Dugan's Travels review: Fraud and scam 151

Darn, some of this sounds sooooo familiar!

Unfortunately the common theme is we upset people by saying no. We said no to Betty (past agent) and she has now posted 20 times about us. You can see it is personal for her.

In a big business you have to have rules and procedures. There is always someone who thinks they should get special treatment. Someone thinks they can be late on their payment and not get terminated. Someone thinks they should not have to do the paperwork required or wait on getting commissions paid. The biggest thing that sets someone off is when they don't get their own way.

The original poster was someone who got terminated because he didn't pay what he owed the agency. Still today even sent to the collection agency, he still has not paid. He calls us a scam but he doesn't pay his bills.

We are not a scam. Have we made people upset? Yes. People get their feelings hurt or get upset when they don't get their way. The facts are we pay our agents. We don't take money from people. We do not scam anyone. We are business that relies on people being adults and taking responsibility for their own business/financial issues.

Dugan's Travels is celebrating it's 14th year in business in 2011. We are still going strong with our great agents. For those with personal agendas I hope you can move on with your lives. It is sad so many people can't accept things and move on.

Jennifer Dugan

"So many people can't accept things and move on." Since you brought my name up prior to that comment, I must ask... Accept what, Jennifer? I wanted to leave Dugans. I left Dugans. I have my own agency making 100% of the commission, great return customers, all the business I want (I'm part-time by choice) and I have no problems with what I've done. I don't continue to bash Dugans. I just commented that some of what I read sounds exactly like what I said.

I have gotten many emails from agents who are looking for a host agency and I tell them all what I didn't like at Dugans but I also tell them that you have a really low monthly fee and that most of what one needs to know is learned through doing, not so much through training programs. I have given them opinions only, not venomous comments.

I wish you the best but I also deserve to have my reputation left alone. You would not believe the number of people who have written me saying they felt like I was attacked unnecessarily just for wanting to terminate my affiliation with Dugans. Their support of me is great, I appreciate it but I don't have a host agency which needs no more negative publicity. My agency is local and not web based so what ever is on this will never be seen by my customers. Unfortunately, Dugan's future agents ARE looking here and see ing things they don't like.

Betty-

I truly wish you would move on. Your comments all started because you wanted to have access to what we offer our agents but wanted to terminate. When I said no, you got upset. It was personal. You have now posted 21 times things about us. That seems very excessive for someone who has moved on. You attacked us first for no reason other than you were upset we said no to your request. We never did anything to you. You were with us for 3 years even though you claim you got nothing from that 3 years. You claim we offer nothing but were upset when you were not given access to our agent only websites and chatlists. If you truly have moved on as you claim, stop your attacks. Move on as you claim you have and leave the agency and our agents alone. Concentrate on your business and less on how to try to make us look like we did nothing for you for 3 years.

Jennifer Dugan

What are you talking about? I never wanted access to anything Dugan offered once I had terminated. You must have me confused with another agent, perhaps one who joined this list after I originally posted. SHE wanted access, you said, but I didn't want or expect access to Dugans once I had left. Check your posts above Jennifer because this is not me that you are talking about. I don't know any of your agents so I can't contact them or criticise them. I just wanted you to realize that MY clients won't see this but yours are. I know this because I keep getting emails from them...over twenty so far. It was meant as helpful info. I told you on this board, and I told those who contacted me that your monthly fees are low and that they may be fine with your agency. I didn't have to do that, did I? I want nothing from you, from Dugan's or from your agents except to be able to open this site and not see something post with my NAME mentioned rather than my username. Actually, I don't want to see past agent or BWoodard mentioned again. You are history to me but I reserve the right to reply when you talk about me. As the info in your last post shows, you are getting me confused with someone else as far as wanting access to your info. Never asked for it, never wanted it and never tried to get it. Wrong agent, Jennifer.

I have looked through all the posts and can't find the person who owed you money and got mad because you wouldn't let her have access. I believe the post has been pulled but don't know how that happens. Perhaps you will remember her, Jennifer. She is the one your post refers to, not me. All I wanted to do was stay until my IATAN card expired in September. It was no big deal but certainly turned into one.

I get myself into enough trouble without taking the blame for what someone else did so I just wanted to clarify this. She was livid that you cut her off and you were emphatic that she owed money and wouldn't pay it.

Just want to be sure you remember her problem and remember that it wan't mine.

Jennifer...I suggest no further response to pastagent would be best.

Past Agent-
I suggested a long time ago that you could remove your posts by contacting Complaintsboard.com and ask them to remove them. You chose to continue to post things and are now at 23 posts. You began bashing us on this forum. The truth is that you were upset with us and you used this forum to attack us. We were good enough for 3 years and when you requested to cancel your membership but wanted to wait 3 months and we said we would rather cancel it without waiting 3 months, you got angry. That is when you posted things about us claiming we do things that are untrue. Your anger is what lead you to post things about us. Now you claim you don't tell people bad things about us and that people are contacting you.
I wish you had just accepted our decision and moved on like you keep saying you have. But instead you began all these postings. What you put online is there forever unless you do something about it. You claim you want nothing to do with us but you continue to post things and that shows you have not moved on. Complaintsboard.com will take down comments if you ask them to if you were the author. They realize people write things in anger that later they want to take back.
It is up to you to end your attacks and move forward. You keep saying it but you continue to post. I would ask on the fact that we did support and allow you to be an agent for 3 years to consider your actions and posts on this board. Most people can see that this has nothing to do with us as a business but rather someone upset and using a website like this to try to cause damage.

