Need help filing Small Claim Case in Las Vegas

[The Danes Are Coming]

Hi Guy's

This may be one of the more unusual "discussions" on iRV2, but our problem is also a bit unusual.

In May 2008, when visiting Las Vegas, Nevada, with friends, we got severely "short changed" by a Grand Canyon Tour company to the tune of about $1,368.84.

We normally live and work in Denmark (Europe) and we believe that the Tour Company thinks that if they just don't respond to our claim for a refund, they will never hear from us again. We are a long way from their home turf and what are we going to do about it!

We have written to them 4 times without even getting a reply (we know they get and read our mail). We have contacted The Neighbourhood Justice Centre from Clark County Courts in Las Vegas in an attempt to mediate, and they took our case, but the Tour Company have refused to talk to them.

We see only one option left and that is to file a claim through the Small Claims Court in Las Vegas, but doing this when you are sitting several thousand miles away is not easy. We are however determined that companies like this should not get away with cheating visitors to the US (or anyone else for that matter) like this.

Would there be anyone locally in Las Vegas who would have experience with this type of supposedly simple court cases who would offer their assistance in this matter? Could be a law student or the like. We could for example split the outcome 50/50 in order to make it worth someone's while.

We could also just give it up and let "the bad guy's" win, but we just can't bring ourselves to do this. We could ask a professional law company to help us, but $1,300 doesn't go a long way and we might be throwing good money after bad.

If you are able to offer your assistance or maybe point us in the right direction, please send us a PM.

Any help is much appreciated.

[The Danes Are Coming]

Hi Guy's

This may be one of the more unusual "discussions" on iRV2, but our problem is also a bit unusual.

In May 2008, when visiting Las Vegas, Nevada, with friends, we got severely "short changed" by a Grand Canyon Tour company to the tune of about $1,368.84.

We normally live and work in Denmark (Europe) and we believe that the Tour Company thinks that if they just don't respond to our claim for a refund, they will never hear from us again. We are a long way from their home turf and what are we going to do about it!

We have written to them 4 times without even getting a reply (we know they get and read our mail). We have contacted The Neighbourhood Justice Centre from Clark County Courts in Las Vegas in an attempt to mediate, and they took our case, but the Tour Company have refused to talk to them.

We see only one option left and that is to file a claim through the Small Claims Court in Las Vegas, but doing this when you are sitting several thousand miles away is not easy. We are however determined that companies like this should not get away with cheating visitors to the US (or anyone else for that matter) like this.

Would there be anyone locally in Las Vegas who would have experience with this type of supposedly simple court cases who would offer their assistance in this matter? Could be a law student or the like. We could for example split the outcome 50/50 in order to make it worth someone's while.

We could also just give it up and let "the bad guy's" win, but we just can't bring ourselves to do this. We could ask a professional law company to help us, but $1,300 doesn't go a long way and we might be throwing good money after bad.

If you are able to offer your assistance or maybe point us in the right direction, please send us a PM.

Any help is much appreciated.

[LVJ58]

You might contact Nevada State Consumer Affairs Division, here's their web site:

http://www.fyiconsumer.org/

Also you might want to contact KTNV Ch 13 in Vegas, they love to investigate consumer complaints. Here's their site:

http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?s=5434305

Hope this helps some, best of luck,

[FatDog]

sent a PM

[Vegascpl]

I would encourage you to try using Channel 13 as suggested. They seem to be very effective and getting things done. If nothing else Vegas is very conerned about image and I think they will get something done for you. I would persue both that and the consumer affairs as suggested by LVJ58. We worked with some very dedicated state personnel on insurance issues, and I'm guessing you might get the same kind of service.

In my experience getting a settlement through small claims will be much more difficult and there is a big chance you'll never collect even if you do win!

Michael

2005 Dutch Star 40' 4 slide
2005 BMW K1200LT motorcycle on lift
2006 Ford Escape Hybrid

[Jestme13]

Can you explain exactly how you got short changed such a large amount of money?

[The Danes Are Coming]

Hi Jestme13

Basically the Tour Company sold us all seat (30 in total) on 5 helicopters. They have confirmed in writing that all these seats were booked by us and also paid for by us. Prior to our trip we announced (as a matter of courtesy) that only 25 people would be turning up, and as a result of this the tour company sold the remaining seats again, to people not belonging to our party.

I know this is what regular airlines do, but this is not what we agreed with the tour company and our contract do not give them the permission to resell our seats, regardless of whether they refund the money to us or not. From being a private tour we ended up having another party sharing our private tour. This we could live with if they had asked our permission and refunded the money for the seats sold, but they didn't do either.

[LVJ58]

Without reviewing the terms of your contractual agreement with the Tour Company and/or their published Operational Policy, it would be difficult to arrive at an objective conclusion as to whether they acted improperly.

Based on your general accounting of the incident, it would appear they may have acted improperly in double sale of the 5 seats and failing to refund monies you prepaid for same.

I wish you the best of luck in pursuing the matter.

Jim

[MtManLee]

Be aware, in some states you must be present for your court in small claims no one can stand in for you.

[Ceratto's Grotto]

Using the small claims court in our state is not the final process available to one. It can be just the beginning of a long and potentially unsuccessful process to get one's money. 1) A party can appeal to a higher court(s), thus a complete new civil trail process(s). 2) Collecting on a judgment will be another process too, one does not walk out of the court room with judgment check in hand.

In our state, a letter to the Attorney General can work well in some cases. These flights may be consessioned and/or authorized by the National Park system, If so, maybe send them the letter too?