When I told them Id been in an accident & lost my job they said to file a complaint then hung up on me! This plan includes Trip Cancellation coverage. Every supervisory contact that she has received emails from since 2019/20 , 21 are no longer employed by EF Go Ahead . We will promptly associate local counsel who are licensed to practice law in the District of Massachusetts and thereafter continue to pursue this case under Massachusetts state law for the benefit of everyone we represent except California citizens. Hence the lawsuit (in CA 2020, look it up). Find out more details today at 1-800-438-7672. Imagine being in London not able to tour anything because you don't have the proper tour bus that you were promised?? A freaky feel to it. Our only hope now is that our kids have a great time with their class. This complaint was posted by a verified customer. This has happened all over the US and people are not standing down. These programs apply to tours departing October 1, 2022 or later. The Education First Tour Class Action Lawsuit is Grabovsky v. EF Institute for Cultural Exchange Inc., et al., Case No. UK prioritizing Ukraine people over my Tourist VISA. The reviews of the food were always " not enough food and mediocre food". al. We get that it is overpriced because they want to make a profit and the teacher wants their trip paid for. 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. There are several hidden fees which totaled $1,300! SCUMBAGS!!!!! "Russia is at war with Ukraine, the UK is prioritizing Ukraine visas over every other VISA on humanitarian grounds. Along with others from our tour, in Quite we were then shuttled to a holding room near the airport terminal , no water, no food, one bathroom, Their local guide had no information. 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. 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. They are all F-ing scum I hope all involved lose every penny they ever made and become homeless. Look at all the one star reviews. 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. To purchase this plan, please call 800-665-5364 to speak with one of our Traveler Support Specialists. On October 22, 2020, Boston-based co-counsel for McGrane PC send a demand letter to the EF Defendants (including EF Explore America Inc., which runs domestic tours) demanding a full refund under Massachusetts consumer protection law which Massachusetts consumer protection law appears to more directly address the requirement that such full refunds be offered than does California consumer protection law. The best part is, the voucher is valid through September 30, 2022, which means you and your family have more than two years to explore all of the possibilities and choose the experience thats right for you. I don't even know how it is legal to have these moron bastards do business. Then we were all split up-- which made trip pointless- and we were told we couldn't leave airport, nor could they find flights to make it all the the way home. We had to accept them. Illness and accident coverage EF Ultimate Break Enroll online or call 800-766-2645. 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. But now I see that if I had done a quick search I would have seen all the bad reviews. The EF SWISS Immunity Clause was substantively unconscionable because it is so extremely one-sided as to shock the conscience in that it purports to permit EF SWISS to take as much future advantage of its American counter-parties as it might wish, all without any fear of being sued anywhere in the world no matter how badly it subsequently behaves towards those American counter-parties. 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! . The Global Travel Protection plan includes insured components that are underwritten by US Fire Insurance Company and cancellation fee waivers provided by EF Educational Tours. ", UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 1:30 PM PDST April 23, 2020. Just don't use them. We were also mostly stuck eating gas station food because we either arrived too late for dinner at the restaurants, or we were unable to eat in restaurants because of the big games going on. Just don't do it. 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). If a traveler needs to cancel a trip due to reasons specified in the plan, this reimburses non-refundable pre-paid payments. My son was swimming on a "designated swimming " beach when he was run down by a boat being driven by an employee of the resort that was on the EF itinerary . Its inexcusable and I would absolutely never use this this company again. This browser does not support PDFs. Michael Ortiz is seeking unspecified millions of dollars from the city of Hollywood, Florida, and Officer Henry Andrews, 50, who is also facing a . When I told them that nowhere in their cancellation policy where the egregious fees stated they said Well thats what they are now While not happy with that amount I understood. 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. However, the problem has wider implications for your clients. 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. Wife and daughter were planning to go on a trip to Italy in over a year. They are basically stealing our money and find this to be okay. From: Emilia Hovestadt I was asked by our group leader to be a chaperone several days prior to leaving for our trip. Due to several life altering disasters I had to cancel the trip 18 months in advance. This is a terrible company. For additional details regarding the insurance components of this plan, underwritten by US Fire Insurance Company, including coverage limits and a full list of exclusions, please visit this page. 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. Liability Coverage. Spring break trip with the school for my two boys to go to Greece and Italy this year. Joining the EF family means youll have the support of our community of educators, tour architects, operations wizards, and ever-curious explorers. This whole company should be shut down. I was told to call EF to see what my options are. 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. My daughter insisted on being signed up for her school trip in 2020. Location & Hours They cancelled it - TWICE! This plan includes Trip Interruption coverage. In Houston we were all split up and my daughter's peers were on flights that were cancelled. 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. It seemed cool at the time however most countries either had the shops and food places shut down early or be completely closed due to the big games. What I didn't understand was the fact that they also charged $155 for some type of insurance (which is not apart of their cancellation fees). Which we were fine with (my nephew and myself). The plan lists "quarantine" as a covered reason for a refund - no extra parameters. 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. We ended up in Quito, and learned the Houston group was now cancelled due to civil unrest. Dedicated Tour Director. 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. I would like to reimbursed for being a chaperone. 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. Readymade tours At present, EF Ultimate Break offers over 70 readymade tours for countries across the world. 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. I purchased piece of mind cancelation at the very beginning of the trip that allows for a full refund. *$190 is the current cost for tours departing on or after October 1, 2023. Read those reviews. Benefits include: Choice of departure date. EF Educational Tours is keeping $700.00 as a cancellation fee. So, no refund. 