However I am done trying to reason with you and I only wish you would end this so everyone can move on. This will be my last reply on the subject with you.

Jennifer Dugan

Well at least you got the facts straight. I wasn't the one who wanted to use anything Dugan offered once I decided to leave the company. That's the only point I wanted to make.

As I said before, once I stop seeing negative postings, I will stop posting. This isn't hurting my business at all. How about yours?

It's not hurting her business either!

Betty-

We are doing just fine. Our business is doing great and our agents are doing great. Those who are interested in joining our agency do their research and see this website for what it is. They contact our agents and look into our rating with the BBB. They are smart enough to really look into our information and background.

You can keep posting all you want because it is just proving our point, you have an obsession with us due to you getting upset. You have not moved on as you claim and each time you post you prove that.

While our business continues to grow and we continue to get excellent agents joining us, your posts do nothing more than hurt your creditability. Your business might not be affected because you don't even have a website for anyone to research you. No one is looking into your business because it can't be found. When someone looks into our agency, they can find many, many websites and information. This website is just one of many and when people see what it is - they realize that it provides no value.

Jennifer Dugan
.

I had a website but I took it down since it wasn't producing business. I really like local business better so there was no need to keep my site up. You think I'm possessed with Dugan's but you are the one searching the web for my site. Why would you need to see it?

I have been interested in joining Dugan's Travels for awhile now and have been following the back and forth of these posts. These postings by a person who calls herself pastagent proves that this website is a joke and anyone can post if they have a bug up their rear. You can't even post your real name. Complaints where people can't even post their real name are bogus!

The word you want here pastagent is OBSESSED not POSSESSED. Do you know the difference between the two?
You established in one of the first of many posts that you did not have a website. In fact it is stated many times. So, I highly doubt she is wasting her time checking up on you.
You really are coming across like you are obsessed with Ms. Dugan and her agency. You need to grow up and move on already. If you aren't obsessed then why do you continually post? It is obvious this is a personal thing for you. Your posts are not putting a favorable light on you, they really make you look like you are mentally unstable.

I've done my research, contacted the BBB, talked to past and current agents. Ms. Dugan's business is highly regarded in both the industry and with agents. I like many others have come to see this board as a load of garbage!

Ms. Dugan, I will be subitting my contract and payment shortly to join your wonderful business!

Kristen Thompson

Ms Thompson-

Thank you for seeing this website for what it is - a place where people can post whatever they wish without facts. The posts are personal as you can see from someone writing 25+ posts. This agent was rude to other agents at the agency - she actually told other agents they had bad grammar and spelling and they should have her proof read anything they write. Now you can see she doesn't know the difference between obsession or possession. She is someone with a grudge and too much time on her hands. She is jealous of the agents who work with the agency and tries to hurt the agency any chance she gets. It is actually sad in many ways because if she was as happy and doing as well as she claims, she would not have time to post 25+ times.

We would love for you to join the agency and you will find our agents to be the best of the industry. They help one another and really do care about the industry. I am very proud of our agents and what Dugan's Travels has accomplished in the 14 years in business. We have many agents who have been with us for the 11 years we have been hosting agents which shows we are doing something right.

I am sure Betty will post again because she always does - I hope she doesn't attack you like she does everyone else who posts positive things on this board. She is just an angry person so don't take it personally.

Jennifer Dugan

I have been looking for a part-time home-based business for many years, but didn't know how to start up a business or which career to get into. There are also many, many scams out there. When I discovered Dugans Travels, I knew this was the right choice. I'm still doing some research, but the emails and phone calls I have made to agents of Dugans have all been returned promptly and courtesouly. They have all praised the business highly and have been with Dugans for many years. If the business was so bad, Jennifer would not have any agents and she would have a bad rating with the BBB. Give me a little more time to do my homework and get a few more questions answered, and I will probably be sending in my contract to join the team...Jim

Dugan's Travels may not meet the expectations of all who seek to work in the field of travel sales. Yet, I have found that it has been an excellent choice as host agency for me. I joined Dugan's Travels in 2006 after substantial research on alternative host agencies. I value the experience of my fellow agents and find the flexibility that Jennifer allow works very well for me. Michael Akana, CTA, ECCS

I have worked with dugans travel and have also experianced rude behavior on all parts of this company. They start mailing you invoices on the 25th, however they are not due till the 15th...they will harrass you everyday until you pay them, even on christmas! as others have stated the ownes is quit hateful, and gets on the chat list every so often jo complain about how people are treating her. gee, I wonder why? She is a boss, not suppose to whine to me with her issures. then later remind me whrere she is registered for her babyshower and where i can send the gifts...REALLY? she is unprofessional, and down right rude to the people that are paying here to work there. I did not join this company to make a million dollars, I did it for a hobby. I have made a few bucks, but not with out a ton of paperwork, late commissions, follow ups from places that i have booked and tons of headaches. it is not worth the time or effort to me anymore to have to deal with them. I would not recomend this company to anyone looking at this as a fun idea. Expedia and orbits are great options for travel and almost always cheaper that what a travel agent can get them for, it is hard to convince people that you can help them by charging them more money! Trave agents were probably a great idea at one time, but are rapidy becoming a thing of the past...maybe that is why Jennifer is so angry!

