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Health & Fitness

Connecticut Consumers Remain Frustrated with Vacation Booking Companies

Most complaints about travel services concern disputes over products and services, followed by advertising/sales and billing and collection issues.

BBB Reports Travel Services Continue to Lead Top 10 List of Complaints 

Connecticut Better Business Bureau statistics show consumer complaints about travel booking lead the top 10 most complained-about businesses in a report card for the first six months of 2013.

 Most complaints about travel services concern disputes over products and services, followed by advertising/sales and billing and collection issues.

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“While the settlement rate in this business category is over ninety-nine percent, consumer complaints to  BBB show frustration over an assortment of issues in a business with a very large volume,” according to Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti.

Complaints range from disputes about the quality of hotels, refunds and not receiving advertised discounts.

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Click here to see the top 10 list.

 The pattern of complaints has changed little since the beginning of 2013, however, the hierarchy of consumer inquiries – researching of companies and professionals – reflects a seasonal shift in priorities.  Inquiries about home maintenance and contractors have moved up since the beginning of the year. 

At the national level, consumer complaints for the first six months of 2013 show little change, with cellular telephone services continuing to lead the list.

One noteworthy pattern shows that in most cases, when consumers research and compare, they are less likely to file a complaint.

Before signing a contract or making a purchase, Connecticut Better Business Bureau encourages consumers to always research a business or charity at www.bbb.org, to see what other consumers’ experiences have been like.

-Submitted by Howard Schwartz, Executive Communications Director, Connecticut Better Business Bureau 

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