ComplaintsforTravel Resorts Of The Midwest, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  03/31/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  At the end of September 2023, we went to a “tour” in Bloomington, MN about Travel Resorts of America. We were not interested in buying a membership at this time. They continued to ask if we wanted a membership and continually lowered the price. We end up agreeing. We were getting married soon and thought it was a good idea. Fast forward to December. After looking at all finances, we agree that this is not for us and request to cancel. We are told that is impossible. December 26th, I send a letter to Travel Resorts of America claiming that we will not be paying and are cancelling our membership. They continue to take money from my account without my consent. I have sent them the same letter 5 times now. We need to get out of this contract, as it was mostly pressured on us and we have told them several times to stop contacting us. They call either me or my husband at least every week.

  

  Business response

  04/04/2024

  Hello. Please find attached our correspondence regarding your concerns. Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  03/11/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My wife and I attended a meeting, on August 16th, 2023, for Travel Resorts of The Midwest in Bloomington, Mn under the guise of winning a FREE 4-wheel ATV. After listening to *** and his partner talk endlessly about the camping opportunities offered by Travel Resorts, we explained to *** and his partner that we were NOT campers or interested in camping but would like to hear more about the alleged “condos” that were also available. It appeared that sharing with them that we were not campers “fell on deaf ears” as that is all that talked incessantly about. When it came time for them to “close a deal” we were handed a stack of old, obsolete listings for other places “condos” they had available. We reluctantly agreed to try the “condo” program, asked if we could think about the program before finalizing anything and were informed that, “we would have to commit and put a down payment of $460.00 that evening” and “would be contacted by a TRA representative in the near future with further information. (RED FLAG) This is a definite HIGH-PRESSURE SALES SCHEME! We NEVER heard from anyone at Travel Resorts until we called them on November 19, 2023. We explained to Ms. Kari Brookshire that we were EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED with TRA, and their program did NOT meet our needs and wanted to rescind our alleged membership immediately. The only communication we have had with TRA has been via text regarding wanting money. This is a fraud and a means for TRA to take money from prospects duped into their HIGH-PRESSURE SALES practices. We believe TRA is using fraudulent, deceitful and misleading information to lure prospects in purchasing a membership that does NOT exist.

  

  Business response

  03/14/2024

  Hello. Please find our correspondence in response to your concerns attached. Thank you.

  Thank you for your correspondence dated February 4, 2024. First, I would like to share that we received your correspondence on March 11, 2024, and would not like you to think we did not respond by February 14th as you requested purposefully. We would like to address your concerns as communicated. 1. Campers – our memberships accommodate both those members with campers/RV and those without. For our non-camper members, there are multiple ways to utilize this membership through rental units at your permitted resorts. Additionally, there are two affiliate memberships of ***** ** ***** and *** ******. ***** ** ****** although terms and conditions are their own, they offer rental units at various resorts and have through ******* available hotels and condos. The annual renewal of ***** ** ***** is the members responsibility. *** ****** is an affiliate program which Travel Resort of America (TRA) provides you discounts on hotels, condos, cruises, flights, rental cars, etc. 2. Contact – I would like to apologize. We normally make multiple member contacts during the first month of membership. We had a glitch in our system and were not getting our entire list of new members for our New Member Liaison to contact. This was not discovered for a few months. At that time, you and ****** ********** had spoken. 3. Communication 11/19/23 – ****** did share this information with our Member Services dept who reached out to you on November 22nd. We assisted with your log-in information for single sign on. Member Services is available to answer any questions or assist with reservations. Please be advised that all rental units are currently booked through calling ************** or live chatting on our website *********************. We are currently working on making these reservations on-line available. 4. Cancellation – per your contract, your cancellation period is five (5) d

  Customer response

  03/19/2024

   
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Travel Resorts of the Midwest is NOT avoiding the issue!
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ******

  

  Business response

  03/21/2024

  Hello. We believe we have responded to each of your concerns in our previous response. Please clarify the issue you feel was not addressed so that we may respond accordingly. Thank you.

  Customer response

  03/26/2024

   
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: We have made our concerns clearly known, Travel Resorts of America is ignoring our concerns as they have demonstrated by not communicating with us honestly and ethically. This confirms our belief that Travel Resorts of America is NOT interested in resolving this matter.
  
  Sincerely,
  ***** ******

  

  Business response

  04/02/2024

  Hello, please find attached our correspondence regarding your concerns. Thank you.