I have been researching Dugan travel and other host agencies and I am wondering about the canadian agents that have worked with Dugan. Most of the postings are from individuals from the United Stated, and I would love to get some feedback. I am located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Elona,

Sorry you did not have a pleasant experience.

I am particularly taken aback by your comment that you experienced
rude behavior on all parts of the company. There are a number of
experienced agents who take time to thoughtfully respond to
questions and requests for help. I, for one, respond to quite
a few questions, and if my review of messages for tone has
allowed responses through that can be taken for rude, at least
a couple of English teachers from my past would be sorely
disappointed in me, as that would not have been by intent.

Regarding Christmas...I suppose if the automated billing systems
is scheduled for the 25th, then, yes, I might expect an invoice on
Christmas. As for hounding...dunno...I've generally paid may bills
upon receipt. A few times I did missed the initial invoice an received
a reminder and paid on that. I was not hounded and never
harrassed.

I did not get a reminder from Jennifer about a shower. I did get
an announcement about a registry from other agents. Most of us
are really pleased to hear good news. We are really quite a happy
lot, for the most part and I apologize if by celebrating, we offend.

Sorry the hosted travel agency model didn't work for you.
Even though I would heartily recommend Dugan's Travels
for consideration to someone seeking to conduct business
as a travel agent and who is in need of a host agency, I do
concur that for those trying to sell travel for fun or as a hobby,
the hosted model is not ideal.

Mike

In response to Elona's post: She was with us for 1 year and when her yearly renewal was due, we chose not to renew her since she has not made a single booking in 6 months. We do not renew agents who are not making bookings. You must make at least 1 booking in 6 months to be renewed. She took offense to this and told us she would bad mouth us on this website.

Agents are not a thing of the past. Our agents are doing incredibly well and if Elona had been reading the information we give agents, she would know we actually work with websites such as Orbitz and Expedia and are paid a commission with them. So if for some reason they have something better than suppliers can offer, we can still book with them and receive a commission. In fact, our agency just was awarded a Valued Partner Appreciation Award from Expedia. We work with many suppliers including Expedia and Orbitz.

I am sorry that Elona is attacking me personally because she is upset about our policies but we need agents who are making bookings. If you can't book a hotel or rental car in 6 months then we cannot keep you on as an agent.

As far as her comments on the baby shower, the agency threw an online baby shower for me because I was expecting twins. It was something that several agents did and it was not something I told anyone to donate to. It was out of the kindness of the hearts of our agents. We have wonderful agents with us and Elona is trying to turn into something that it was not. She is being hateful towards us due to being upset she was not renewed. She felt she should be able to pay her fee and continue even though she was not making bookings. Since this is not our policy (we are very clear you must make bookings to be renewed) she is upset. Unfortunately she is able to say anything she wishes but the truth of the matter is she is upset due to feeling rejected since we did not renew her. She wanted to be part of the agency prior to finding out we did not renew her so if we were so terrible, she should not have wanted to be renewed. She should have wanted to leave the agency if we were what she states we are.

Jennifer Dugan

This is in response to Elona Grimmett's post.

Dugan's Travels actually works with Expedia and Orbitz. If they offer something that other suppliers do not offer, our agents can book with them and still earn a commission. In fact, we just received Expedia's Valued Partner Appreciation Award. Many of our suppliers also will price match anything found elsewhere. Elona would know this if she read the information we give our agents as well as the emails we send out to all our agents.

However, Ms Grimmett did not make bookings. She had not booked anything with our agency in the last 6 months. She was with us for 1 year and when she was up for renewal due to no bookings on file for the past 6 months, she was not renewed. This is the reason for the angry post. She was upset we did not renew us. She wanted to continue with our agency and since we denied this, she is angry. She is attacking me personally because I own the agency and make the final decision.

As far as her comments on my baby shower, agents at the agency did an online baby shower for me. It was nothing I did - it was something that was done by the agents at our agency. We have wonderful and caring agents at our agency. I just gave birth to twins and several agents got together and bought me gifts. This was not something that anyone was required to do - it was something that people with big hearts did. It is a shame she is trying to make it into something it was not.

I am sorry Ms Grimmett is so upset but we must have agents who are making bookings. She took our not renewing her personally and even told us she would be bad mouthing us on this website. I am unsure if she felt threatening us would make us allow her to continue to work with us but we have policies in place for a reason. Although she is taking a personal attack on me, this is business and it is not personal. If an agent is not making bookings, then we do not renew their contract.

Jennifer Dugan

Actually, let me set the record straight, I worked there for 2 years, ok well 1 year 11 months. this is just another way dugans is not in touch with what is going on. I am just saying BUYER BEWARE! you are joining a club, you are paying then 25% of all the money you spend hours doing, and a monthly fee. Do you really want someone to treat you rudely after you are giving them money to be in thier club? I am glad some of the people who work there have a great relationship with the company. Actually I did to until about a week ago. I let the rudeness slide in the past, but really this whole tick for tack thing she is now doing is getting quite old. Again BUYER BEWARE, I am not a crazy nut Mrs. Dugans is trying to make me out to be, i am nice normal happy person, but when pushed, like most, I will push back. I find it hard to beleive that everyone that has made negative comments about this place is a crazy, sick person who has a personal indever toward her. (yes, that is pretty much what she will say if you cross her) Just take time to do the resherch on the company, you will find the same patteren over and over with rudeness and unprofessinal behavior. It's not like I am the first one to ever say it, just read the reviews. I just would hate for anyone eles to have to keep repeating it.

