We purchased a $3000 membership with Tradewinds Vacations (https://tradewindsvacations.net, purportedly in Litchfield, IL) in a high pressure sales pitch in 2011. We used their services once to reserve a hotel room, but we could have done just as well with other online services. I paid the yearly dues of $150 in 2012, but their deals and their programs just did not work for our vacationing needs, so I did not pay dues in 2013 (or any year since) because the contract stated that "If I do not pay my annual membership dues in a given year, all my travel services will be suspended until my dues are brought to a current status." I understood that we would not be able to use our membership or use its services until we came current on our dues, and I accepted that. I felt stupid enough paying them $3150 and did not want to give them more money for a service we had no intention of using.
They continue to call and mail me strongly worded letters imploring me to call them to negotiate a payment to bring current, or close, the account. The most recent letter I got was from Dec 27, 2022, coming from Steve Mann at Corporate Consulting Service, Inc at 415 N. State Street in Litchfield, IL 62056. I did a Google map search on that address and the picture showed an unmarked building between an Allstate office and a law firm with a website that seems to be fictitious: www.hantlalaw.com.
I don't want to pay them anything and am content to let go of the $3150 we already gave them, but I also feel slightly obligated to pay them something because we signed their contract in 2011, but I certainly don't want to pay them 10 years worth of dues. I have found MANY others who reported similar activity about Tradewinds Vacations (and other similar names) and said this is a scam and not to pay. I filed this complaint with the BBB yesterday to see if I could get some closure that way - TBD.
Any advice or experience you have with them would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken
They continue to call and mail me strongly worded letters imploring me to call them to negotiate a payment to bring current, or close, the account. The most recent letter I got was from Dec 27, 2022, coming from Steve Mann at Corporate Consulting Service, Inc at 415 N. State Street in Litchfield, IL 62056. I did a Google map search on that address and the picture showed an unmarked building between an Allstate office and a law firm with a website that seems to be fictitious: www.hantlalaw.com.
I don't want to pay them anything and am content to let go of the $3150 we already gave them, but I also feel slightly obligated to pay them something because we signed their contract in 2011, but I certainly don't want to pay them 10 years worth of dues. I have found MANY others who reported similar activity about Tradewinds Vacations (and other similar names) and said this is a scam and not to pay. I filed this complaint with the BBB yesterday to see if I could get some closure that way - TBD.
Any advice or experience you have with them would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken
