Kibbutz Program Center

Review: In July 2013 my son [redacted], paid The Kibbutz Program Center $350 to place him on a a 3-6 month volunteer program in Israel. Then, in August, he was asked to pay another $300 for a Visa. It is now October and he has not been placed on a Kibbutz, nor have we gotten a Visa. The Kibbutz Program Center refuses to provide me with proof that in August, a [redacted] was ordered. I am requesting that the entire $650 be immediately reembursed for services not rendered including punitive damages.

The Kibbutz Center has been claiming for the past 8 weeks that there is a backlog in the granting of Volunteer Visas. So, I called the [redacted] and they told me that there is absolutely no backlog. The Kibbutz Center claims that they order their [redacted] from a town in Israel- there are many many towns in Israel with such offices and they refuse to tell me where they ordered it from and when.Desired Settlement: $650 refund

Business

Response:

According to the participant, [redacted] son, [redacted] cancelled his registration and his attendance on our program because he got a job and would not be traveling overseas. This is the emailed we received from [redacted]:

"Hi [redacted], I'm sorry but I don't think I can go to the kibbutz anymore. I need to work and a job just opened up here. Can you tell me what your refund policy is? I know some of it is not, but the rest of it, I would like refunded.

Thanks, [redacted]"

Once he told us that, we cancelled his visa application. We returned $260, the amount that would have gone towards paying for the visa. Our $350 registration fee is non-refundable but can be applied towards any future program with us.

Additionally, the consulate [redacted] spoke to was in the United States. Volunteer visas go through the Ministry of the Interior in Israel, not the U.S. The office was closed for most of September which is cause some delays. We explained this to [redacted] but she would not believe us.