Elona-
The point is you went off the deep end because you weren't being renewed. You were fine with everything until you found out that you were being terminated due to not having any bookings on file. Instead of taking responsibility that you made a mistake you lashed out and said a lot of horrible and nasty things in your emails to the agency. We could have worked with you but instead of being nice you got downright mean and attacked Jennifer personally. That was very uncalled for.
The same thing happened with everyone else. They want to blame Jennifer and the agency for their shortcomings instead of taking full responsibility for their actions.

The contract you signed clearly explained what was required of you as being a part of the agency, it was covered in the training as well as email reminders sent out that if agents are going to be unavailable for any length of time to let the agency know. You were given plenty of notice if you had been reading your emails you could have been renewed.
It was the choices that you made which lead to you being terminated, no one else is responsbile for those actions.

I'm sorry you were terminated, but all of this could have been avoided by the way you reacted.

Barb
I

This is an email from Elona apologizing to Angela

From: elona grimmett [mailto:lonalynngrimm@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2011 1:20 PM
To: Angela Brown
Subject: Re: Dugans Travels

Angela,

Let's call a truce ok...You didn't offend my family or me, I am just rather upset with the whole thing. I have worked with dugans for 2 years and always paid my bills on time, I paid you in May not thinking I would owe you anything till June 15th. I was not aware that you sent me an invoice asking for a renewal, or moving the payment date up 10 days. Had I been able to log on 2 hours earlier, all this would have been avoided. As we all know, things don't always go as planned.

the whole internet service was out of my hands, my husband had to go to Mcdonalds to check his emails. Had I even thought there was an issue with my account I would have gotten back in touch with you guys. You guys send me a bill in plenty of advance, then when you are ready to terminate all I got was a week. I know this is not your fault, it is just bad timming i guess, but do you at least see my piont of this all sounding a lttle unfair? I did enjoy working with dugans and I am kindof heartbroken over the whole thing.

I wanted to let the readers' know that I had contacted PastAgent (Betty) regarding questions I had. I am home based TA ; just starting. She has taken time to reply my question in great detail. I just wanted the readers to know she kept her word that she would answer if a newbie has any question starting a business. She clarifies several my doubts and that is already helping me to get my business going. I thought it fair to post it here as I had received her name and email from this forum/topic only.

Let me make it clear that in no way this was an apology letter to anglea or any other one of the Dugans "team". Basically I was just fed up with them writing me everyday, determine to have the last word, and I really just wanted them to shut up! I never gave anyone permission to post a personal email that I had written, so they are, first of all breaking the law. Secondly, if they would like to post emails, they need to post them all that have gone back and forth between us, not just one they thought they could take out of content and use to tell people how "sorry" I was. REALLY? I am not a mean and hateful person, and dispite what Jennifer says, I am not crazy(yeah, that is what she says about everyone may ever try to cross her). I again just wanted to try to take a mature stand on the situation, because if you had read all the emails, you would have known it was out of control. This just proves my point, once again, about what you will deal with if you use Dugans Travel. Also, I guess i should have said that I enjoyed doing the travel bussiness. Dugans travel had little to do with it. Basicly I jsut paid them to host me, there are plenty of other host agents that are more than happy to have my bussiness, and i have switched to one of them. Just to recap... There was no apology in any part of the letter that I wrote anglea, I am not sure where they got that, and I do not and will not aploogize for anything I have written, because all of it was ture. if you are considering using Dugans travel, think hard and long about it. I know that I am not the only one that has had this opinion about them.
Elona Grimmettt

I wanted to personally respond to the attacks made against the agency and me. The original post from years ago was stating we were a scam. This was an untrue statement posted by someone who was angry that we sent him to collections for money he owed the agency. That is how the whole thing got started.

Since then it has been a place for people who are angry at the agency or me to post things without having to prove what they state. Unlike the BBB where a person can file a complaint and it is then researched to find out if the person is being truthful or not, this website does not have checks and balances. If you don’t like someone or want to do harm to a business, you can simply put anything you would like here and anyone can read it.

I want to point out that we have had over 1500 people work with our agency in the past 14 years. There are only a few people on here saying bad things about the agency. As far as me calling someone crazy if they disagree with me or the agency, that is not a true statement either. I will say that the people who get on this website and rant and rave about us do have issues that make it impossible to have a mature conversation with. You can’t reason with people who have a vendetta or are so emotionally upset by getting terminated that they will lash out at you.

I am truly sorry there are people out there that are so upset by getting terminated by the agency or that they are sent to collections due to owing the agency money that they get on a website like this and attack us. We have to terminate people who owe money, do not do any bookings in 6 months, or if we have reasons that they are not people we want representing our agency name.

