Judge Rules Vacation Company Deceived Customers
DENVER (CBS4)- A judge has ruled that a vacation company deceived customers and must pay back $7 million in penalties and restitution.
Customers paid thousands of dollars to join "Sea to Ski Vacations" also known as "Traditions Travel" and "Vacation Junkies" under the guise they would get deep discounts on their vacations.
The vacation company's owners include Andrew Wunder, Bethany Wunder, Christian Wunder and Stephen Wunder. The judge also prohibited them from owning, managing or operating travel-related businesses again because of their deceptive business practices.
The Colorado Attorney General's Office said the company's deals were no better than any found on popular internet travel sites which makes the company's claims fraudulent.
"Consumers complained that they were told membership in the travel club would entitle them to deep discounts on condos and cruises," said Attorney General John Suthers. "Yet, after paying as much as $9,000 for a membership, the Sea to Ski 'deals' were no better than what the consumer could purchase on popular internet travel sites. We proved that the Wunders were operating a scam," concluded Suthers.