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Terminating membership with Tradewinds Vacations

AvidHiker

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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
 

goaliedave

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Resorts Owned
Raintree, Diamond (bought by Hilton), Shell (bought by Wyndham), Sheraton (bought by Marriott), Palace Resorts, a few independants
Why do you care if they phone or write you? Just ignore them. Mark the letters return to sender. Block the calls.
 

Carolinian

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BBB complaints accomplish little. Complaints to the Consumer Protection Division of the state Attorney General of the state where they are located might get some serious action.
 

CalGalTraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
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HGVC, MVC Vistana
If you have paid them nothing since 2014, do NOT pay them anything now because it resets the clock on the statute of limitations. Unplug the phone, ignore mail and move on. I am surprised they are still beating you down for $3k.
 

alexadeparis

TUG Review Crew
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Points: Hilton EVEN, Hyatt ODD Annual: WSJ, HRA
law firm is real, just checked the lawyers. It’s possible they just didn’t renew their website. They don’t have anything to do with this It doesn’t seem.
 

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alexadeparis

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
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Points: Hilton EVEN, Hyatt ODD Annual: WSJ, HRA
Corp is an active IL corp but not at that address. If I were you I would follow what others said and continue to ignore.
 

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dioxide45

TUG Review Crew: Expert
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NE Florida
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Marriott Grande Vista
Marriott Harbour Lake
Sheraton Vistana Villages
Club Wyndham CWA
They are probably up against statute of limitations and want to just try to collect anything they can.
 
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