RALEIGH -- Summer isn’t officially here yet, but plenty of folks are starting to take vacations and plan their warm weather getaways. But before you do, the Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina has some important travel tips. 

Spectrum News anchor Caroline Blair sat down with their President & CEO Mallory Wojciechowski for things to be on the lookout for and common scams to avoid. 

The BBB offers this advice before making summer travel plans:

  • Avoid scams. Avoid click-bait ads for cheap vacations.  Watch out for fake rentals when trying to find a place to stay.  Phony landlords collect an advance deposit then avoid contact with renters, who may be left with fake reservations or subpar rentals.  Only deal with rental companies you trust.  Companies can be look up on www.bbb.org.   Learn more at bbb.org/travelscam and bbb.org/rentalscam.
  • Do your research when renting a car. Consumers filed more than 9,500 complaints against auto renting and leasing companies with the BBB in 2016.  The leading causes of complaints were service and billing issues.  The BBB says to get car rental estimates from a few different companies, and do your homework.  They say to decide whether you need to buy additional insurance, and ask if there are any extra fees. You can find a BBB guide for renting a car at go.bbb.org/rentalcar.
  • Think about a travel agent Consumers nationwide filed around 7,000 complaints against travel agents and bureaus with the BBB in 2016.  Common complaints involve difficulties getting refunds, poor customer service and confusing contracts.  
  • Be cautious when booking online. More than 2,300 of the complaints that BBB received against travel agents and bureaus in 2016 concerned online travel agencies.  They say to be careful when purchasing a flight or hotel through a third-party booking site. They urge buyers to do research and use a secure connection when booking, along with a credit card for extra protection.  They say to be aware of “too-good-to-be-true” deals.
  • Safety first. Be cautious using public Wi-Fi, and never enter personal or financial information while connected.  They also say to wait and post vacation pictures on social media until you return home.  Doing so can alert potential thieves that your house is empty.  BBB urges travelers to lock up valuables in a safe when you’re not in your hotel room and keep important items like a passport and wallet, close to your body to avoid pickpockets.
  • Cross your T’s and dot your I’s.  Pay attention to details when purchasing or signing contracts.  The BBB says to read the fine print ask check to see if there are  additional fees.  They say get everything in writing.  They urge travelers to verify all reservations for lodging and activities by calling the hotel or company directly before leaving, and print out confirmation emails and take them with you.  Always pay with a credit card, as they offer more protection than debit and prepaid cards, and let your bank know that you’re traveling beforehand so they don’t deactivate your card.
  • Don’t automatically buy travel insurance. In case something goes wrong, travel insurance may be helpfu, but it isn’t always applicatble. TI is designed to protect you if you cancel your trip, but there are many common sitiuations that do not fall under the policy.  Ask a lot of questions, read the fine print, and do your researc before purchasing travel insurance.  According to Consumer Reports, “coverage may be unnecessary if you already have protection through homeowners, auto, life or health insurance... credit-card benefits and consumer-protection laws also may help.” 

Be on the alert for some of the telltale signs of a travel scam:

  • “Front desk” Credit card confusion.  According to the BBB, this scam involves someone claiming to be from the front desk, calling your hotel room in the middle of the night to confirm your credit card information.  This is an attempt at identity theft.  They say to hang up and call the real front desk to confirm whether or not they actually called your room.  Almost always, a hotel will not call you for your personal information while staying at their facility. 
  • Fake taxicabs.  Scam artists are known to pose as taxi cab drivers, and once your r luggage is in the vehicle they will take off, or deliver an unsuspecting tourist to a deserted area to rob and/or assault them.  The BBB say to never accept a ride from someone who is not in a metered taxicab with a company name and a car number marked on the outside of the cab.  If taking a ride sharing vehilcle, make sure the driver addresses you by name first and you verify they are the same person in the picture.  Driver information should also be displayed. 
  • Hotel "representatives".  They say to be wary of people who look like hotel “representatives” who approach you with great rates on luxury hotel rooms. In this scam, the rooms you were offered at a discounted rate is no longer available, and you are either forced to pay a much higher rate or find another hotel.  To avoid tis, make your reservations in advance through a reputable website or company. 

INFORMATION COURTESY:  BBB serving Eastern North Carolina

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