Complaints

This profile includes complaints for WorldStrides's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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WorldStrides has 10 locations, listed below.

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• 

  WorldStrides

  218 W Water St # 400 Charlottesville, VA 22902-5062

  
• 

  WorldStrides Heritage Performance Programs

  PO Box 571187 Salt Lake City, UT 84157-1187

• 

  WorldStrides

  3060 Washington Road, Suite 240 Glenwood Office Park Glenwood, MD 21738

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  WorldStrides Heritage Performance Programs

  2650 S Decker Lake Blvd Ste 200 Salt Lake City, UT 84119-2088

• 

  WorldStrides Heritage Performance Programs

  2650 S Decker Lake Blvd West Valley City, UT 84119-2049

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/12/2022

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  My daughter and I scheduled a trip to Europe through her s hool using Explorica. The trip was changed from ******, *****, and ****** to just ****** without our consent. The trip was then cancelled February 25th we were not given a full refund by explorica. We were given half of our investment back. No reservations were made and no plane ticket or train tickets were made either. The money sat there and they laid claim to half.

  Business Response

  Date: 10/19/2022

  Thank you for your patience as we have reviewed your account.

  Upon review, it appears you did not select the Travel Protection Plan that is offered at the point of sale.  This would protect your investment should you decide to cancel.  Any changes to the itinerary are mutual decisions with Explorica and your program leader, and since details of the tour were changed and not cancelled, you would fall under the standard cancellation for your account.  We are very sorry, and thank you for your inquiry.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:10/01/2022

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Date of Transaction: 6/10/22 Owed to me: $294.00 Situation: I overbooked hotel by one day. They contacted me to confirm I was overbooked by one day. I confirmed and they said they'd be sending me a refund but never did. I contacted them a number of times. Even my program director contacted them.Account: *********

  Business Response

  Date: 10/11/2022

  Thank you for contacting WorldStrides!

  It appears a refund check was initiated around 9/20/22, and sent to the address on file.  Please confirm you have received this, and let us know.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:09/19/2022

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I received a letter from World strides NLYF Stem program stating my daughter was selected to participate in a college program for gifted students. It stated they would be attending world class colleges and universities and would meet and interact with astronaut's and would have hands on experiences that would last a lifetime, skills that would last a lifetime and it would all be documented through a photo package at an additional cost. There were lots of promises. It turns out although my child is extremely smart she was not recommended for this program by her teacher as the brochure stated but instead this a was marketing diversion to make the least sophisticated consumer believe that they were hand selected and recommended by a mentor that knows them personally and this is not the case. My week in picture never came to me. I have called numerous times asking for our paid photo package, so we'd have a snapshot of our daughter's time at camp and this company hasn't sent us anything, nothing. At this point we have no photo package, no pictures with the astronaut as promised, no teacher recommendation as stated in brochure and absolutely no willingness to resolve this matter or produce our photo package. I feel like I was scammed.

  Business Response

  Date: 09/26/2022

  Thank you for reaching out to us.  We are sorry to hear your experience has been less than exceptional, and want to take a look and see what we can do to assist.  Please provide your students name, account number, and phone number associated with your account.  We can then review and see how best to assist you.

   

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/25/2022

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  WorldStrides changed the criteria to attend their Intensive *********** program which meant my child was unable to attend. As per their email request, I requested to speak with an admissions director about "other options" since I did not want to enroll in another program or in the same program at a future date. I never received a call from admissions. WorldStrides continued to charge my card despite me asking them to stop via phone calls in which they assured me there would be no more charges. They have charged me over $2000. In my first phone call, I was told that a manager would be calling me back, but that they would provide a full refund within 2-3 weeks. The refund never came and they charged my account again despite saying they canceled my child's enrollment in the program. On the second call, I was told that a manager would have to call me back and they confirmed my child was not actively enrolled in the program. I made 3 calls after that; calls 3 and 4 said a manager would call me. No manager has ever called me back. On the 5th call, I was told that because I bought travel insurance, the only way to get a refund would be to take out a claim with the travel insurance company. They said they could credit for next year (which I don't want) but no refunds would be provided. This is theft plain and simple.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/31/2022

  Thank you for contacting WorldStrides, we are sorry to hear your experience has been less than exceptional.  For us to better serve you, please provide you account information, including the name of the participant, so we can research on our end.  We look forward to hearing from you soon.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 09/05/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the offer and/or response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  They have provided their standard "please provide your account details so we can research this further" reply. There is no offer of resolution. 

