HOUSTON – Police are investigating a southwest Houston travel agency after consumers alleged the owners took their money and gave them canceled reservations.
The Better Business Bureau is also looking into at least seven similar complaints and has given the company, Air International Travel, an “F” rating.
After several friends recommended the company, Matthew Maduemesi said he paid more than $11,000 to fly five relatives from Nigeria to Houston. Two of them were going to school in the U.S, he said. The other three were attending his baby shower.
He said that when he called the airline several days later, he was told the reservations had been canceled – although he never got his money back.
"I cried my eyes out for the first week," said Maduemesi, who works as a U.S. Navy recruiter. “I think, how can someone be so mean, you know, to treat me like that?"
He said he hasn’t been able to reach Air International Travel for weeks.
"Please, if you could give me back my money,” he pleaded. “I'm not making enough money to be losing $11,000."
11 News tried repeatedly to contact company representatives over several days, but could only reach a voicemail recording that would not allow messages since the mailbox was full.
No one answered the door Wednesday at the company’s listed address at an office building in the 6600 block of Hardin in southwest Houston.
Monica Russo, a BBB spokesperson, urged all consumers to do their homework before paying so much money to companies they don’t trust.
"And if you pay with a credit card, you have a much better likelihood of recovering your money in the event some type of situation like this occurs," she said.
