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Josh of Vernon, CT January 8, 2009
Got a letter in the mail stating that our son had been selected for a soccer trip to Holland. This made no sense, because he's never played premiere or extended travel. Seemed like the more experienced players would be the ones selected for such high honors.
No physical damage. Don't believe anything you get in the mail or email if you don't know who it's from. Research everything. I'm glad my son never saw the letter.
M I Flores of Austin, TX January 7, 2009
Received a Letter from People to People Internatiional dated 12/31/2008 from my son that hasn't played footbal for 2 years saying he was choosen as an Ambassaord to visit Austria. I knew it didn't seem right, as he hadn't played football in about 2 years. Thank God for sites like this you can REALLY find out what it's all about. They must haven gotten his name from Pop Warner Footbal (I can't confirm this but not sure how else they would have gotten it, considering he has only played for Pop Warner previously). Hope this helps others too from making a big mistake. Oh...and I would NEVER send my child on a trip like this with out either myself or my husband going....PERIOD.
Kevin of Waterbury, CT January 3, 2009
The 'invitation' letter was sent by bulk mail (presorted first class) so I shredded it.
I didn't lose any money. I'm just suggesting that parents put this thing in perspective. The kid in question is a semi-slacker who just got a D in English. IMO no one nominated him. The company just mass mails these letters out.
IMO it would be a disservice to even mention it to this young man. It would just make him more comfortable with his poor academic performance.
I'm dying to give him a real reward for real performance but this isn't it. Max of Miami, FL January 2, 2009
Received the letter in the mail - inviting my 10 year old to participate in the tennis ambassadorship program and join the delegation to Austria. What a scam! It's just a direct-mail marketing piece for some glorified travel agency to sell a camp slot in Europe. The whole nomination is pure bunk. Someone, somewhere authorized the release of the my daughter's name; probably in our case, the national tennis association, of which she is a member. Buyer beware!
Jodi of Red Lion, PA December 24, 2008
We enrolled our son in the People to People delegation traveling to Europe to explore Celtic cultures. It sounded exciting and he was accepted after being interviewed, but I became skeptical after finding a lot of negative feedback from a Google search. After we had already paid 1343, I decided we should cancel our son's trip. I called on 11/14 to cancel and was told a refund, less a 95 processing fee, would be credited to our account.
On 12/8, I called to follow-up and was rudely told it was there policy to take 14 to 21 days to process a refund and there was nothing they could do to speed it up. The customer service rep counted the business days for me (which excluded about 5 days for Thanksgiving) and said my refund should come as early as 12/10 or at the latest 12/22. As of today (12/23), we've gotten no refund, so I called again. I told this CS rep my problem and told her I wanted a refund processed today. I was told everyone was in a meeting for 45 minutes and someone would call back.
Of course, here it is 3 hours later...no call back and no refund on our credit card. I'm thoroughly disgusted with this organization and its representation of itself. I just felt I had to vent a little and warn others not to give P2P a second thought. Pass it up and take the whole family on a nice vacation for the cost of sending one student with P2P (and adding to the profit of a company that would have you think it's non-profit).
Waiting for 1343 refund.
Tricia of Birmingham, AL December 17, 2008
First off I must say that I am so very thankful for this site. I have searched the internet for any other opinions regarding people to people and my search continually lead me to this site only. I have a hard time believing that with as many people who attend these forums that only these few have had negative experiences.
My daughter is currently in 6th grade and was nominated to attend the forum in DC last year. We were so proud of her because we thought that it was such an honor. I must say that I was suspect upon reading the very generic invitation. Especially since our 8th grade daughter had received practically the same invitation from a different leadership forum.
Despite my skepticism, my 6th grade daughter was determined to attend. I had so many hesitations and questions related to safety and security and called the office several times. Each time I got very scripted answers, but still decided (against my better judgement) to fork over the ridiculous amount of money to send her on this amazing trip.