   

  My daughter's name is Arctura ************. Her account was closed so I don't have her account number. Please do not publish my daughter's name publicly. 
  
  Regards,
  
  ***************************************
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 10/19/2022

  Thank you for your patience as we have researched your account.

  According to that group, they have refunded your $499 deposit.  Can you confirm?

  Thank you.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:08/11/2022

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On June 15, 2021, I enrolled on a tour trip to ****** that was scheduled for October 7, 2022. Payments were drafted monthly from my bank. In July 2022, I was sent a text which I included that the trip was going to be canceled. If I wanted my refund to contact them. I did call the travel agent and told her that I wanted my refund. I also let the Program Leader, *****************************, know that I wanted my refund. I just noticed that on my invoice which I recently received when I called World Strides in July 2022, that the trip date was changed to March 2023. Proceeding with my complaint is that I was told that if I didnt get their cancellation insurance at the time I enrolled, I would have to pay a fee BUT, if they canceled I wont. They said they were going to refund my money except for $399. Which that is for a cancellation fee! I still dont have my refund and I am seeking to also have my $399 refunded too. Thank you

  Business Response

  Date: 08/16/2022

  Thank you for your patience as we have reviewed your account.

  It appears that yes, the tour was changed to March of 2023.  You were given the option to either cancel with only the $399 penalty, or continue and travel on the tour in March.  Since you chose to continue with the cancellation, we have processed and your refund is pending distribution on or around 9/23/22, minus the $399 cancellation fee.

  We are very sorry you are not able to travel with us.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:07/29/2022

  Type:Billing Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I canceled my son's registration for the National Security program in late February, well before the April 1st required deadline. No further payments would be charged but my deposit could not be refunded. My credit card was charged over $2300 between March and June. Worldstrides claimed I had never canceled the registration. I continued to call every two weeks, checking on the refund that was promised. The three representatives continued to tell me that management was reviewing the claim. It could take up to 2 weeks, then 4 weeks, then 8 weeks. My son did not attend. I followed the contract. I have asked to speak to management and been told there is no way to contact management. All requests go through representatives. The formal email I sent went to them, as well. This educational opportunity was school sanctioned and seemed to be legitimate but it became obvious that they do not readily follow through on their obligations. I continue to wait for my refund.

  Business Response

  Date: 08/08/2022

  Thank you for contacting WorldStrides.

  We are sorry to hear your experience was less than exceptional.  Please provide us with you account information, as well as the travelers name, so we can investigate and figure out how best to help.

  Thanks, ****

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/13/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the offer and/or response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
  
  

  Envision by Worldstrides sent a vague response that provided no true resolution and no explanation of why six months have past since I began the refund process. The responding individual does ask for the specifics of the account (which I did not include initially). My son's name is ********************* and the student ID is *********. This is fairly simple information that the individual who responded could have easily found, based on my last name and the fact that there are several documented calls to the company. 

  The results of this complaint that I expect from WorldStride are a full refund minus the non-refundable deposit, based on the fact that I canceled enrollment in February 2022, well within the contractual guidelines, and official written communication that the refund has been processed. I appreciate your assistance. 

  
  Regards,
  
  *******************************
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Business Response

  Date: 08/19/2022

  Thank you for your response.

  We spoke with our representatives at Envision, and they have advised a refund was processed back to the card ending in ****, please confirm.  We appreciate your patience.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 08/22/2022

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. The business has refunded my tuition for the program and I consider this complaint resolved. If any issues related to this case and the company arise I can get back to you at: **********************************************.

  
  Regards,
  
  *******************************