Esmeralda Nicolescu shouldn’t have signed up for a membership in the Palladium Travel Club. But now that she has, is there a way out?
Question
My husband and I recently stayed at the Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica. While there, we attended a presentation for the Palladium Travel Club, which offers access to other Palladium resorts. We signed a contract and paid $1,540 for our membership.
After coming back to our room and analyzing the paperwork, we realized this is not an investment that benefits my family. So we decided to cancel.
I contacted the Palladium Travel Club while I was still at the resort. But a representative told me that I could not cancel because the contract says I can’t cancel. I just got news last night my company is closing, so I truly need to cancel this ASAP. I can’t afford this, financially. Please, I need Palladium cancellation help. — Esmeralda Nicolescu, Laval, Canada
Answer
I’m sorry about the loss of your job and the difficulties you’ve been having with canceling your Palladium Travel Club membership.
Most travel club contracts have a cooling-off period that allows you to cancel within a certain period of time. It’s unclear what your contract allowed or whether you were within that period. But, in reviewing the correspondence between you and Palladium, it appears that you missed that short window to cancel. That’s why you need Palladium cancellation help.
Your case is a reminder to pay close attention to the details in your sales presentation and review the contract carefully before you sign. Don’t wait until after you’re back in your room, or back from vacation, to have second thoughts.
Palladium Cancellation help is on the way
People often ask me about travel clubs, and whether they’re worth the money. I usually tell them the only legitimate travel club is AAA. But let me expand on that answer. I’m not a fan of the high-pressure sales tactics used by virtually all travel clubs. I think travel companies hurt themselves when they market their products in this way. They may make short-term gains, but they will alienate many customers over the long term.
Palladium’s description of its travel club on its site is vague, and I couldn’t find a sample contract. To me, those are warning signs that something might be amiss. I list the names, numbers, and email addresses of the Palladium executive contacts on my consumer advocacy site. You might have also called your credit card for Palladium cancellation help and initiated a dispute if all else failed.
Palladium cases happen frequently on this site. Here’s another recent case in which the company tried to pocket $8,174. (Don’t worry, we didn’t let that happen.)
I contacted Palladium on your behalf. A representative described your situation as a “misunderstanding” and told me the company isn’t trying to trick anyone into buying or keeping a club membership. “Our goal is to have happy members in our family,” he told me. You received a call from a Palladium booking agent who helped you cancel your membership and offered a full refund.