For those reading these posts please look at the facts. We are not a scam. We do not take people’s money. In fact, we terminate those who just want to pay us a monthly fee and not do anything with their business. If we were out there just to scam a buck of f someone, why would we keep someone if we could charge them the $10 monthly fee? We don’t want people who aren’t serious about their business. If someone cannot make a booking in 6 months, then yes we terminate them.

People get mad. They take things personally and feel that if they write up posts that say bad things about the agency, it is going to hurt the agency. However what it hurts are those people who are looking for information about finding a host agency. If someone posts untrue things because he or she is mad, it is doing a dis-service to those who want real information on becoming a travel agent from home.

Once you post something online, it is there forever. People post things in anger unfortunately. I generally know when a post will happen because we have dealt with someone who is upset for being terminated and then threatens to post things online about us. If you look at our BBB rating you will see that we have an A+ rating. If you look at our standings with suppliers such as Royal Caribbean, Funjet Vacations, Walt Disney Travel Company, as well as many other suppliers, you will see we have a great agency.

Jennifer Dugan
Owner of Dugan’s Travels
www.travelathome.com

I want to thank PastAgent for taking the time to write about her dealing with Dugan’s Travel. It was an eye opener for me as I am in the process of selecting my first host agency to launch my travel business.

I have been a Healthcare professional for over 25 years. Caring with integrity and accountability is a must in my profession. As I have always strived to live up to those standards in my professional and personal life, I have learned to take responsibility for my actions or lack of. Today, I am thankful to those high standards in my life for the lesson they have taught me which resulted in my growth toward greater maturity.

I am in an exciting time in my life as I am in the process of creating a new opportunity for myself as a travel agent and building my own business. Being new in the travel industry, make me feel a little vulnerable to the self-promotion of host agencies, especially when they promise a lot of support to their agents but fail to deliver. As the saying goes: “Help is always available until you need it” if a GAP exist between the promise and the performance of that promise and complaint arise as a result of that GAP, complaints should be welcome! Since, it is the complaints that express where are the gaps in one’s business brand and therefore should be address in a manner of wanting to do improve that GAP. No company ever reach perfection and there always exist room to improve.

In one of her past post, the PastAgent stated the following:
“Those reading these posts will be able to see through the bull and will form their own opinions. That is the purpose of the site. The defense rests!”

I contacted this Pastagent as I was seriously considering Dugan’s travel as a contender for my first host. I am glad that I did since it confirmed some of my perception and as a result, I will not select Dugan’s travel for my host at this time.

There was one potential red flag that was concerning me which included:
1) The need to chases the commissions monthly without an automated system to keep up with this kind of tedious task and
2) The multiple penalties that existed such as $10 per month for a performance of less of 3, 000 in sale plus the automatic inactive status for zero booking within a 6 months period. It appears to me that these issues are creating a lot of unnecessary organizational problems that requires to much time to deal with and creates unnecessary negative emotion that could be easily avoided.

Why not change things that create obstacles to a positive flow of the organization. Trying to constantly keep up with monthly penalties dues and penalties consequences are an inefficient and unconstructive way to spend one's time inside an organization (host agency). I would suggest that the owner of Dugan’s Travel listen to the above complaints carefully and take the time to determine which are invalids and which are legitimates and then create the necessary changes within the company to improve the GAP between what the company promises and what company delivers. Do a survey and evalute new possibilities. There are ways to make everybody 's life easier.
Good Luck!
NewAgent

Dear New Agent-

The reason we have a $10 monthly fee is to make sure agents are serious about being agents. If an agent is not making bookings, then they are not serious about being a homebased travel agent. $3000 a month in sales is one or two bookings a month. It shows that the agent is serious and is not just trying to get discounts out of being a travel agent. It also makes sure agents stay in touch and pay their monthly dues or submits to us what they have done for the month to be exempt. We get so many people who join, pay the $130 start up fee and then do nothing more. We aren't looking for those who aren't serious about being travel agents or think they can join a travel agency and then travel for free.

Also many organizations such as NACTA require that our agents make a minimum amount each year to show we are not a card mill but rather a serious host agency.

You might be confused on how easy the process is really. Each month an agent is sent an automated invoice for the $10. The agent then pays it right online or submits a dispute. Takes only a few minutes and dis done for the month.

On commissions, it is also very simple. Each month a listing of all commissions is posted. Agents then go into an online form and submit to claim his/her commission. It is then direct deposited or they can use Paypal if they wish. Again very simple to do with no programs to pay for (most automated commission processing requires you to have a specific program on your computer and some require fees to use it or buy it) and you can do our commissions from any computer any time. It is such a simple process.

The problem we are having is agents who do not pay their support fee and get terminated or they do not make bookings so they are not renewed. It actually shows we are serious about the people we want working with our agency. If someone cannot afford to pay a $10 monthly fee, he or she should not be planning someone's vacation that costs thousands of dollars. People who work with a travel agent need to know they can trust that individual. Those working with the agency must be dependable and pay their bills on time. We require those using our name to be upstanding and serious about their business.

Those who have posted negative things on this website are doing it because they are angry with us for our decisions. They are angry they were terminated or sent to a collection agency due to owing the agency money. They are angry because we did not renew their contract due to not making a single booking in 6 months.

