Grand Circle economic woes?
Oct 17th, 2008, 03:52 AM
#1
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Grand Circle economic woes?
There are rumblings about financial problems at GC. Some travel agencies have been advising anyone going on a GC tour to purchase independent travel insurance. Does anyone have any input about GC warnings?? Thanks...
Oct 17th, 2008, 03:57 AM
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I have no experience with Grand Circle, however I feel that purchasing independent trip insurance, not any that is offered by your tour company, is a necessity. With everything going on with the world economy, as well as personal and family matters, being able to cancel a trip without a financial penalty is definately peace of mind. To find independent travel insurance, go to insuremytrip.com and you will have a variety of companys and policys that can fit almost anyones needs.
Oct 17th, 2008, 09:02 AM
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I don't know anything about them, either, but why would you not always buy independent travel insurance when prepaying a large travel cost like that? That seems just like common sense, to me. Surely you wouldn't buy travel insurance from a company to cover a policy of the same company if you think they could be unstable financially.
Oct 17th, 2008, 10:45 AM
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Thanks for the input thus far...I realize the travel industry in general is probably down due to economic events, but has anyone heard specifially about financial troubles at GC?? Thanks...
Oct 17th, 2008, 02:14 PM
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I just know I am heading for my 18th trip with them the end of this month and have always had good buys from them and being a senior, I do take their insurance out as medicare does not pay, out of the country. And when having had to make a medical claim, they have always paid (the insurance is through a company, not Grand Circle directly) but the insurance is high. However that way, when their is a problem, they are extremely helpful AT THE TIME, right on the ball. I don't believe that rumor and hardly think a Travel agent would express it as you do not go through a travel agent when booking Grand Circle. There are always some folks aiming to discredit them as problems can arise, of course with the amount of volume they handle. If you are in doubt, call THEIR 800 # and express your concerns. Good luck. Halfpint
Oct 17th, 2008, 02:21 PM
#7
GCT has had ongoing problems for years although there are reports by some Fodorite's that have been happy with their trips. Other Fodorite's have been cancelled and GCT didn't follow their own listed policies which is why they were delisted from the BBB about three years ago.
Any trip insurance you would purchase would need to have a financial default clause (not all do). In addition, you will have to check each insurance companies list of companies NOT COVERED which may even include your airline. You would also need to know all of the corporate names that GCT operates under as it may be listed that way on the travel insurance's not covered list.
The Attorney General of MA got involved with some of the complaints (not all of them) in 2006 against GCT and negotiated a settlement. These complaints had to do with refunding money and cancellations. They are still delisted from the BBB and rated unsatisfactory.
http://reports-boston.bbb.org/Boston...?i=3848#rating
Any trip insurance you would purchase would need to have a financial default clause (not all do). In addition, you will have to check each insurance companies list of companies NOT COVERED which may even include your airline. You would also need to know all of the corporate names that GCT operates under as it may be listed that way on the travel insurance's not covered list.
The Attorney General of MA got involved with some of the complaints (not all of them) in 2006 against GCT and negotiated a settlement. These complaints had to do with refunding money and cancellations. They are still delisted from the BBB and rated unsatisfactory.
http://reports-boston.bbb.org/Boston...?i=3848#rating
Oct 17th, 2008, 04:47 PM
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Halfpint...I can state for a fact that a travel agent with 20 yrs in the business expressed some grave concerns about GCT and their financial problems. This woman has nothing to gain from discrediting GCT...it's just that she is very leary about recommending them for a trip next year...If I want to get an unbiased opinion, there is no way I'm calling THEIR 800 #.
kybourbon...thank you so much...i will pass that info along to my friends..
kybourbon...thank you so much...i will pass that info along to my friends..
Oct 19th, 2008, 01:05 PM
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thanks for the replies....Even though I've heard some positive feedback about GC, I'm really leary about booking with them...and thanks kybourbon for the advice on the financial default clause...as usual, great info on this board...
Oct 19th, 2008, 05:57 PM
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We have no axe to grind, either pro or con, about any travel company or cruise line. My wife and I are simply consumers.
Our experiences with Grand Circle and its Overseas Adventure Travel arm have been only the best. No problems whatever in about 10 trips with them.
Over the years and on this board, I have watched several vendettas and smears conducted by travel agents against this company and against several cruise lines. Some of those catfights went on for months and months. Oldtime users of this board may recall those bitter words, those shadowy innuendos.
Could it be that GCT and those cruise lines did not pay them a commission?
