*See bottom paragraph for the latest update regarding this company

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona is alerting consumers to Patterson Bell, Harris Fields, Lexington Duke, Henderson Gill, Robinson Rhodes, Madden Hall, Nicholson Barnes, Jefferson & Greer, Welsch McCormick, Shelton White, Zimmerman Cain, Davidson Powell, Morrison Banks, Sutton Perry, Gilbert Turner, Sullivan Lang, Stanton Carney, Emerson Ross, Swanson Carr, Thompson Fuller, Richardson Blake,  and Hoffman Sims,  self proclaimed “Awards Redemption” agencies  mailing letters to local consumers that state the recipient has qualified for airline tickets.

Since Dec. 10, BBB has received over 30 inquiries about Patterson Bell from consumers seeking to determine if the offer is legitimate. Consumers who spoke to BBB said they had no recollection of ever entering a sweepstakes or contest for the airline tickets.

Consumers say the letter states that they have qualified for an “award” of two airline tickets that have a retail value of $1,400. The letter claims that Patterson Bell has attempted to contact the consumer multiple times and if the consumer does not contact them by a specific date the airline tickets will be given to an alternate recipient.

According to consumers, Patterson Bell’s address in Tucson is 4811 E Grant Rd, STE 261 85712, and its Web site, www.pattersonbell.com, says the company has additional locations in New York, Florida, Utah, New Jersey, Texas, California, and Oregon.

BBB has also received a number of inquiries about Hoffman Sims, another “Awards Redemption Agency” in Tucson whose Web site, www.hoffmansims.com, is similar to Patterson Bell’s, and claims to operate in the same cities.

Consumers who called BBB concerning Hoffman Sims say they too received a letter indicating they had won free airline tickets. A Hoffman Sims representative told BBB over the phone that they the mailings were sent on behalf of Southwest Travel Inc., a Tucson-based travel club. BBB has not been able to (more…)

For the most up to date information concerning this company scroll to the bottom of the post.

BBB of Southern Arizona is receiving hundreds of inquiries from local consumers about Southwest Travel Club, www.southwesttravelclubs.com, located on 4811 E. Grant Rd. in Tucson.

According to consumers who have attended presentations hosted by Southwest Travel, the company is a private, discount travel club that promises steep discounts on an array of travel, including cruises, packages, timeshares, special events and more for a membership fee. Consumers say the up front cost of the program is $8,995; members pay an additional one-time $399 “documentation fee” and an annual membership fee of $199. Other packages for lesser prices are offered.

Consumers who have attended recent presentations hosted by the company say they received a letter in the mail from either Premier Choice Rewards or Patterson Bell. Patterson Bell is also sending letters using multiple names including: Hoffman Sims, Richardson Blake, Sutton Perry, and Swanson Carr.

The letter from Premier Choice Rewards, which features the Wal-Mart logo, states:  “Our Promotional Department has scheduled you to receive two round trip airfares to a major international airport in the continental USA. Our records indicate that by responding within 72 hours you will also receive a $300 Wal-Mart Merchandise rebate certificate.”

When consumers call the toll free number listed on either of the letters they are invited to attend a 90 minute presentation hosted by Southwest Travel.

BBB has received 152 consumer inquiries about the company since mid-December.

Consumers who receive offers for questionable travel awards can contact BBB at (520) 888-5353 or www.tucson.bbb.org. Consumers who may have complaints against Patterson Bell or Hoffman Sims regarding their airline ticket “award” program should file online at www.tucson.bbb.org and with the Arizona Attorney General at www.azag.gov.

UPDATE: BBB has learned that Southwest Travel has started doing business in Tucson under the DBA, Wholesale Travel Service. BBB has also received complaints from consumers upset about Southwest Travel’s aggressive telemarketing efforts. One Tucson consumer says she was called over 16 times in three days after she told a telemarketer she wasn’t interested in attending Southwest Travel’s sales seminar.