Thursday, June 18, 2009

Troubled Branson company gave $1,800 to Nodler campaign


A Branson company that had to pay a large fine for bilking customers, thanks to then Attorney General Jay Nixon, is connected to $1,800 in contributions made to Sen. Gary Nodler's re-election campaign on June 28, 2006.

Missouri Ethics Commission records indicate Nodler received seven contributions that day from people connected to Vacation Services of America.

The largest, $600, came from Chris Wood. Nodler also received $200 apiece from Cindy Wood, Thomas Wood, Deborah Wood, Cristal Hedrick, and Bret Hedrick, all listing Vacation Services of America as their affiliation, and $200 from the company itself.

The contributions to Nodler appear to be the only contributions Vacation Services of America made to any Missouri candidates during 2006.

Vacation Services of America's troubled history was related in the Aug. 2, 2008, Turner Report:

Vacation Services of America was required to pay $10,391 in restitution following an action taken by Jay Nixon four years ago.

According to the Aug. 25, 2004, Kansas City Star, the company and others were described by Nixon as "allegedly unscrupulous vacation and travel companies."

The article said the companies "made false promises that people would save money, used tough pressure tactics to sell travel packages, claiming high upfront fees and then failed to provide services, and refused to let customers cancel orders."

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

So let’s get this right, a company that once had problems but has made full restitution and is operating today legally as far as we know, once contributed to Nodler. You do not indicate that Nodler was involved in any way with their problems or restitution. So what is the connection you are trying to make? If you use the six degrees of separation theory, you can connect Nodler (or anyone else) to any person or problem that ever happened anywhere in the world. You don't say Nodler is connected with this company as an owner or employee. You don't say Nodler took any actions on behalf of this company. I don't get your point at all. So now, as is your custom I suppose you will attack me for making this comment even though I have said nothing nice about Nodler at all, but only ask about your motive.

Randy said...

No, your response is predictable and expected. I will simply let it stand.

Anonymous said...

Any Branson timeshare or vacation service will most likely have a shady past. They have one Motto: "They either leave crying or buying".

Look them up on Missouri Case.net and you will see for yourself. They all have lawsuits out the kazoo.

Nodler, like most politicians will take money from the devil, if it goes though enough hands to make it hard to trace.

Anonymous said...

I don't know about Nodler but I know about VSA. rMy wife and I were solicited by phone to attend a vacation presentation at Branson. We were to receive discounted theatre tickets in exchange. At the time we made the reservations, which involved THREE phone calls, both my wife and I stated that we have 2 children, ages 3 and 11, that would be with us. We were told this would be fine. When the confirmation email and policy emails arrived, the only thing in them about children was that 'children age 2 and under were not allowed'. When we arrived for the presentation, we were told in an extremely rude manner by the manager, Dennis, that children were NOT allowed. He picked up a piece of paper, started stabbing at it with his finger and shoved it into my wife's face. I was about to make a rather unpleasant scene when my wife hustled me out of the lobby. They had charged my credit card $73 for the tickets. The tickets were canceled by the company and we were told we would be charged the remainder of the $412 for the tickets. I called Chase immediately and disputed the charge and told them to deny any further charges.

These people are crooks! Thieves, liars, crooks, conmen.