As a point of good business practice, it seems to me that a consumer should not purchase insurance from the travel company or cruise line with whom they are traveling. Seems a conflict of interest, at the very least.
The woods are full of good insurors who are eager to serve travelers' needs. We had a fine experience with one particular company when my wife broke her wrist while we were in South America. The insuror kept every single promise, paid every single bill, and we were always treated with care and honesty.
Oct 19th, 2008, 06:08 PM
#13
USNR - GCT's problems are well documented and not a vendetta of travel agents. There have been multiple news articles about ongoing problems. You don't get delisted from the BBB for nothing.
You're right that you shouldn't buy travel insurance from the company you are booking with. It's usually the same insurance you can buy directly from the insurance company, but at a higher price.
The point I was trying to make about the travel insurance lists of companies they won't cover is you might book with a company and your airfare is part of the package, but your airline is on the list of providers they won't cover. Many airlines are on those lists. The only way to discover this is to look at each insurance companies list.
You're right that you shouldn't buy travel insurance from the company you are booking with. It's usually the same insurance you can buy directly from the insurance company, but at a higher price.
The point I was trying to make about the travel insurance lists of companies they won't cover is you might book with a company and your airfare is part of the package, but your airline is on the list of providers they won't cover. Many airlines are on those lists. The only way to discover this is to look at each insurance companies list.
Oct 20th, 2008, 04:29 PM
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thanks, especially to kybourbon, and I agree that this is not some "smear" or travel agency "vendetta". I'm a retired teacher who enjoys travelling, with no axe to grind for any tour companies..it's just that I would be very careful about considering GCT.
Oct 20th, 2008, 07:59 PM
#17
Beatle: "<i>this is not some "smear" or travel agency "vendetta". I'm a retired teacher who enjoys travelling, with no axe to grind</i>"
I'm pretty sure USNR was not talking about you. You may be unfamiliar w/ the GCT history here on Fodors. Every few months there is a post - not always but often from a first-time poster - titled "Beware GCT!" or similar.
Then every there are some quite legitimate gripes about GCT as there are about most tour companies. But about 1/2 of the complaints we had on here over the last 10-11 years have been from one-timers who never ever came back to the forums. Obvious guerilla tactics where they find every on-line travel forum and post and then disappear never to be heard from again. A few were obviously TAs or other travel professionals.
As for being "de-listed" from the BBB - that isn't necessarily good or bad. Every BBB is an independent local franchise and all sorts of reasons can cause a company to leave/be "ousted"
I'm not defending GCT one way or the other but more giving the background info
I'm pretty sure USNR was not talking about you. You may be unfamiliar w/ the GCT history here on Fodors. Every few months there is a post - not always but often from a first-time poster - titled "Beware GCT!" or similar.
Then every there are some quite legitimate gripes about GCT as there are about most tour companies. But about 1/2 of the complaints we had on here over the last 10-11 years have been from one-timers who never ever came back to the forums. Obvious guerilla tactics where they find every on-line travel forum and post and then disappear never to be heard from again. A few were obviously TAs or other travel professionals.
As for being "de-listed" from the BBB - that isn't necessarily good or bad. Every BBB is an independent local franchise and all sorts of reasons can cause a company to leave/be "ousted"
I'm not defending GCT one way or the other but more giving the background info
Oct 21st, 2008, 06:35 PM
#18
janis - The BBB that delisted them is the Boston BBB, not some little franchise. Do you really think the MA Attorney General got involved in the complaints cooked up by a couple of travel agents? The complaint/settlement involved 700 consumers, not travel agents.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1184960921.html
It doesn't take much googling to find consumer websites with complaints about GCT.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/grand_circle.html
Even this year, there have been newspaper articles stating GCT continues the same practices that got them delisted and in trouble with the MA Attorney General.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-1184960921.html
It doesn't take much googling to find consumer websites with complaints about GCT.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/grand_circle.html
Even this year, there have been newspaper articles stating GCT continues the same practices that got them delisted and in trouble with the MA Attorney General.
Oct 21st, 2008, 06:55 PM
#20
and please re-read what I wrote. fer cryin' out loud! I did not defend GCT. I merely tried to explain the history about the feuds on here between pro/anti GCT fodorites. W/o meaning to, you are reinforcing the point I was trying to make . . . . . .
Sometimes I think folks go into auto pilot and just post w/o reading first.
(Almost every tour company has lots of BBB complaints. Some they are warranted, some - not.)
Sometimes I think folks go into auto pilot and just post w/o reading first.
(Almost every tour company has lots of BBB complaints. Some they are warranted, some - not.)
