15.5K views
22 comments
stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
1.0

Both Travelers Advantage and Shoppers Advantage are an utter scam. I booked a flight on Allegiant Air and was told that I could get a $50 rebate from my flight, and since it looked like it was coming from the Allegiant website itself, I figured it was legit. I called the number in August and went through the process. I was slightly uncomfortable since it is one of those programs where you sign up and have to cancel within 30 days or they start charging you, but I marked the date on my calendar to cancel within plenty of time. However, weeks passed and I never even got my introductory packet in the mail so I could even submit my claim for my rebate. I called Travelers Advantage and they apologized, gave me an extra 30-day extension and promised that my rebate package was on the way. I finally received the information and immediately submitted my rebate claim. However, as it neared the time when I had reminded myself to call again and cancel, I still had not heard anything back. I called once more and was told that it takes 6-8 weeks to process rebate claims, AND you have to still be an active member for you to receive it. I said in that case, I want to cancel because I do not want to pay for a service that I am not using. They assured me that I still had until Oct. 8 for free. This confused me, because it did not fit into the timeline I had noted, so I double checked, but the person on the phone said yes, I am covered through that date. So this week, on Oct. 6, I STILL had not received my rebates, and called once more. All I got was yet another high-pressure sales guy talking up all the benefits of the program and that it takes 6-8 weeks for it to process and blah, blah, blah, more benefits and so he's going to keep my membership active. I said no, I do not want to pay for something I am not using or getting any benefit from, which just prompted him to go into yet another sales pitch, ending with him saying once again that he would be keeping my membership active. I asked, "For free?" and he said no, it costs $16.99 a month "but pays for itself," which is ***. I then insisted that he cancel my membership and finally he did and I got a cancellation number, which thankfully I wrote down.

However, today I looked at my credit card statement and discovered not one but TWO charges for $16.99, one from Oct. 7, the day after I had called to cancel, and also one from September, after I had called to check the status on everything and was assured that I was covered through Oct. 8. I immediately called and was quite angry about the situation. I gave them my cancellation number, and the woman said that yes, it had been canceled and I'd only ever been charged the $1 start-up cost. She had me read off of what it said on my statement, and only THEN did I learn that when I had initially called, they had also stealthily signed me up for their sister company, SHOPPER'S Advantage as well, and THAT is where those charges were coming from. Note that I NEVER EVER have received ANYTHING in the mail from this Shopper's Advantage, so I didn't even know they EXISTED, never mind that I was signed up for them and they were separate from Travelers Advantage. I got their number and was transferred there, explained the whole situation and demanded to have my supposed membership cancelled and my money refunded. Just as with Travelers Advantage, the person launches into a big spiel about all the "benefits" of the club and how it "pays for itself" and all of that. I finally had to interrupt and flat out say, no. I don't want it. I don't have the money for it, I've gone back to school and have to make every cent count, and I never wanted to be signed up for this to begin with. Finally she said she would cancel it but that she could not give me my money back. Again I said no, that does not work, I am not going to pay for this. She said she did not have the authority to do that, so I asked to talk to someone else who DOES have the authority. At that point she said she would submit a request for a refund and I said fine, but I still wanted to talk to a supervisor to make sure it actually happened. She gave me a cancellation number and then said that she had submitted a refund request and said that it was approved, so today it's processing that I'll have a $16.99 refund. I asked if that's for one or both of the charges and she said it was for one charge. I told her no, I want a refund for both charges, especially since I have never ONCE received any information from them, so I wouldn't have been able to use this "membership" even had I known about it and wanted to, and I still wanted to talk to a supervisor. Finally she said that now both charges have been approved and processed and I should receive the money back in my account within 7 business days. We shall see. I definitely will be closely monitoring my statement and am keeping that cancellation number close.

It is utterly unacceptable that these "businesses" can get away with sleazy practices like this. Even being a responsible consumer who called numerous times -- on time, plenty before the dates when charges were to begin -- I still got taken. Stay away!!

Location: Saint Petersburg, Florida

Do You Have Something To Say ?
Write a review

Comments

chat-icon

Please avoid publishing any personal information and promotional content

You will be automatically registered on our site. Username and password will be sent to you via email.
Post Comment
Guest

In early August. 2016, I bought two Allegiant Air tickets and each was followed by an "opportunity for a $40 rebate".

I clicked on it and was prompted to call an 800 number.

I called and the rep offered a membership to receive multiple discounts from multiple companies. The rep said they needed a credit card and would charge .99 cents to confirm the card was valid. I would be able to take advantage of this membership trial for 30 days with no additional cost.

After 30 days, my card would be charged $16 per month unless I cancelled before the 30th day.

The rep took my mailing address and said I would receive necessary paperwork to fill out and redeem the $80 rebate.

It has been 19 days and I have not received rebate paperwork.

Benefit of the doubt in mind says mistakes on their end concerning my address were made. My spirit tells me this company does not have the customer at the forefront of their concern.

I called Allegiant for this company's phone number and it is either Travelers Advantage or Great Fun that will provide the "opportunity" to you.

These are the numbers to cancel: Travelers Advantage 855-444**** Great Fun 800-678-**** I will be calling Great Fun to cancel the membership and attempt to receive the rebate paperwork. Good luck to all of us.

Guest

This program works just like the travelers advantage program except the rebates are of different values sometimes.

All u have to do is cancell THE DAY you receive your membership materials and u still get the rebate CHECK MAILED to u people.

It's easy. Yes u pay $1. If you FAIL to cancel within 30 days of receiving your membership materials then you get charged $16.99/month until you call to cancel. Don't knock something you failed to understand the terms to.