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. Please Never purchase anything from these scam artists. Subject to policy limits and exclusions. They even bragged later about being the first one's out on the street), the food SUCKED, and the time spent on the buses was more time spent in the actual locations. 15.06(1 . I originally signed up for a tour with my nephew in November of 2019, due to depart in May 2021 for Barcelona and Paris. We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. UPDATE ON EF CASES AS OF 1:00 PM PDST AUGUST 9, 2020. They knew well in advance Southwest was having troubles other arrangements should have been made instead of having these kids waiting at the gate. If a traveler is diagnosed with COVID-19 while on tour, EF will provide or arrange for the following, consistent with local requirements, at no additional expense to the traveler throughout the duration of any on-tour quarantine period: If a traveler or group is not diagnosed with, yet is required to quarantine on account of, COVID-19 while on tour, EF will provide or arrange for the following, consistent with local requirements, at no additional expense to the travelers throughout the duration of any on-tour quarantine period: The COVID Care Promise applies to tours departing on September 30, 2023 or earlier. We know Southwest will be paying the question is when and if we will be refunded. this absurdity not previously announced 321. Never again. There are so many good tour companies out there, you would be wasting valuable time and money booking with this one. And, this hotel was a truck stop on the M1. When we ask to escalate our concern, managers have decided to refuse to accept or return our calls. Meet your people We're within 95 days of the trip so I'm not even sure I can get a refund, but if he wants his own room it's almost $1000 extra. If a traveler needs to interrupt a tour due to serious injury or illness, this provides a benefit. My daughter's peers in Houston were sent home. 2. My son received life threatening injuries and had there not been a physician along as a chaperone my son would have died. Four girls were placed in a room with one queen sized bed and two twin mattresses on the floor in London. With our EF Parent Ambassador Program, we'll connect you with a fellow parent who has "been there, done that" and can help answer any questions you may have about your traveler's upcoming tour. Best Day Ever: Tokyo I feel like everything was rushed. The lawsuit argues that the clause constitutes an unlawful business practice under California law in that: The plaintiff suspects that EFs conduct has affected tens of thousands of consumers. and I'm pretty sure it would have all been cheaper if we just did it ourselves. We were told there was no where we could go. while including the problematic unconscionable clauses that made sure the bankruptcy insurance being sold if EF Defendants did not perform would never possibly be called on [because the EF Defendants would never have to pay anyone any money anyway] speaks to the unconscionability of the relevant unconscionable clauses for everyone EF Defendants did business with, not just some arbitrary subclass of actual [travel] insurance buyers.Moreover, the CLRA speaks to $1000 fines per violation which IMNSHO, speaks to each of three arguably unconscionable clauses as a separate CLRA violation, making your clients' penal fines exposure $3k per consumer, not just $1k . 16 years' experience in successful complaint resolution, Each complaint is handled individually by highly qualified experts, Last but not least, all our services are absolutely free. Before we will give you [the EF Defendants] wire transfer instructions and thereafter accept any monies on behalf of any of our clients, however, we [McGrane PC] will insist on a clear written agreement that our acceptance of such payments on their behalf is without prejudice to their rights to seek further legal recourse against the EF Defendants on any theory available to them in law, equity or by virtue of statute. Has anybody seen anyone of color working in their offices? Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced Thursday her office has reached a settlement with EF tours that resulted in more than $1.4 million in additional refunds for nearly 4,200. RIP OFF!! EF Educational Tours Call 800-665-5364 to enroll. On May 1st I lost my job and we immediately contacted Ef Tours to cancel. I registered my son and I to go on a tour in June 2017. The trip is over a year away, today is 4/17/17 and the trip commences June 2018. . Travelers must pay in full or enroll in our Automatic Payment Plan at the time of program enrollment and must remain either paid in full or enrolled in our Automatic Payment Plan and in good financial standing at the time of cancellation to remain eligible. ", 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. He could no get us on flights home. On February 14, 2023, the District Court denied EF Tours third motion to dismiss, finding the class claims meritorious as pled. Recently I was notified by EF Tours that my child was cancelled from the tour after paying off almost whole trip price. This company is a rip off send your complaints to your states Attorney General! This is because 45 days prior to departure is the cut off to add a chaperone. If you wanted a refund, there was a fee. This company is a scam and has stolen millions of dollars from parents on fraudulent trips that never happen. I was told by the EF Tours representative that he could room with boys from other schools or upgrade (at an additional $90 per night!) These itineraries are your answer. release my refund and return $500 cancelation fee. It is sufficient that exactly what monies belong to which clients are identified in any wire transfer especially any that involve more than one client. I trusted my kid's school to pick a good company. On August 9, 2020, William McGrane filed and served a "PLAINTIFFS SUR-REPLY TO DEFENDANT EF EDUCATION FIRST INTERNATIONAL, AGS MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION UNDER F.R.C.P. Filed against EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc. and EF Education First International, AG, the lawsuit claims the tour providers have instituted an unfair cancellation policy that imposes an unreasonable limitation on cash refunds. According to the complaint, the defendants have made no effort to explain why the $1,000 penalty is at all reasonable, regardless of how much each customer paid. View Opportunities; Resources. This plan includes coverages that can provide a benefit in the unlikely event a traveler should need to return home unexpectedly due to a natural disaster or unrest. Paid full price with insurance.The trip coordinator was a personal friend Mary Pope. Many are not able to meet those restrictions and need to cancel. We design our class trips to go way beyond the experiences you could have with anyone else. No materials from this website may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way. HOW CAN THIS BE LEGAL??? Their solution is to book another tour to avoid losing money. Be paying the question is when and if we will be paying the question is and. The District Court denied EF tours to cancel the trip is over a year away today... 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