La Bonne Vie Travel and Dream Vacations International, Inc.
Added As Defendants to the State's Lawsuit
NEWARK—La Bonne Vie, a vacation travel business located in Manalapan, and Dream Vacations International, Inc., a Nevada-based corporation, have been named as additional defendants in the lawsuit filed last month by the Office of the Attorney General and its Division of Consumer Affairs.
In May, the state filed suit against Daryl T. Turner and his businesses, Dreamworks Vacation Club (also known as Dreamworks Vacations and Dreamworks), Bentley Travel and Five Points Travel Company. These businesses had previously operated out of locations in Parsippany, Sewell and Westampton.
Following the filing, the Division began receiving complaints about sales presentations for vacation packages being held by La Bonne Vie Travel, located at 600 Park Avenue in Manalapan. The Division then determined that the business is being operated by Turner and that it is engaged in the same practices alleged in the initial filing.
"Acting on additional consumer complaints, our investigators found that Turner is the person behind La Bonne Vie Travel and that he is continuing his attempts to defraud the public," Attorney General Anne Milgram said. "The state will continue its efforts to halt Turner's deceptive business operations and to hold him accountable for his actions against consumers."
To date, the Division has received 16 consumer complaints against La Bonne Vie Travel. In total, the Division has received more than 200 consumer complaints against Turner and/or his businesses.
"Turner clearly has no remorse for the victims whose money he took, as shown by his continuing efforts to deceive consumers by offering travel packages that he will not deliver," said David Szuchman, Consumer Affairs Director. "We want to end his ongoing cycle of consumer fraud."
Consumers paid $1,200 to $8,000 upfront to purchase a vacation travel package after attending a sales presentation, but ultimately did not receive what they had contracted for, the state alleges.
In addition to not providing the contracted-for travel packages, the defendants also did not provide any of the free gifts that consumers were led to believe they would receive which, at varying times, included seven-day cruises, round-trip airline tickets for two, hotel accommodations, dinners, car rentals and/or gas coupons. When consumers contacted the "800" telephone number listed on the mailings to claim their gifts, they were informed that they had to attend a 90-minute sales presentation for vacation packages. Even if they attended the presentations, consumers were not provided with the gifts.
The state's amended Complaint was filed in State Superior Court in Morris County on Friday.
Consumers can file complaints with the Division on its Web site at MACROBUTTON HtmlResAnchor http://www.nj.gov/oag/ca/ocp/ocpform.htm or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll-free within N.J.) or 973-504-6200.
Deputy Attorney General Gina M. Betts of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section is representing the state in this action. The investigation of Turner and his companies began with the Burlington County Consumer Affairs Local Assistance (CALA) office, and was referred to the Division of Consumer Affairs for joint investigation.
Complaint