She called us the first 3 nights crying hysterically and wanted us to fly to DC to bring her home. The whole problem was difficult roommates and her feeling very unsafe in the hotel in a room by herself. In hindsight I cannot believe that I put my 12 year old in that situation 450 miles away from home. Unfortunately I trusted the program. That was a mistake.
In their defense, I must say that after several phone calls I was FINALLY given the number of my daughter's group leader who I called and was very helpful. She was still expected to stay in a room with 2 girls who were very unkind to her. Unfortunately this overshadowed her entire experience,
The sad part is that while I am sure that she had some very valuable educational ex periences she is able to share very little of what she learned, if anything other than how to put up with people in very frustrating circumstances. Perhaps that is where they derived the name People to People.
Needless to say, next time I will know better to trust my instincts and I will never encourage anyone under the age of 15 or 16 to attend something like this.
Natalie of Plainwell, MI December 6, 2008
On November 26, 2008 my 13 year old daughter received a letter inviting her to become a member of teh People to People Sports Ambassador Program. The letter stated she was invited from national sports orgainzations or niaminated by People to People coaches, leaders and alumni. I immediatly did research on the internet to verify the authenicity of this organization. I was not happy with the results of a simple google search. This orgainzation has many complaints of deception and freud. In the article I read dated 2006, the organizaion said they were appaulded at their own language in the letters and they would change the wording in thier letters to not mislead children into thinking they were specially chosen for their accomplishments.
My complaint--it is now 2008 and the language in the letter has not been changed. My daughter felt she had been personally nominated by an important person to become ambassador. Please look furtur into this organization and their marketing tactics. It certainly makes me think less of our past presidents who are endorsed as founders of this organization!
Only the disappointment that she is no more special than the girl who lives across the street. I am angry that nothing has been done to stop this organization from deception and freud.
Lacey of Savannah, GA November 18, 2008
My family was thrilled that our child had been nominated, only to find out to our disappointment that his name had been sold by his school. This is an expensive ripoff that plays on the hearts and minds of underserving individuals. The school gets kicks and the parents get duped. To my surprise I got answers before investing in this travel agency scam. I warn all parents you can take your family on a great vacation of 6 with the money this travel agency charges besides the Government has nothing to do with this trip.
No consequences we found the truth.
Lacey of Savannah, GA November 18, 2008
My family was thrilled that our child had been nominated, only to find out to our disappointment that his name had been sold by his school. This is an expensive ripoff that plays on the hearts and minds of underserving individuals. The school gets kicks and the parents get duped. To my surprise I got answers before investing in this travel agency scam.
I warn all parents you can take your family on a great vacation of 6 with the money this travel agency charges besides the Government has nothing to do with this trip. No consequences we found the truth.
Franny of Boca Raton, FL October 23, 2008
My daughter, 12 yrs. old and an A student at Middle School received a letter saying she was nominated by one of her teachers (and named the teacher) to this program and she was accepted. We were beyond thrilled and as a recently divorced parent, so very proud of her to have accomplished this in the face of what we had just been through. When she received the official invitation to go the the Washington, D.C. conference, it was then that I began getting angry.
First of all, if each child was special enough to get the invite, why were they generic in nature and not personalized? Second, it went on to talk all about the conference but never mentioned the exact agenda. Third, buried deep into the last page of many parts of the invite and in very small type was the cost (more than 2500 NOT including transportation to and from). And then, right after that block, in VERY LARGE type was a disclaimer that all 300 deposits need to be in by Nov. 15, 2008 but that even a deposit does NOT guarantee that the child will go as SPACE IS LIMITED so said the invitation.
So basically, whoever can cough up the money the fastest goes. For a program that is truly educational in nature, there is always subsidies available, especially if they are non-profit, which this one claims to be. There are none!
Then I began getting e-mails from friends and family who I had told about this most prestigious honor and opportunity. They all sent me information about how People to People is not really what they represent themselves to be. Not to mention my embarrassment to friends and family about touting this and only to find out we've been duped!
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