For those reading these posts, realize we are serious about who we want as agents. If you cannot see that people get angry and are using this website to express their anger - then Dugans Travels isn't the right choice for you. But if you want an agency that keeps costs low, pays you a high commission and anyone posting on this message board cannot say that we owe them money because we pay all our agents, and know we take this business seriously - then please feel free to contact one of our current agents to see what they think. Taking the word of someone who is angry because they were terminated or owe us money is not going to give you a real idea of what we offer. Find someone who isn't emotionally upset to give you a real picture of what Dugan's Travels offers.

Jennifer Dugan

New Agent in search for a Host Agency

Thank you for responding to my post. As I stated above I am new and I have no experience whatsoever as a travel agent therefore, I can only express some my concerns as I am seeking to sign up with the right Host Agency and attempting to evaluate thing the best that I can. Therefore, this is why I am conducting a lot of research which kept on leading to more questions. Consequently, I would like to ask you if you would be willing to shine more light about the commission issue and the monthly quota sale of 3, 000. per month in order to avoid any penalty. It appears to me that the current system for commission that is in place inside your organization is not as easy as it could be. (I personally would prefer that my commissions were electronically tracked, so that I would not have to worry about missing any of them on a listing). Also, could you elaborate on the reason why agent become automatically Non-Active Status by having not made a booking within a 6 month period. What organization is in charge of judging who is in the Card Mill Business? It was my understanding that your agency will assist agent to obtain their IATAN card or CLIA ID card when they qualify. So, if your agency is not distributing some type of Card Mill ID in the mean time, how can your agency be accused to be a Card Mill?

I have provided some websites that provides me with enough information to cause me to have more question?
November 2004 Travel Industry Survey Results On The Home Based Travel Agent
http://www.ossn.com/ossn_survey/nov2004/

Question: Does you agency require minimum sales quotas to be met by your IC’s to allow them to remain with you?
Answer: http://www.ossn.com/ossn_survey/nov2004/pic5.jpg

Question: If using a database/accounting system, which program does your agency use?

Client Ease, Trams Back Office and Client Base Plus, TRAMS/Client Base, TRAMS/Client Base Plus, TRAMS back office, proprietary front office, Homemade, QuickBooks Pro 2005, custom built program though Microsoft Access, Globalware
Agency own program, Travel Sales, through our AAA Headquarters in Tampa Florida, We have an online system that is connected to our web site. All agents have access to the site as a web based product., Wincruise currently. We are changing to Client Base and Trams next week.

I have researched Client Ease because one experienced travel agent who owned a travel agency told me to select a Host that used Client Ease. I did not know what Client Ease was so I did some research and this is what I discovered:

http://www.clientease.com/advantages.htm

ClientEase Advantages
Our software offers a virtually unlimited list of capabilities because of our vast knowledge of the leisure industry - from Host operations to the Home-Based agents. When it comes to our business, we offer our customers a powerful resource and recipe for success. In addition to the features in our Products page, below is a comprehensive list of advantages we offer our clients. To quickly select your agency type, click on one of the links below:

Host Agency Benefits:
* Host has immediate access to IC commission tracking

Independent Contractor Benefits:
*As a Branch of the host you have the ability to perform your own marketing and run your own commission reports (owed & paid)

Question about Card Mill Agency?
The following website seams to have a different definition of what is a Card Mill Agency:
http://www.travelsense.org/pdf/cardmills.pdf

"What Are Card Mills?
Card mills are businesses that sell deceptive identification cards, sometimes accompanied by a package of worthless “training” materials that falsely identify the purchaser as a “travel agent.” These offers often say “travel like a travel agent” and are designed to permit buyers of travel services to pass themselves off as sellers of travel services.

These cards are represented as enabling the holder to obtain discounts, upgrades and other courtesies reserved by travel suppliers for professional travel agents who actively promote the suppliers’ services. Often, cards are also represented as entitling the cardholders to receive commissions or other remuneration on their own travel purchases. In fact, these businesses sell a piece of plastic where any tangible benefit the purchaser receives is wholly dependent upon the response of a third party, the supplier, and then only if the supplier is deceived or indifferent as to the cardholder’s true status.

Card mills exist to sell, at a substantial price (often $495 or some amount intentionally set below the $500 threshold triggering application of FTC/state franchise and business opportunity disclosure laws), false identification that places into the hands of purchasers a device they are led to believe will deceive. An identification card that purports to identify as a travel agent someone who does not sell professionally as a means of earning a living and providing distribution services to suppliers is, in ASTA”s view, deceptive.

The Dept. of Commerce (DOC) and the Census Bureau and are clear about the commercial nature of a travel agent:
DOC assigns a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code to travel agencies, defined as “establishments primarily engaged in acting as agents in selling travel, tour, and accommodation services to the general public and commercial clients.”
See http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/def/NDEF561.HTM#N56151. 2 Without material value for the represented purpose of equipping someone to be a travel agent.

Travel Industry Card Mills
travel suppliers. The card mills promote themselves (in print and Internet advertising and, often, through written scripts and audio-tapes used in word-of- mouth solicitation) by making exaggerated claims about the discounts or price advantages that so-called “independent agents” or “consultants” may obtain through use of the card.

