station from the date their membership contract was executed through Feb. 15, 2012; and requested refunds between Feb. 15, 2012 through Aug. 15, 2012 through by submitting a written request for a refund or cancellation to Vacation Station or to the Governor's Office of Consumer Protection.

Vacation Station is required to cancel the vacation travel club contracts and refund half of the full membership contract price to:

Consumers who signed a membership contract with Vacation Station in Georgia between Dec. 1, 2010 and Feb. 15, 2012; and who purchased travel services from Vacation Station from the date their membership contract was executed through Feb. 15, 2012; and requested refunds between Feb. 15, 2012 through Aug. 15, 2012 by submitting a written request for a refund or cancellation to Vacation Station or to the Governor's Office of Consumer Protection.

For more information call Bill Cloud at the Governor's Office of Consumer Protection at 404.656.3790.

TO SUBMIT REFUND REQUESTS

Requests for refunds must be postmarked by Aug. 15, 2012. Any requests that are postmarked after that date are not going to be considered.

Each request is going to be reviewed. Those not eligible for a refund will be contacted.

Consumers who are eligible for a refund will be mailed a check once all refund requests have been received and evaluated.

Written requests for refunds can be submitted to Vacation Station's attorney or the Governor's Office of Consumer Protection:

David N. Levine, Esquire
6400 Powers Ferry Rd., Suite 220
Atlanta, GA 30339

Governor's Office of Consumer Protection
Attn:  Vacation Station Refund Requests
2 M.L. King Jr. Dr., Suite 356
Atlanta, GA  30334

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