5/13/98 - An Ohio lady called our us to report a threatening phone
call from a
Mr. Bob Jones, (800) 255-2314.
She alleged that he
demanded that she send him money for her (former) Thousand Adventures
membership. He allegedly called her a name and threatened to see
her in court within 10 days.
She said that she told him "I guess I'll see you in 10 days."
He was lying to the lady. He didn't sue her. This suggests
that he was simply trying to intimidate this defenseless lady
into sending him some money.
I later called Mr. Jones at the above number to find out who he
worked for. He said that he works for Thousand Adventures and
for Travel America. He also said he was working out of Weeping
Water, Nebraska. (Thornhaven?)
The Ohio Attorney General's Consumer Protection Office has a consent
agreement in force that prohibits anyone from trying to collect
dues, contract payments, or making adverse credit reports against
Ohio members for contract payments or for dues. There is presently
a lawsuit by the Ohio Attorney General's Office for apparent violations
of that agreement.
Other states have similar agreements and/or injunctions.
To the best of my knowledge, NO ONE HAS A CONTRACT WITH TRAVEL
AMERICA, INC. so I'm not sure how we will deal with their 'future
demands' for money. We'll have to cross that bridge when we get
to it.
Mr. Jones has been reported to the Ohio Attorney General's office
and will be reported to the appropriate Federal authorities.
If you receive a phone call or other communication like this,
just tell them to send it to you in writing. That's what is needed
to get evidence of their evil schemes so we can take them to court...
My name is Dan Hopper. I am the Chairman of the National Association
for Members and the Chairman of the TAI Members Committee.
I can
be reached at our HOTLINE: (937) 236-2882.
I gave Mr. Jones my phone number too. He indicated when I called
him that he knows who I am.
More importantly, he knows who our
committee is.
I am proud that our organization has given people the courage to
stand up to those who would extract (extort?) money from
them, stand
up to those who would use threatening and oppressive tactics
to achieve unjust goals, and to stand up to those who appear
to care little about the rights of decent people, but instead
pursue their last dollar.
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