In addition, some card mills emphasize the purchaser’s opportunity — reminiscent of classic pyramid and other illegal multi-level marketing schemes — to recruit other “agents” and earn fees for each recruit as well as each time the recruit books travel. In all cases, the primary theme and message of their promotions is that the purchaser can enjoy all the benefits and financial rewards of professional travel agents with no worry, no hassle and, above all, no work."

These were my questions?

New Agent.

If you are looking for a legitimate host agency, stay clear of this one. There is no "help" for inexperienced agents. That's probably why agents go over six months with no bookings. To be honest, it reminds me of a bad pyramid scheme in the sense that there are 900+ agents and she makes $10/month off each agent plus a percentage of their commissions. Think about it. Wouldn't you love to make over $10k a month for doing very little work? That's why people get hounded about the fee.

We are actually in the process of going automated for our agents for commissions. We are doing it free of charge for our current agents. We may begin to charge new agents who join but for the time being, it is free to those who are current agents and those who are joining us right now. Our agents were strongly against changing the way we did things mainly because they did not want to have to pay for it, but we have decided it is best for everyone if we make the changes. This will be rolling out in the next few months as we get set up. Our current set up is not hard at all, it is just something that agents who are making alot of bookings say they found takes alot of time. So anyone who told you it is hard is not being truthful. My 11 year old son (at the time) was able to do it to show that is simple. But we have decided to make the change to allow our agents and our agency to be more productive.

We want producing agents - that is why we require the $3000 in sales for the fee to be waived. We also do not want agents who are not making any type of booking. That is the reason for the requirement to make a single booking in a 6 month period before renewal. That is not at all unreasonable because if you are going be an agent, you should be able to make a booking in 6 months.

We are not going to give a CLIA card to anyone who wants it just so they can get discounts. This is what a card mill does. We aren't looking for the person who wants to be an agent to travel for free. We are looking for those who want to have a successful travel agency.

I won't respond to the ignorant post above since we don't even have close to 900 agents plus more than 60% of our agents make the quota each month. The fee that agents do pay goes towards the costs of running an agency which this person must know nothing about. We get so many people who have no experience and they become successful agents through our program. The whole idea of our program is to help those without experience.

Talk to one of our real agents.. not someone who just wants to cause trouble. We have been in business for over 14 years and wouldn't be if we were a scam or not a good host agency.

Jennifer Dugan
Dugans Travels

I have been with Dugan's about 5 years now. I had been with another host agency that took 50% of my commissions and only allowed me to do bookings with 4 suppliers. This was not a successful start. I researched Dugan's travels and thought this was a host agency that would allow me to make my travel business my own. When I first started I tried to make sure I met the $3000 per month booking quota so I would not have to pay the $10.00 monthly fee and I was fine with giving the host agency 25% of my commission because I was just beginning and did not start out with a lot of clients at first. Well after my first year I knew my business was doing pretty good. I had met my quota allowing me to apply for my own IATAN card and Jennifer had just announced that for $5, 000 you could basically own your own business by making 100% of your commissions and no monthly fees. I decided to pay the fee so I would have the freedom to not worry about the monthly quotas and get paid the extra 25% that I had worked hard to earn. I have been VERY happy with my business and the only expenses I pay out to Dugan's Travels is $50.00 annually for E & O insurance, any shipping charges I might have for shipping client documents and I like to attend the annual agent seminar that Dugan's puts together every year to help us with our business.
I feel Jennifer is human as well as a boss of a large company and she does a great job trying to let everyone run their individual businesses as she is trying to run Dugan's Travels.
I have been very happy with this host agency and have referred 2 other people that have signed up to have their own travel businesses with Dugan's Travels. I would not hesitate to recommend a new agent into our flock.
Anyone reading this just remember there are 2 sides to every story and don't believe everything that you read.
Roxann Schneckloth
Goofy Travelers

I have been with Dugan's for 2 1/2 years. I have always enjoyed working for them. From the start, any questions I had were answered in a timely and friendly manner. In the time I have been an agent, I have made my $3, 000.00 is sales almost every month. Those months that I did not, I paid my $10.00. Yes, we do get the invoice on the 25th of the month. If I do not make my sales, I simply log in and pay my invoice. If I have already made my sales, I log in right away and dispute it and it is taken care of. We have access to several suppliers and a daily message board with other agents answering questions and providing experience.

I have no complaints about the staff at the agency. I was lucky enough to meet some of them at the seminar we are welcome to attend each year. I look forward to staying with Dugan's in the future as well as referring anyone interested in being a travel agent.

Desiree Beyea
Trip Of A Lifetime Travel

I have been with Dugan's travels since Feb 2003 (almost 9 years) and I completely disagree with all the negative comments. Jennifer Dugan is a very fair, honest person and it has been a pleasure to work with her. I started with her with no prior experience or travel knowledge and they helped me learn the business. I still work a full time job and have 3 year old twin boys so travel is not full time for me but I still find time to help Jennifer out with some administrative duties. When I was looking for a host agency I wanted to find one that did not cost a lot due to the fact I was not doing this full time. Dugan's Travels was the lowest costing host agency out there at the time. There were some that wanted hundreds of dollars a month for who knows what. If you make your $3000 in sales you pay nothing that month, its that simple; and the yearly fee is for insurance. When I started there were around 100 agents now there are almost 700! All 700 of us can't be wrong! Thank you Jennifer for everything you do for us!

Karlene Penick
Karlene's Caribbean Travel

Hmmmm. I'm reading all of these comments and scratching my head. I've been with Jennifer and Dugan's Travels since the beginning--1999. If all of these terrible things were true I would have moved on a long, long time ago. I was with another host agency prior to 1999 and I'm MUCH happier with Dugan's. Jennifer has given many people an opportunity to build a business with very little up-front cost and low monthly fees.

The $10 monthly fee is not a penalty . . . it's a fee charged for all of the back office expenses that are part of doing business.

The $3000 is not a quota . . . it's an opportunity to have the fee waived.

I don't think there is any other host agency out there that can offer a new agent such low start-up costs and monthly fees.

When I've had a question specific to Dugan's I've always been able to get an answer from Jennifer or one of the staff. I'm considerate of the fact that I am one of many agents and didn't expect an instant answer or a long answer. Jennifer could have a larger staff and more techno stuff but then we'd all be paying higher fees. For the small amount it cost me to do business I think I'm getting a heck of a deal.

Dugan's gives you basic training for the travel industry and how to book travel. It's up to each individual agent to DO something with that training. You have to be a self-starter to be in business for yourself. Each agent has to dig in and learn--about suppliers, destinations, regulations, and about how to sell to clients. I've been in the business over 10 years and still do lots of research. It takes time and effort. When I have a question I pick up the phone or get on the internet and find answers. I don't expect other agents to do my research or answer every question.

If it's not for you then move on. Find what works for you. But that doesn't mean it won't work for lots of others.

I've recommended Dugan's to many people. And I tell each one of them that it only works if you are willing to put in the time and the effort. Dugan's has been a been a BLESSING to many people. It's allowed folks with no experience in travel to learn and to build a profitable home-based business. It's working for me and for hundreds of other Dugan's agents.

I would highly recommend Dugan's to any one looking for a host agency.

Virginia Busceme
Your Personal Travel Connection

I have been with Dugan's Travels for 8 years and appreciate Jennifer's efforts in trying to keep expenses low for us. We pay our E&O Insurance premium & $10 per month. The $10 monthly fee is waived if we make $3, 000 in sales... that's 2 Cruise staterooms or 1 Honeymoon per month -- Where else can you have a job expecting so little sales? Basically if we can show the agency will make something from our month's work, we get access to all the agency's contacts & supplier relationships (including very high commission levels) for the price of 20-25% of our commission. Sounds like a win-win to me. Any better commission splits in the industry come with monthly fees closer to $100 per month which will never be waived.

Most of us don't book millions of dollars per year, but we are trying to build a substantial business with limited funds. She implemented our "chat list" as a free way for us to help each other. We have the benefit of 600+ agents' experience and knowledge if we are looking for suggestions. This allows each of us to accept requests that are out of our comfort zone, confident that we can get help to make good choices. I have asked and answered many questions. There is also a process in place to contact management when there is an administrative issue. I have always found this system to work, even if I didn't always like the answers given.

Jennifer has always tried to respond to feedback from her agents, such as this week introducing a new CRM & commission process. Yes it will take a while to get used to, but all progress does.

There are 2 accusations in what I've read here that I will respond to:
1. For much of this year Jennifer herself has been unavailable, due to having twins after a rough pregnancy. She tried to make sure the agency worked seamlessly while she was gone, but I did experience delays during this time, and things were a little less organized than usual. However since Jennifer's return this has improved.
2. The agency did throw her a baby shower (online) but I have gone to many of those types of things at most of the offices I've worked. I see nothing unprofessional about any of that. Many of us interact with her and other agents regularly, and as such we feel like friends. Many of our agents are stay-at-home moms and look up to Jennifer. Those who did not attend (I personally didn't) were not penalized or treated any differently. I appreciated being kept up to date with her status in the company, as well as sharing her joy welcoming her new son and daughter into the world.

Telling new, inexperienced agents to look up the questions they have in the handbook is not exactly what I would call "support". Is that worth $10/month? Perhaps if you would open your eyes and learn from what past agents are telling you, you could use that info to better yourself and your agency. You have managed to find the time to constantly monitor this board, but you don't have time to assist your inexperienced agents? That's just not right.

Anny Nonomous-

Do you have any clue how to run a multi-million dollar business? You need capital to run it. There are a lot of things the $10 monthly support fee goes for. First, there are many licenses that have to be renewed each year, many of these require the agency to be bonded. Being bonded costs a LOT of money. A business does not run itself. There are many more costs to running a business, these are just a few of the many costs.

Being a travel agent is all about knowing how to do research. You are given the tools needed to be successful, but you have to be motivated to succeed. Barb and Angela are always available to help answer questions.

Jennifer has every right to come to a website and defend herself and her agency if people want to come on board to bash.

Many changes have been implemented over the past few months. So many of your complaints are no longer an issue.

You are no longer with her agency, move on. Focus on your business and leave Jennifer's alone!

Beth

Are you trying to imply that the agency does not make a substantial profit?
The agency has a right to continue to operate, just as those of us who are past agents have the right to tell of our experiences. Prospective agents should know the truth. I honestly believe that more past agents would tell of their experiences but they fear retaliation. I was disgusted when I read on another board how Jennifer called a past agent "a deadbeat". That was very rude and unprofessional. People should know what they are getting themselves into.