Cross Country International

[Kick_On!]

Can anyone here tell me if they got the e-blasts a few weeks ago for the discount on a equestrian holiday only to find out like a week later, they have gone out of business?

I had heard really great things about their vacations....

A friend of mine had bought a holiday to train with Leslie Law I believe. I wonder if that will still happen.

[snoopy]

Years ago a friend of mine called the Yorkshire Riding Centre to inquire about going over to the UK to train with the Bartles for a week....she called the office, left a message, and was sent a fax back from Cross Country International. A bit miffed by this she did some research and found that she could book the flights, stay with them on site and pay for a lesson package using their school horses CHEAPER then going through them. Package holidays sometimes are a great way to get a deal...if doing a european holiday (last minute deals to european holiday destinations) but are often not cost effective if booked through/from the US.
I do not think this company offered value for money or competitve pricing on what the were offereing.

When booking holiday packages (in the UK anyway) it is always best to buy holiday insurance (for health care, emergencies, and of course cancelations.

[mbarrett]

There is a discussion about CCI on another board, maybe Off Course. It seems they went out of business and other folks are having trouble getting a refund.

[asterix]

If you want to do a trip like this, just contact the riding center direct -- as others have said, it'll be cheaper, and it'll be the same experience. You have to do a little more legwork to find a good place, but it can work out very well!

[Auburn]

My husband and I just booked an Aer Lingus, B&B vacation. He had wanted me to book through CCI, but I thought that I could do it cheaper and still see more of Ireland. I am happy that I didn't book with them, now.

I will be riding at Dingle, Aille Cross, Flowerhill and Clonshire. I emailed them and got immediate responses. They were all very nice, too. Booking the B&B's became a bit more complicated, because Ireland will be having a holiday, while we are there. Some of the places that were recommended were already booked. Those folks recommended other B&B's close by, who had rooms open.

I have found that if you have the time, it is better/cheaper to plan your own trip.

[lstevenson]

There is a discussion about CCI on another board, maybe Off Course. It seems they went out of business and other folks are having trouble getting a refund.


This doesn't suprise me at all. The owner is quite shifty and dishonest. She totally deceived me and took me for a whole lot of money many years ago.

[Badger]

Per google, it looks like they are in court in CA today as a defendent in a case against Glen Ellen Capital Company.

[kcooper]

I started the post on Off Course. I have a trip booked for November with my Mother and we got a vague email saying it would not necessarily be honored. I learned from the trip insurance company that they filed for bankruptcy. Of course, the trip insurance excludes this kind of "cancellation." I am guessing it will be a while before I find out if we have lost all our money. We paid in full in July.

[gianna]

I paid for a trip in full in May with CCI. I was to leave for Ireland Oct. 17 for a week of riding. I got the same lame email saying they could not honor my vacation plans. I also have a non-refundable airline ticket! They made me buy insurance when I bought my trip, but of course it does not cover what is currently happening at CCI. I have contacted my credit card company, who say it may take up to three months with the possibility that no money will be refunded. I have been on dozens of trips all over the world, NEVER bought travel insurance before and here, the one time I bought it, doesn't work.......
GGGGGRRRRRRRRR

[vineyridge]

They were the only authorized American tour packager for the HK Olympics. They must have really taken a bath on that. Just guessing, but they probably didn't have the experience to deal with something of that size.

[galwaybay]

Based on my experience the agent I used offered us discounts for our holidays - same price or more for same trip using another booking agent or booking direct, but w/ the one I ended up using they gave us a nice discount and also helped find hotels and other nonriding things to do which was very helpful.

I too recently got an email from CCI offering up booking in 2009 at 2008 prices

[Flurry]

A lot of people lost a lot of money with CCI. They were taking peoples money and not paying the riding facilities. Now a lot of very nice people are in debt because of this dishonesty. Very very sad.

[mrzorrro007]

Contact Info GET YOUR MONEY BACK!!!
Cross Country International
www.walkingvacations.com
www.equestrianvacations.com

If you want to get in touch with these people call and write them at their home.
Karen & Roy Lancaster
129 Wing Rd
Millbrook, NY
(845) 677-5027

I think a class action law suite in needed to get these people and freeze their bank accounts.
I should know.... wink wink

If anyone is in the process of suing this company you should contact me for some in sites. They live in Millbrook, NY not Florida for example so you CAN even put a lean on their home because of their complicated bad accounting habits will not protect them. They also own another business which has been draining Cross Country International business for a long time no thanks from Roy himself. So you can even get a law suite with this company too. http://bigleaguebarbers.com/
Roy is actually the business CEO of CCI not Karen. Karen is President which is just to make it look nice.
Soooooo if you want to know where you money is these days and why they don't call back. They are living on this business now along with your deposits.
Start suing them personally, and both their businesses. CCI and Begleagebarbaers and get your money back. Unfortunately thou the lawyers will probably will be the only ones making money on this. Better the lawyers than them. Corporation laws will now work here because proof can be shown that the money was being used combines and not separated even personal too.
Here it the web site to the local court house to file suite to CCI and them personally.
http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/

Here is the web site to the local court house to file suite to Big League Barbers also know as BLB.

http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?1037120

Here is the web site to Roy's company and start calling them. AND GET YOUR MONEY BACK!!!
http://bigleaguebarbers.com/

http://bigleaguebarbers.com/blb/pages/keyplayers.htm

rlancaster@bigleagueonline.com


NOTE***
You need to move quick because Karen has a brother in law in Washington DC that is an attorney and they maybe in the process in covering their tracks. If you ever booked with the person that makes the air flights for the trips to Ireland, well that is Karen's sister and the lawyer is her sisters Husband so there is some conflict of interest there too.

MR Z

[Painted Wings]

I feel really fortunate that I was able to go and didnt' lose any money. The trip was well planned and went smoothly.

I hope people can recover some of their money but it does not look good.

[Smiling Frog]

Hi Everybody,
This forum is very interresting ! I work for a French company that used to work with CCI because we were their exclusive representative for equestrian vacations in France, Italy, Spain and we sell the same rides in Ireland, Portugal, Hungary and Argentina. As everybody knows, CCI has gone bankrupted and they didn't pay us and their other business partners for the last 6 months... As we used to receive delayed payements with them, we didn't think there was a problem (my boss works with them since twelve years):mad:
A lot of people contacted us to come for their vacations because they were refunded but some other never and they maybe don't know they can be refunded if they paid by credit card.
Do not hesitate to contact us at caprando@horsebackridingvacations.eu or visit our website www.horsebackridingvacations.eu , we will now work with equitour and hidden trails for the future but we can now accept riders from North America (it was not the cas a few months ago)
Moreover, our prices are actually cheapest than CCI' (You can save up to 30-40% on the price) and we can provide discounted airline tickets for our customers.
Looking forward to meeting you

Smiling Frog

[carvh87]

Has anyone had luck getting their money back from CCI if they paid with cash? Does anyone have the bankruptcy court case number? We are having difficulty locating it. There are ten of us that were traveling as a group and now we are screwed. We went through an American company because we wanted some ability for recourse if everything went wrong, so we just got screwed by good ole' Americans.

I appreciate any help.

[LexInVA]

Has anyone had luck getting their money back from CCI if they paid with cash? Does anyone have the bankruptcy court case number? We are having difficulty locating it. There are ten of us that were traveling as a group and now we are screwed. We went through an American company because we wanted some ability for recourse if everything went wrong, so we just got screwed by good ole' Americans.

I appreciate any help.

You paid cash, you gotta wait in line with the creditors picking the meat from CCI's corpse. Chances are you won't see a single cent but you might get lucky and get something.

[Equitravel]

Hello from France !

I am surprised that there is no financial warranty for tour operators in the US like we have in France : in France, tour operators need to have a License, with a financial warranty so that consumers are refunded by a specific fund called APS in case of bankrupcy. This APS ensures the consumers that they will be refunded for any amount they paid, there is no limit.

Are you sure that there is no system like this one in the US ?

I own a French company dedicated to horse riding tours (called Randocheval (http://www.randocheval.com)in France, and Equitravel (http://equi.travel)/ Ride in France (http://www.rideinfrance.com)for other riders), and I have such a warranty. If my company went bankrupt, the APS would take my home and other belongings, and refund all my clients even if the total amount to be refunded is more than this.

Good luck to all of you.

Sabine - Randocheval / Equitravel / Ride in France

[annz]

I was following another thread Cross Country International Out of Business and I can no longer find it. Does anyone know how to find this thread?

[Painted Wings]

I thought it was on off course but I can't find it either.

[gottagrey]

It was on Off Course.. I thnk if you do a search for it some of the threads will show up. I think the title says Cross Country International Out of business...

[Evalee Hunter]

It was on Off Course.. I thnk if you do a search for it some of the threads will show up. I think the title says Cross Country International Out of business...

Since kcooper started that thread, if you click on her name, you can view all of her posts - and Cross Country International Out of Business does NOT show up. I also cannot find it with a regular old search of threads on Off Course. I wondered during the latter part of that thread if it was going to be taken down by the moderators for two reasons (1) so many venues were posting info about how to contact them directly for vacations (e.g. advertising) & (2) there were several posts saying things about the woman who owned CCI, e.g. unsubstantiated direct attacks on a person's chararacter, rather than factual info about the closing of the company.

It is unfortunate that it appears the thread is gone because it contained loads of helpful info on how to get your money back.

[eversp@uncw.edu]

Cross Country International information

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I found the following info on this website:

http://investing.businessweek.com/bu...p?capId=272285

Info:

Announced 11/13/08
Cross Country International Corp.
Bankruptcy
Cross Country International Corp filed a voluntary petition for liquidation under Chapter 7 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on November 13, 2008. The Company listed its assets of $9,035 and liabilities of $2.47 million. The unsecured creditors include An Sibin Riding Centre, Citibank, Cloneshire Equestrian Centre, M&T Bank, Bank of America, Calliaghstown Riding Center, Croagh Patrick Walking Tours, Dunraven Arms Hotel, Wachovia Bank and Gleneagles. The Company hired Thomas Genova of Genova & Malin as its debtor counsel. Paul L. Banner is appointed as Chapter 7 Trustee.
MTB's price was down 2.17% after the transaction was announced on 11/13/08.
Creditor / Lender
An Sibing Horse Riding Centre
Bank of America Corporation
Calliaghstown Riding Center
Citibank N.A.
Cloneshire Equestrian Centre
Croagh Patrick Walking Tours
Dunraven Arms Hotel
M&T Bank Corp.
The Gleneagles Hotel
Wachovia Bank Of Delaware National Association
Legal Advisor
Genova & Malin

With such low assets and substantial debts, it looks like perhaps those who would file claims against CCI would be able to pierce the corporate veil to reach the Lancasters personally. I suspect that CCI was undercapitalized and that the Lancasters engaged in comingling of funds. You will have to file your claims in the bankruptcy court of the Southern District of New York and, unfortunately, will be an unsecured creditor. CCI's and the Lancasters' attorneys are Genova & Malin (http://www.hudsonvalleybankruptcylawyers.com/).

The best of luck in obtaining your funds from CCI and the Lancasters. Perhaps a lien on the Big League Barbers company or personal and real property of the Lancasters might help.

[mortebella]

Whoa! and they were in Forbes Magazine's best companies to vacation with not that long ago (to the best of my memory) ...some kind of list Forbes put out about rating vacation companies. It was about '06.

[sparkling sienna]

There is a discussion about CCI on another board, maybe Off Course. It seems they went out of business and other folks are having trouble getting a refund.

Hi there, we are an equestrian centre in Ireland who have been very badly hit by CCI going out broke as they had not paid us for months. We did however find that if their customers contacted their credit card companies they were given refunds.

We were very lucky and some of these lovely people still came and had their holidays with us and they were given great discounts and all seemed to have had great fun.

We had been tied to CCI and could not take any direct bookings and only on their demise did we realise how much comission they were taking and were very upset to feel that return guests to our facility were not given additional disconts as we would normally give here.

[LexInVA]

Whoa! and they were in Forbes Magazine's best companies to vacation with not that long ago (to the best of my memory) ...some kind of list Forbes put out about rating vacation companies. It was about '06.

CCI simply made it on a list of Forbes' Best Of Equestrian Stuff On The Web in their goofy web directory. They never got any actual endorsement or investigation from Forbes as a business.

[honestabe]

Thanks for the link to the lawyers' website, they still owe us my spouse's tax forms. I cannot process our tax return until we receive the form. It's not as annoying as losing thousands on a vacation I'm sure, but it's making what should've been a simple process 10 times more complicated.

[Evalee Hunter]

Thanks for the link to the lawyers' website, they still owe us my spouse's tax forms. I cannot process our tax return until we receive the form. It's not as annoying as losing thousands on a vacation I'm sure, but it's making what should've been a simple process 10 times more complicated.

Of course you can prepare your tax forms without a W-2. It is helpful to have the W-2 but there is a substitute W-2 for just your situation & there are thousands, if not millions, of tax returns filed every year using substitute W-2s (can't remember the form number at the minute). You just put on the form how much was earned, how much withheld, etc. & explain where the numbers came from - for example, the last pay stub.