Attorney General's News Release

September 22, 2004

Nixon wants restitution for Branson visitors who bought travel club memberships from "The Voyagers"

Ozark, Mo. — A southwest Missouri business that sold travel club memberships for as much as $7,000 to visitors to Branson is under a temporary restraining order to stop it from misrepresenting its services to consumers. Attorney General Jay Nixon obtained the restraining order in Christian County Circuit Court today against Wilderness Point Services Unlimited, which does business as "The Voyagers."

Consumers initially expressed interest in The Voyagers after being promised free vacations, cruises and computers for attending sales presentations. Consumers who complained to the Attorney General's Office said they were told that The Voyagers offered travel benefits at discounts below those offered to the general public.

Nixon is asking for restitution for consumers from Wilderness Point, located at 2005 W. Highway 76, Branson; and owners Thomas W. Hopkins and Sharon D. Hopkins, of 108 Galewood, Branson, for what he says is an ongoing pattern and practice of misrepresentations, fraud and harassment of consumers, including:

• Representing that consumers would receive a week's stay at a Branson condo for $99, in order to induce consumers to purchase a membership. Consumers who bought memberships and then tried to use the condo stay often were told they had lost the right to the stay because they had not used the vacation within a specified period of time.
• Misrepresenting that their prices on air flights were cheaper than those offered to the general public when, in fact, consumers could find cheaper prices through the Internet or without purchasing a travel club membership.
• Failing to cancel memberships upon consumers' requests when the request was made with the three days' right of rescission as noted on the contract.
• Making false promises and misrepresentations by telling consumers that Wilderness Point would sell their timeshares and use the profit made off the sale of the timeshare to finance the purchase of membership in the travel club.
• Avoiding consumers' attempts to communicate complaints by not returning phone calls or replying to letters.
• Making harassing collection calls to consumers after those consumers complained, threatening to refer them to collection agencies and ruin their credit.

Nixon says consumers who complained to his office have lost at least $50,000 to Wilderness Point through the company's misrepresentations.

The temporary restraining order issued by Judge James L. Eiffert finds that the defendants may have violated Missouri consumer laws. The order prohibits the defendants from misrepresenting the savings available to Voyagers members; or collecting, attempting to collect or referring for collection consumers who have attempted to rescind their agreements with 72 hours.

Judge Eiffert has scheduled a hearing date on Nixon's request for a preliminary injunction for Oct. 29 in Taney County Circuit Court.

Consumers who have complaints about travel scams or other consumer issues can e-mail the Attorney General's Office or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818