  Thank you for your correspondence dated March 26, 2024. First, we would like to apologize as we believed we 
  answered all the concerns provided to us. Could you please advise what concerns you have that we have not 
  addressed so that we can do so? 
  It is our goal to make you happy members and assist in getting you and your family on making those travel 
  memories. Reservations assistance is available by calling Member Services at 1-855-332-9541 or our reservation 
  agents at www.travelresorts.com through live chat. 
  Should you have any questions or concern

  Customer response

  04/05/2024

   
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: It is apparent that Travel Resorts of America is continuing their poor business practices by avoiding the issues and deflecting them to us. Simply speaking due to how poorly they conduct business, and unethical business practices and lack of communication we have stated several times WE DO NOT want or interested in working with a company that is unethical, unprofessional and communicates sarcastically to our concerns.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ******

  Customer response

  04/05/2024

  we are NOT satisfied with the business's response, as they have NOT
  addressed the issues, they continue to deflect and not address the issue,
  specifically "RESCINDING ANY ALLEGED MEMBERSHIP WITH TRAVEL RESORTS OF THE
  MIDWEST, LLC"; "WE HAVE NO CONTRACT FROM OR WITH THEM FOR MEMBERSHIP."
  
  We have responded to each and every response they have submitted (even
  though their responses deflected the issues, did not provide a resolution to
  the issues and were demeaning and sarcastic in nature.
  
  I believe providing a reply in the BBB Business Profile as: "Answered - the
  business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer remains
  dissatisfied" is incorrect and provided no safeguards for us or future
  consumers an injustice! Travel Resorts of the Midwest is very
  UNPROFESSIONAL, UNETHICAL, DECEITFUL in their business practices.
  

• Initial Complaint

  02/20/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We belonged to Midwest Motor resorts. We went to Rushmore Shadows as usual. We ended up in a meeting with Travel Resorts of America. We were basically told we were low class from Midwest motor Resorts and if we wanted to continue we would have to buy into a tier at Travel Resorts. We were literally bullied into paying even more on a new tier of a membership we were paid off on. All things promised have not been upheld. We still can not book the weekends we want as they are always running membership scams with the lodges. They are now letting people stay at Rushmore shadows full seasons in campers, they took away the family activities that made the place what it is. I've tried to talk to the membership people. At the very least wanting to cancel our tier up. They send me to billing, billing doesn't pick up. Chat tells me we can't cancel till we pay in full over another 7 grand. Everything promised didn't happen. We are paying for a membership we get to use maybe 5 days a year now. Travel Resorts have been nothing but rude. At this point we would like to cut our losses as Midwest motor resort members and be canceled out of this Travel resort membership losing our access to our beloved Rushmore Shadows, but these people just keep telling us to pay 7000 something and then they will talk. This buisness is horrible, I'm sad for all the friends and families

  

  Business response

  02/22/2024

  Travel Resorts of America
  **** * ****** ****** ******** ****** ** ***** **************
  
  fax ************
  Feb 22, 2024 *********************
  
  ******* and ****** *****
  **** *** **** *
  ********** ** *****
  
  RE: Member # ***********
  
  Dear ******* and ******,
  
  Thank you for your correspondence dated Feb 20, 2024. We would like to address each concern as shared.
  1. Membership - our records indicate that you purchased your membership from Midwest Outdoor
  Resorts on Sept 4, 2014. In Jan 2022, Travel Resorts of the Midwest (TRM) purchased the campgrounds
  and membership benefit fulfilment. Your Lodge Membership was then upgraded with TRM on July 23,
  2022, to a Gold Premier. This upgraded your reservation window to 93 days in advance; and increased
  your membership to include twelve (12) resorts.
  2. Reservations – since your upgrade, there have been 4 reservations booked in 2023 which 3 resulted in
  stays with us due to a cancellation of your vacation in September. You shared that you have not been
  able to book weekends, but we see that all 4 reservations all included weekends where your stays in
  May and June were 5 day stays and Aug for 3 days. Three of these reservations were utilizing your
  increased reservation window of 93 days.
  3. Seasonal Sites – this was a new announcement that we made in November of 2023 for our 2024 season
  which was a member offer for RV sites. There are no seasonal sites for rental units.
  4. Activities – every year activities are scheduled from our resort operations. Activities vary year by year
  depending on availability of staffing or vendors. If you could share what activities you liked, we can
  happily share that information with our resort operations team(s).
  5. Cancellation of Contract – please see below the snippet in your contract regarding the cancellation
  period of five (5) days. We will not be able to provide you any cancellation options until your loan is
  paid in full and maintenance fees are in good standing. Our records indicate that you have an open loan
  and are currently delinquent on your maintenance fees.
  
  Our goal is to retain you as a happy member utilizing your membership to its fullest as intended. Rental
  reservations cannot be done on-line but you can reach us in multiple ways by:
  1. Calling Member Services at **************
  2. Live chatting on our TRA website: ********************* where we have reservation agents available.
  3. Email member support with the resort, date, and type of reservation (i.e. rental unit with occupancy
  requirements or RV site including length of vehicle, amount of slide outs, and amperage requirement) at
  *******************************.
  4. For RV reservations only, you may book reservations through logging into the TRA website (listed above)
  on the member portal to access on-line reservations.
  
  Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at the email address
  *******************************.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  **** **********
  Authorized Representative of Travel Resorts of America

• Initial Complaint

  02/06/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Last year we paid our membership in full plus maintenance fees to make account up to date and requested a cancellation of membership per the exit team at Travel Resorts, and should no longer pay anything. Received a bill for maintenance fees for this year and now told we can’t get out of them unless we upgrade our membership to get an opt out. This was not what we were told last year when we talked to the exit team. Seems like a fraudulent practice when our original membership wasn’t with TRA but Midwest Outdoor Resorts and was sold to TRA, we never signed a contract with TRA. We want out of the maintenance fees.

  

  Business response

  02/06/2024

  Please find our correspondence attached regarding your concerns. Thank you.

  Customer response

  02/07/2024

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******* *******

• Initial Complaint

  10/18/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  9/26/2020 - 60 payments of $155.29 and an annual maintenance fee of ~$450 I have never used their service or stepped foot on their property. Their contract reminds me of a Roach Motel that makes it really enticing and easy to subscribe, but extremely difficult to cancel. They offer NO options for cancellations and unlike any contract, there is typically a way out. Early cancellation fees, etc. I have an auto-pay set up and currently have paid $5,590.44 and I seeking a partial refund. I am agreeable to pay $1863 as a cancellation fee (that is 1 year) and then refund the rest. I have reached out to the Attorney General to assist me (see the attached letter). The company has not even responded to them as of today.

  

  Business response

  10/30/2023

  Hello,

  Please see the attached response.

   

  Thank you

  Customer response

  11/15/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: 

  I will not pay for maintenance fees at a place that I never used. I have paid over $5000 for a facility that I will never use. It seems unfortunately that a business who wants to have a good reputation will not work with me regardless of what the contract states. 

  For a company that has been around for 30 years apparently you are not a reputable organization as it appears. If you were then you would work with me to come up with an offer. Is your CEO ***** ******** willing to do what is right and fair by going above and beyond? Or is the company one without integrity and compassion and grace?

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ******

  

  Business response

  12/05/2023

  Please see attached for my response.

   

  Thank you

• Initial Complaint

  03/14/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My husband and I went to a meeting in 2018 on the premise of a drawing for a side by side. The meeting was essentially a high pressure sales meeting. We originally did not want to purchase but were talked into it stating we would not receive the same offer and discounts if we did not move forward immediately. They pushed high quality vacations and ****** discounts as we had just had a baby in January and thought it seemed too good to be true. They barely went over the paperwork with us and did not inform us of the yearly maintenance fees or the additional costs for coast to coast. We were stunned when we received bills the following year for the fees so we looked back through the paperwork and realized we were not advised, but yes, we did sign for. The meeting was very rushed so of course it is blamed on us for not looking through it thoroughly enough. We have never utilized our membership as we do not even own a camper. We were hoping we could cancel our membership as we have seen others in BBB reviews stating they were able to after paying their maintenance fees. We set up a meeting with travel resorts only to be met by a **** ********* representative who kept talking down to us stating we would be required to pay an additional roughly $**** to cancel. We have paid our membership fees for this year not wanting to get in trouble but we do not utilize this service and cannot afford $**** out of pocket when we have paid for the membership and the fees in full. We quit paying for the additional coast to coast membership as the whole thing is not worth it anymore. Please help us. We no longer want this and feel very misled from the beginning.

  

  Business response

  03/21/2023

  Thank you for this opportunity to respond to your concerns. When you purchased your membership on March 14, 2020, you were provided with copies of your contract. Per your contract, there was a 7-day rescission period in which to fully review your contract and cancel should you decide (*** ******** ******** *******), which has expired.

  As you have stated, upon review of your contract you have found that your annual maintenance fees and annual renewal for your affiliate program are also denoted to in your contract, including your initials next to each item.  The annual renewal for your affiliate program, Coast to Coast, is optional and you are welcome to pay that when you are ready to use it. In addition, you have access to the Ask Roscoe program for additional access to condos, Hotels, cruises, car rentals and so much more, for high quality vacations.
  
  We would, of course, want to keep you as a member and are happy to assist you with booking reservations at your permitted resorts for tent camping this season and getting you back on vacation. You are also welcome to access your Coast to Coast or Ask Roscoe memberships for assistance in booking your next getaway.
  
  Should you desire to further discuss your options for your membership regarding cancellation, we will be happy to reconnect you with your representative. You can reach Member Services at ************.