Many people myself included have used this system many times just to get the rebate check. I've always canceled and never been charged the monthly fee. The rebate check still came. I bought tickets again a year later and signed up again and did the same thing.

Planning on doing the same thing for my summer trip next year too. Saves me $50 each time plus sometimes I find deals through their website. Not much though.

Funny how the people claiming that Great Fun is a scam are the ones that did not pay attention to what was being said to them over the phone and how it works.

To get your rebate, you have to call a # during which they will tell you the terms to which you are agreeing - a 30-day free trial IF you cancel at the end of the 30 days, otherwise people you WILL BE BILLED. Your fault for forgetting to cancel or not realizing you signed up for anything! They will also try to sell you a second membership into some shoppers club for another $1. Just decline that one.

Simple.

Wait for your membership materials to be emailed to you (about a week). Create an account on the Great Fun site at that time and print/mail your rebate form with receipt. Make sure to cancel within your 30 days! You do not have to wait until you receive your rebate check to do so, otherwise you're going to be well beyond the 30 days most likely.

I received my $30 Ticketmaster check in the mail about a week after cancelling.

I also used a rebate form for movie tickets that I submitted before I cancelled - I've received that $15 check as well. A few days before cancelling, I also mailed in a restaurant rebate with receipt so still waiting on that $10 check. All in all, they will have paid me $55 and all I've paid is the $1 membership join fee to start the 30-day trial. Worked for me!

Again, those that are complaining are the ones that did not understand exactly how the program worked and therefore there is no one to blame but yourself. Don't call Great Fun a scam if you forgot to cancel, or didn't wait for your membership materials before cancelling, or didn't print out and mail your rebate form within the allotted time, or didn't include your receipt, etc.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1175164

I bought tickets and I was told I would get a rebate back 50$. Iam still waiting , and there is nobody to get ahold of?

The 1st time it went like clock work . iam trying to find a phone# or something?

Guest

Same here. It seemed pretty obvious to me that it was *** when they showed me "hey you can get a rebate, all you have to do is call this number... There are some conditions, but hey don't worry about those."

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1160440

Sign up and cancel the day you get the materials and you'll only pay the trial fee

Zero risk

They will ask for your credit card to enroll if you give it twice you get charged twice .

If you only give it once that means you are only signed up for one program.

You can cancel online but they will tell you to call.

Guest

THANK YOU FOR YOUR POSTS! I got the same offer and decided to google it before submitting.

Thanks to all of you I've been saved this nightmare! Bless you!

Guest

Did you have to give your credit card or debit card number in order for them to do this to you? Or did they have all this information from Allegiant?

I ask because I called for my $40 rebate and the woman tried to upgrade me for $1 to get a $50 rebate. I told her twice that I did not want to sign up for this and she just abruptly hung up on me.

This had me a little worried. But I never gave her my credit card information, just my email address.

Guest

Class action lawsuit. Someone get on this.

Guest

I had the same experience. I do not know if Allegiant Airlines is getting a kick back from this company but in my opinion it gives Allegiant a bad name and has soured me for using them again.

Guest

I just canceled both memberships today. I canceled after three days because I actually paid attention to what I was signing up for.

I could care less about the membership. I just want the $100.00 refund!

Guest

I experienced something similar. I signed up for Traveler's Advantage and somehow that automatically enrolled me in Shoppers advantage. I never received my "free airline tickets for two" so I cancelled.

Guest

Thanks for the tip....I was about to hit that button when I decided to review first. Thanks to people like yourself taking the time to warn others, you make a difference in hindering these things from happening by making the public more aware and those "businesses" less successful.

Guest

Anonymous

Guest

This is EXACTLY what happened to me! Last time I EVER try to get a little gain back from anything like this. I had a little trepidation going into it but they seemed so legitimate that I decided to take the risk....BIG MISTAKE

Guest

This is exactly what happened to me! I haven't sent off my Allegiant receipt yet for the $50 refund but the assured me "Those rebates are yours to keep even if you cancel your membership".

I have canceled my memberships (to both - I was also signed up for Shoppers Advantage without my knowledge!) We'll see what happens with my rebate! I won't hold my breath!

what a SCAM!!!

Guest

I don't understand whats so hard about it, all you have to do is pick up the phone an cancel..if you idiots actually listen to what the people pay then you would not end up so clueless at the end of the month! It's so simple but you people swear you know it all!! It's not scam the service has been around since 1992, you guys are just greedy and swear you know it all!1

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-977783

amen! i got ALL the rebates and cancelled the membership so i didn't pay a dime!

THAT actually makes me WANT the membership because if they can give me $140 worth of rebates for FREE, imagine the benefits i'd get with a membership!! ( 2 $50 rebates for hotel bookings, 4 $10 rebates on full tanks of gas) AMAZING.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1014238

How long did it take to get I to in the mail & is their a number to call. It's been over 2weeks & I haven't received anything! Thanks for any info on this

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-977783

wow you all must work for Travelers Advantage, 3rd call to them to see of better rates when booking and they are more money, plus charging me a membership fee, not greedy but try to be a smart consumer, I'd say I'm missing the mark right now

Guest

Thank you for sharing, I called the number from the Allegiant website and was in the middle of the sales pitch when I googled "Travelers Advantage Scam." This blog was the first website to come up and I immediately ended the conversation. Thanks again!!!!

View more comments (2)

Travelers Advantage Reviews

  1. 48 reviews
  2. 7 reviews
  3. 4 reviews
  4. 3 reviews
  5. 3 reviews
Travelers Advantage reviews