Unveiling Global Travel Alliance's Misrepresentation of Packages and Concealment of Vital Information

I regret to share my extremely disappointing experience as a member of Global Travel Alliance (GTA). Despite initially joining with high hopes and expectations, my encounters with GTA have been marked by ********* business practices, inadequate communication, and a disregard for the well-being of its members. This review aims to shed light on my troubling experiences and to serve as a cautionary tale for others considering GTA's services. Under the guise of a prize I had supposedly won, I was lured into attending a Global Travel Alliance presentation, an experience that would later reveal a disconcerting lack of transparency and integrity. In mid-2017, I participated in an expo where I submitted a raffle ticket for a chance to win a prize. Shortly thereafter, I received a call from a representative of Global Travel Alliance informing me that I had indeed won a lavish prize. Eager to claim my prize, I attended an event as instructed. However, upon arrival, I was met with a room filled with numerous other attendees, leading me to question the authenticity of my supposed win. To my astonishment, it became evident that the "prize" I had supposedly won, was slated to be drawn that very afternoon, and regrettably, my name did not emerge as the winner. It was at this precise moment that the company's true intentions were unveiled, as they seized the opportunity to launch into an elaborate sales presentation, showcasing a range of packages available for purchase. I became a GTA member in July 2017, lured by the promise of exceptional travel deals and membership benefits. Regrettably, these promises have not been fulfilled, and my interactions with GTA have left me questioning the integrity of the company. During enrolment, I signed up for a gold membership, under the belief that it entailed a 25-year membership. During the signup the sales consultant added another 10 years to my membership, free of charge or so it seemed. I really appreciated it thinking that after I have paid my membership fee as initially sold by the salesman, which was the total membership package of R39,500.00 paid over a 36-month period, I would have ample time to really make use of the services provided by GTA. At the time I was also thinking that if I do pay the package price over the 36-month period and I did not make use of the service during my membership term, I can easily cancel my membership and accept that the loss of R39 500.00 but at least I had the option to make use of their services. A confirmation email from Fatima indicated a total package price of R39,500.00, of which I paid R13,799.00 on the enrolment day. After speaking to another consultant it seems that the ‘’free’’ 10 years that was offered was in fact not ‘’free’’ as it wasn’t calculated in the initial membership price which I had to pay on a monthly basis, but it became active once I paid my 36 month membership fee so in short that ‘free’ 10 years was only added to my annual membership which I have to now pay. Attempts to communicate with Aziza van Wyk and Desire Adams regarding membership details and fees went unanswered. My request to cancel my membership due to perceived payment completion was ignored until Desire Adams finally responded and forwarded my query to Aziza van Wyk. GTA offered several solutions, including a revised payment plan, freezing my account, transferring membership, or settling the account. While these options were presented, they felt reactive rather than proactive, leaving me uncertain about the true nature of my membership terms. A settlement was unfortunately out of the question as Aziza van Wyk informed me that If I wish to settle my membership, I must pay an additional R86 902.47 A request to freeze my account resulted in confusion due to contradictory information from Aziza van Wyk. Despite submitting the required document as instructed and confirmed by Aziza van Wyk, I was unexpectedly debited R2,300.97. Aziza's explanation that a freeze request can only be processed 20 days prior to the debit run further muddled the situation. To this my question was, but why did I apply and she confirmed the option for account freeze if she knew that it had to be done 20 days prior to the debit run, what makes it even more entertaining is that Aziza van Wyk even confirmed per email prior to the debit being deducted that my account is on freeze and all is in order, to this I have not received any reply or real answer. Clauses regarding the duration of affiliation fees and potential fee increases were not adequately disclosed during enrolment, casting doubt on the transparency and honesty of GTA's presentation. In response to my concerns and inquiries, the company's response was again disappointingly generic and lacking in empathy towards the members. It became apparent that their primary recourse is to hide behind policies and regulations, often referencing the five-day cooling-off period after signing up. It is disheartening to note that my genuine concerns were met with a seemingly rigid adherence to protocol, rather than a genuine effort to understand and address the issues at hand. I was particularly taken aback when a consultant remarked that he couldn't comment on the actions of a salesman, implying a lack of accountability within the organization. This stance, though perhaps reflective of company policy, struck me as evasive and, in my perspective, a somewhat ***ardly approach. As someone with a background in sales, I firmly believe that a true measure of a salesman's skill lies in their ability to transparently present both the positives and negatives of a deal, and yet convincingly close it by accentuating the merits from the customer's standpoint. In this regard, I find the handling of my concerns to be a stark departure from the genuine customer-oriented approach I expected. My experience with Global Travel Alliance has been deeply unsatisfactory. The discrepancies in payment records, miscommunication regarding membership terms, and lack of transparency have left me disheartened and questioning the credibility of the company. I hope this review serves as a stark warning to others considering GTA's services.