Michigan fans tackled in Bowl ticket shortage

Several hundred Michigan fans doled out $1,500 for a trip to Pasadena they hoped would yield a lifetime of Rose Bowl memories.

Instead, many saw their trip crumble, with no Rose Bowl tickets and a week of frustrations.

State and federal officials launched separate investigations last week into charges that Atlanta-based Worldwide Sport Travel, Inc. forced travelers to pay an additional $250 for game tickets that the company advertised as included in the Rose Bowl package.

Bill Kandler, who bought Worldwide's tour package, said he was promised tickets two weeks before Christmas, and was told several times that the tickets were in the mail. But he was still empty-handed when landing in California.

"Travel agents weren't even showing up to advertised meetings at the hotel," Kandler said. "It was such a negative experience. I felt so bad because this was a Christmas present for so many families."

Kandler and other angry travelers demanded immediate action, and Worldwide representatives offered them three options.

Tourists wishing to get tickets on their own were promised a $500 refund. Otherwise, individuals could pay $250 to get a ticket immediately or get on a bus on game day and hope Worldwide could secure tickets by that time.

Bill Mosely, a public affairs specialist for the United States Department of Transportation, said charging additional money for tickets may have been illegal.

"It is not legal for the price of a tour package to increase within 10 days of departure," Mosely said.

Worldwide may have violated consumer regulations by offering the package without having secured game tickets beforehand, Mosely said.

"A ticket agent or tour operator advertising tickets are involved in a package, must either have a firm contract (for tickets) or have them in-hand," Mosely said.

David Bernstein, Worldwide's director of marketing, denied suggestions the company did anything illegal.

"We promised people would have tickets on game day, and those who waited got tickets for no extra charge," Bernstein said. "Some people did not want to wait and we gave clients an option to pay $250 to get tickets immediately. As per (Department of Transportation) rules you can't force people to pay additional money for tickets, and we didn't do so."

David Silver, Michigan's assistant attorney general, said Attorney General Frank Kelley started receiving complaints about Worldwide and several other tour operators Dec. 30.

"We've received 20 inquiries so far, and I would suspect this number will grow," Silver said. "We are investigating whether this is a violation of the Consumer Protection Act."

Silver said the attorney general will pursue getting refunds for people who were unfairly charged.

"Anyone who feels as if they might have been cheated, send a complaint and we'll do all we can to recover your money," Silver said. "For violations of consumer laws there is the possibility of civil fines of up to $25,000 for tour operators."

But Bernstein said misconceptions in the media have tarnished Worldwide's respectable reputation.

"We're being made to be the bad guys. People are turning things around," he said. "Our company has a perfect record for delivering tickets. Our company is the official travel agency for several large sports teams."

Shamrock Travel owner Pat Proper sold Worldwide packages to three different families, and called the package "an all-around scam." Proper urged tour participants to call their credit card companies and cancel payment for the package.

"Several travel agencies in the area were dealing with this company," Proper said. "I will never offer any sports packages again - who can you trust? It's not worth it."

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