• Initial Complaint

  02/22/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Sales and Advertising Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My wife and I purchased a lifetime membership in 2018 from ******* ******* ******* (***). The meeting was all about how you, as a member, can camp at any one of their 5 resorts for free for up to XX amount of days. We thought "Wow, that sounds great!" The idea that we buy a membership and no more having to pay rental fees was a very good idea. Then came the talk of maintainence fees. I thought "Oh boy, here we go. Here's the catch." We were told that to keep your membership in good standing and to continue to stay at any of the resorts, we were required to pay the yearly maintenance fees. I and others asked about what happens if we don't pay the fee. We were told that you simply wouldn't be able to stay at any of the resorts unless the fees were paid for that year. We were also told that if you don't pay a year or 2 that it was no big deal and when you wanted to start using the resorts again just pay the maintainence fee for that year. In fact the presenter mentioned a story of a membership couple that stopped coming and paying the fees for 5+ years then started paying the fee and coming back when they retired. We were given the impression that it was a pay for it as you use it type thing. When Covid hit our financial situation changed and camping hand to be sacrificed. We did not pay our maintainence fee thinking we just won't camp for a while until things get better. Then we found that *** was sold and bought by TRA, but our contract is still the same. I am now getting phone calls about paying the fees. I explained that money is tight and we just can't afford it at this time. When things get better, we'll start paying the fee and start using the resorts again just as we were told we could. The person on the phone said that's not how it works and if we don't pay for last year and this year, they will send it to collections. I just want them to own up to what we originally was told we purchased. I have no issues paying the fees when I want to use the services.

  

  Business response

  03/06/2023

  Thank you for this opportunity to respond to your concerns. Per your contract, your maintenance fees for your home park are assessed and due annually. Please see *** ******** ****** **** your contract stating this. What you are describing is the affiliate Coast to Coast membership that allows you to not pay the annual renewal fee if you do not plan to use it, even if it is several years of non-renewal.  We understand there is a lot of information regarding your home resorts and affiliate programs. This is why your contract is very important, as all the information is given to you in writing including the rescission period of 5 business days. Please feel free to contact Member Services at ************, for any questions you may have and assistance to get you back on vacation again.
  
  

• Initial Complaint

  01/25/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  My ex-husband and I started our membership together before we divorced. We used the *** **** resort only twice before we divorced. Now I'm stuck paying the membership "Loan" and annual maintenance fees. I can't afford the membership payments let alone the maintenance fees that were supposed to be only $****** a year and not the nearly ****** it is now. I've talked to several people at Miswest Outdoor resorts and was told I can't get out of the "loan" until it's paid off. I can't get onto my account since they sold the company to see how much of my payments are left. I can't afford to keep paying the loan or maintenance fees. I want out of the contract!

  

  Business response

  01/30/2023

  We currently show your loan current and your maintenance fees past due. Please contact our billing department at ************** to work out payment arrangements.

• Initial Complaint

  11/30/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I purchased a membership in 2008 with ************************. *** was recently sold to Travel Resorts of America. I called to cancel my membership and was told that was impossible and in order to be able to cancel my membership I would have to first purchase a different membership with Travel Resorts for $**** and keep it at least 2 years. I haven't paid my maintenance fee yet this year because I have been trying numerous times to cancel since the sale. I am more than willing to pay my maintenance fee for this year if I can cancel without having to stick more money in.

  

  Business response

  12/30/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 7, 2022/12/05) */ Mr. ****, our Members Services department will be contacting you regarding this issue. We look forward to speaking with you. Consumer Response /* (2000, 12, 2022/12/07) */ (The consumer indicated he/she ACCEPTED the response from the business.) I actually called members services and the agreed upon resolution was to pay the current year's maintenance fees and send in a signed letter asking for cancellation. Once received they agreed to cancel my membership. I did ask for documentation of cancellation but am still waiting to receive that.

• Initial Complaint

  11/03/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Billing Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On June 15th my husband and I signed a membership contract with Midwest Outdoor Resorts. We were rushed through the process and were not given the time to read over anything. We were told that out maintenance fees would be $*** a year. In march of 2022 we get a call from Travel Resorts telling us we needed to attend a meeting. The meeting was just a sales pitch telling us we needed to upgrade and pay $******-$****** to avoid fees going as high as $**** a year or more. We received a bill for $****** for this years fees and it says on the bill if you also pay next years fees now you wont have to pay an addition *** percent increase next year. We were never told that Midwest Outdoor Resorts was being sold. I have tried on several occasions to talk with someone at travel resorts but can never get through, just sit on hold. i want out of this membership. I cannot and will not pay the high fees. I will pay off the contract.

  

  Business response

  12/13/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 8, 2022/11/15) */ Thank you so much for this opportunity to assist you with your questions and concerns. We are sorry to see you go. Once you have paid any balance in full, we will have you sign a mutual release agreement to terminate your membership contract. Please contact Member Services at ************, for further instructions.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