February 23, 2012

ATLANTA, GA – John Sours, Administrator of The Governor's Office of Consumer Protection ("OCP"), has announced that the agency has entered into a settlement with Vacation Station, LLC d/b/a C.T.A. Vacations (“Vacation Station”) and its principals, Randy Gardner and Joseph Shirley. Vacation Station sells travel club memberships at an average cost of between $3,000-$8,000 each.  The company has been selling these memberships in Georgia since December 2010, from locations in Atlanta, Brunswick and Savannah. An OCP investigation revealed that the company sent promotional mailers to consumers promising free roundtrip airline tickets in exchange for attending a sales presentation about travel club membership. After attending the presentation, consumers discovered that they had to pay money in order to receive the “free” airline tickets. OCP’s investigation also revealed that Vacation Station was operating as an unlicensed buying club.  Furthermore, the company allegedly refused to honor consumers’ requests to cancel their memberships and receive refunds.

To resolve these allegations, Vacation Station and its owners have entered into a settlement requiring them to pay consumer restitution and a $100,000.00 civil penalty. The restitution will be paid to three classes of consumers. First, approximately $90,000 will be paid to consumers who have already filed complaints with OCP. In addition, consumers who are not happy with the services they received from the company but who have not yet submitted complaints may be entitled to full or partial refunds. Eligibility terms are below. 

Vacation Station and its owners are required to cancel the vacation travel club contracts and issue full refunds to any consumers who:
 

  • entered into a membership contract with Vacation Station in the state of Georgia between December 1, 2010 and February 15, 2012; and
  • who did not purchase any travel services from Vacation Station from the date their membership contract was executed through February 15, 2012; and
  • who request refunds between February 15, 2012 through August 15, 2012 by submitting a written request for a refund or cancellation to Vacation Station or to the Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection. 


Additionally, Vacation Station and its owners are required to cancel the vacation travel club contracts and provide a 50% refund of the full membership contract price to any consumers who:
 

  • entered into a membership contract with Vacation Station in the state of Georgia between December 1, 2010 and February 15, 2012; and
  • who purchased travel services from Vacation Station from the date their membership contract was executed through February 15, 2012; and
  • who request refunds between February 15, 2012 through August 15, 2012 by submitting a written request for a refund or cancellation to Vacation Station or to the Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection. 


Submitting Refund Requests

Requests for refunds must be postmarked by August 15, 2012.Requests that are postmarked after the deadline will not be considered.  After filing, each request will be reviewed.  Anyone not eligible for a refund will be notified accordingly. 

If you are eligible, you will be mailed a check once your request has been received and evaluated. Written requests for refunds can be submitted to the company care of its attorney at the following address:
 

David N. Levine, Esquire
6400 Powers Ferry Rd., Suite 220
Atlanta, GA  30339

Or to:

Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection
Attn:  Vacation Station Refund Requests
2 M.L. King Jr. Dr., Suite 356
Atlanta, GA  30334