Discount travel club scams couple out of $3,000 for vacation perks then reveals the costly stipulations

A Texas couple got taken for a ride by a dubious discount travel club, and now they’re warning other travel lovers to beware.Long-term members of a reputable discount travel club, Diane and Reid McNabb of Dallas were pressured to re-up their membership during a high-stakes 90-minute sales pitch.The salesperson told the couple their old company had been purchased by a new enterprise, Member Getaways, and offered a replacement contract along with the promise of deep discounts on future travel.Convinced by the pitch and lured by the promise, the McNabb’s paid the new company nearly $3,000.However, their dreams of discount journeys were shattered when they tried to use their paid-for perks, only to realize they were utterly worthless.With their previous membership, the McNabb’s enjoyed total flexibility; if they wanted to change or cancel a flight or hotel reservation, they could do so without issue.Under their Member Getaways membership, the company refused to honor changes and, according to the McNabb’s, used popular and public sites like Expedia.com and Booking.com to make their members’ reservations.“We can get lower rates ourselves.We’re not idiots.

We can pick up the phone and use Expedia ourselves,” Diane McNabb told The Watchdog.In addition, when the couple wanted to use their hotel-loyalty cards to score discounts and reward points, they were told they were not allowed.In light of these limitations, the McNabb’s requested a refund from Member Gateways several times but have yet to get a single dollar back.Instead, Member Gateways extended their contract free of charge through 2029.

 “We won’t be using it,” Diane McNabb assured.The Watchdog notes that the McNabb’s story is unfortunate but not uncommon and provides tips for other travelers to protect themselves from predatory perk peddlers.Among these is the advice to never buy anything that is advertised as a one-day-only offer, IE if you don’t purchase that day, the price goe...