CIBT Visas

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response. If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
RevDex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ***, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
Regards,
*** ***

This company has very shady billing practicesWhen you submit your application, you really need to make a copy of it because they will add services to your order without your consentWhen I received my invoice, they had added a rush surcharge ($109) and a passport replacement service ($28) without my consentOh, and the shipping label they give you to mail pieces of paper will cost you $They don't disclose that up frontWhen I called, they immediately removed the passport replacement serviceIt was clear they have a lot of issues with this oneYou apparently have to opt-out or they charge you - which seems illegal to meFor the rush, they said I asked for it on the application, but upon probing, I found out they take the application and put it into their system and don't keep a copy, so there is no record of which boxes you actually check unless you make a copyIn my case, when I called to ask if I would have my passport back by a certain date, they said "yes" and then went and added the rush serviceI didn't ask for the rush, I just made an inquiry of when it would be returnedThey didn't inform they were adding a rush surcharge or that it would cost $109, which I would have declinedAll in all, $dollars for a B***l visaThey have very shady billing practicesIt is no wonder that my company stopped using them

After this email to Revdex.com, we did resolve the issue with [redacted] and provided a full refund.

HiTotal credits of $484.21 have been applied, we refunded his disputed amounts which totaled this, not $580. I have emailed him to apologize and advise of credits. Eric

Dear **. and [redacted]
We sincerely apologize that we have not responded to you in a timely manner. CIBT prides itself in providing the best service possible.  Your requests for refund were not properly handled and we have rectified this.  A refund check of $420.00 has been sent via...

[redacted] with tracking number [redacted] to arrive 2.22.16.
We have also refunded $194.25 for each India visa order.  We are unable to refund the government fees as visa was issued and valid, unfortunately [redacted] lost the package however no refund can be secured from India due to this reason.
Again my apologies for this misunderstanding and our lack of follow up.
Regards
Eric M[redacted]CIBT - VP of Operations

We apologize for the inconvenience caused.  Only fees charged were $62.50 and we did credit on 3.6.17. RegardsEric M[redacted]

2 weeks before my husband and I leave for our first all inclusive vacation in Riviera Maya, we remember that we never changed my passport to my married name. Needless to say I was panicking. I was in the process of scheduling an appointment at the passport agency in Chicago to get it expedited when I was referred to CIBT by a family friend. Her company has been using them for years. I submit a request on Saturday and was contacted Monday around 4pm by a nice man named Lawrence. He informed me that the call would last about 20 minutes and he was going to get information from me to fill out my passport application. I had already done this prior to the call so I knew that the information he would ask me was sensitive but was necessary. I provided him with my information and card number and he explained the process and fees to me, stressing that my card would not be charged until the process was complete. As a personal banker, I'm wary of providing my information over the phone because I hear stories of scams and fraud all the time, especially when most of the reviews online are negative, but I felt comfortable with this service since it was referred to me by someone who uses them regularly. The next day Lawrence emails me my kit to print off, fill out, and take to FedEx. I was able to track the process online through their website and he guaranteed me that it would be ready by October 6th. I'm receiving my passport today and could not be more thankful. I truly had a pleasant and painless experience with this company. It was expensive, but worth it to not have to deal with the stress of doing it myself.

A member of [redacted] leadership team has contacted to apologize for inconvenience.  A refund has been applied to the order.Eric M[redacted]

In order to properly investigate this issue, if [redacted] can please scan and email a copy of both visas issued to [redacted]@cibtcomRegardsEric

Reciently used CIBTvisas to obtain a VN vista. I had a problem with their web site and was billed for services not requested. When I called and discussed the problems they never addressed the issue nor would refunded the overcharges.

9.24.15 - the visa was issued and shipped to traveler as required.  FDX # [redacted], delivered 9.23.15 at 929am.  In good faith we have refunded the CIBT service fee of $114 for any inconvenience.
Regards
Eric M[redacted]
VP Operations North America

We have attempted to contact [redacted] via email on 3.6.15 and again on 3.17.15 to get further information to research his concerns.  It is not possible to provide full information based on what [redacted] provided in his concern. 
Our website is updated on a daily basis based on the most recent...

visa requirements, however they are subject to change at any time based on the issuing country. Additionally the full details of the itinerary are required to provide a complete response to this request.  Our website also clearly states that traveler should check with the airline they are flying.

How does this business have an A+ Revdex.com rating with five negative reviews? Six, including this one. Their website is designed to scam the user out of service fee after service fee--it automatically drops you into the pages to use their services, then the fees are in in tiny print on a completely separate page. Their customer service was condescending and ineffective, both times I called. I spent more time trying to figure out their process (obviously unsuccessfully), when the actual visa process through the Chinese embassy wasn't even that difficult. This service was suggested by a tour group company, and every single person in our group was inaccurately charged. This company is a scam.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused by delayed communications from our Concierge team.
CIBT does provide customers with opportunity to create an online order request but no fees are charged until work has been completed.  For this request Concierge service nor any service fees were...

charged when order created.
Vietnam visa was completed and shipped to customer.  No Concierge fees were charged, no refund is due.
Regards
Eric M[redacted]
VP Operations North America

If I could give this company negative stars I would. Literally the worst. I wanted to go on a cruise and the passport expired in October of last year and the cruise was booked for February 2015. Did the rushed delivery thinking we would get it back in a week. NOPE. ITS JUNE AND I STILL DONT HAVE THE PASSPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...⇄ Getting a hold of these people is impossible. No one knows what is going on in the office. Funny thing, when we called the actual Dep of State they said the passport is done but we have to go through CIBT because thats who started this process. THIS COMPANY IS SUCH A SCAM. The prices are ridiculous and they still havent given me anything! I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY TO ANYONE.

We have attempted to contact [redacted] via email on 3.6.15 and again on 3.17.15 to get further information to research his concerns.  It is not possible to provide full information based on what [redacted] provided in his concern. 
Our website is updated on a daily basis based on the most...

recent visa requirements, however they are subject to change at any time based on the issuing country. Additionally the full details of the itinerary are required to provide a complete response to this request.  Our website also clearly states that traveler should check with the airline they are flying.

CIBT Visa Center was one of the most disorganized inept companies which we have had the misfortune to deal with. This company was the only service Holland America recommended. We even had our travel agent file a complaint with Holland about CIBT. As for the cost which was double the quoted rate needs to be mentioned also.

Better Business...

Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory enough.However, the fact that our concerns had to be brought to the attention of the Revdex.com indicates the seriousness of our complaint.  We approached the company multiple times and were responded to repeatedly with inaccurate information and heavy innuendo that their 'confusion' was our fault.  Our application was clear and correct.  Our response to the multiple, inexplicable overcharges was clear and immediate.    Having to wait three months and  ultimately having to appeal to Revdex.com for correction of  the overcharges guarantees that we will not use their services again.  
Regards,
[redacted]