Travel agent under investigation, faces theft charges
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HOOD RIVER, Ore. – Cynthia Cannarile wanted to make her mother’s dream come true.
“She had always dreamed of going to Ireland,” Cannarile said.
So she went to Cascade Travel in Hood River to book a trip through the owner and her high school friend Sue Collins. They walked away with a document showing the tickets were confirmed for Cannarile, her mother, her sister and her niece.
But as the date drew closer for their trip, Cannarile said no flight itinerary ever arrived at her home. She said they kept getting the runaround from Collins until the day before they were planning to leave.
“We sat in her office and told her we are not leaving until she gave us a confirmation number and showed us that she had paid for those tickets,” Cannarile said.
They went to Ireland as planned, but a death in the family required the women cut the trip short. Cannarile said they bought trip insurance from Cascade Travel, which would pay for rearranging their flights if needed.
“We went to see about using that insurance, and we found out we had no insurance,” Cannarile said.
The family was stuck in Ireland for the remainder of their scheduled vacation.
Hood River Police Detective Don Cheli says they aren’t the only ones who’ve had problems with trips booked through Cascade Travel. He’s been investigating Sue Collins for months.
“She’s denied pocketing the money, but we’re having a hard time figuring out where the money is going,” Cheli said.
The cases include about 50 customers, according to Cheli, who’ve had problems with their trips ranging from no tickets at all, to no return flights or a hotel that was different than the one promised.
“She’s been telling me ‘these things happen, it’s an accident,’” said Cheli. “But unfortunately they happen a lot.”
Hood River Police suspect there are more people who have lost money after booking trips through Collins and Cascade Travel. They want to hear from anyone who believes they are a victim.
Collins declined to be interviewed on camera and refused to talk with KATU News about the police investigation.
Cheli says police are having a hard time filing charges against Collins because she often pays disgruntled customers back or books their trips correctly at the last minute when confronted.
Cannarile and her relatives, however, are pushing forward. Police filed four counts of theft against Collins for the trip insurance that Cannarile paid for, but never got.
Collins appeared in court on Monday.
“I want her to stop,” said Cannarile. “I don’t know why she’s doing this.”
What a piece of work! Â Yes, Duck2009 she is indeed overseas; Japan I think. Â I guess she couldn't change her travel plans since she didn't purchase trip insurance for herself. Can't imagine going on a trip knowing you are facing legal issues---but just shows how off her moral compass is. Â Hope she ran and has to face additional charges if/when she ever returns.
she screwed my dad friend as well. my dad friend was so post go on a trip with students to England the main guy of the group getting everything together like the Tickets and stuff had to pay insurance on the tickets just in cause something happen with the trip and or someone needed to come back early for what every reason.. come to find out there was no insurance an she keepet the money and when it came to the day to leave the night befor The main guy saw that only half the tickets were there and the other he had to put on his CC like almost 2 grand  spent on tickets
She screwed my mom over too! I am an HR native, currently living overseas and my mom used her to book tickets to come visit me. Sue told her "just pay for your first leg of travel (portland to where I am) and then you can pay me for your return flight when you get back". Sure enough, Sue never booked the return flight!! My mom had to buy a ticket for an overseas flight 3 days before departure, but unfortunately because Sue never quoted her a price, she can't say exactly how much money she lost because of her.
First: I really feel bad for this woman. There is clearly something wrong!Â
Second: She almost ruined my wedding and honeymoon. We (my husband and I) used her to book our flights to our wedding in Florida as well as our honeymoon. We went to her in December to book everything for mid-March. After calling our honeymoon hotel and the airlines, we discovered she hadn't booked a thing. We found all of this our about 2 weeks before we left. We hired her to avoid time-consuming airline bookings as well as accommodations for our family members at our wedding. It clearly backfired. She ended up "re-booking" all of the reservations. My husband and I went through hell and back dealing with her. Although she didn't officially steal from us (even though we paid up-front) she caused a great amount of stress and worry and a lot of time. Â This is just the short story...Â
 @keekop a little bird told me that Sue just left the country.. not sure if it was a pre-planned vacation or she is running, but maybe she was too busy handling her own reservations to take care of paying customers. I wonder what HRPD would think if they learned about this........
What a sad selfish person must be an O fan and what is yours she deserves as she is not working for anything. Yet another demo making Oregon as bad as LA or New O
 @2little2late "must be an O fan"
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I'm not an O fan, but give it a freakin' rest already.
This lady is a fraud, she screwed us too, lock her up!
We also had a problem with Sue from Cascade Travel! Last year in October my sons school put together a trip to England with 17 students and 5 adults. We went through CT because she was local! We booked the trip and paid our deposits! In Jan. we were notified that ticket prices would be 300 extra due to changing costs. Then in May 2 days before the trip we were notified that there was not enough seats together on the flight and that our original flight was unavailable. Sue then had a solution flying into a diferent country and have a 24 hour layover in the airport! I dont think so! 2 DAYS!! to send my 12 year old across the world! Many Many Parents were upset! In the end the school, the superentindent, and a parent found all new flights which were paid with their credit cards and they were able to take their trip! No thanks to Sue at Cascade Travel! This woman did not only falsely sell travel insurance and then pocket the money, She also only thought of herself and ruined vacations for many families! I hope that she does have to pay the price for what she has done as she has been doing it for many many years!!
 @Laura Kirby a little bird told me that Sue just left the country.. not sure if it was a pre-planned vacation or she is running, but maybe she was too busy handling her own reservations to take care of paying customers. I wonder what HRPD would think if they learned about this........
 @Laura Kirby "2 DAYS!! to send my 12 year old across the world!"
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LOL! The things we take for granted...  Sorry about your experience. That would anger me as well.
I didn't know they had a Dotty's Deli in Hood River.
If this type of illegal business practice is actually happening then those involved in the fraud should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
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I hope that anyone that didn't get services or products they paid for get reimbursed and also receive compensation for their trouble and any problems that they occurred.Â
My job requires travel. 40+ wks./yr. My office uses a service out of Ohio that handles all logistics. Flawlessly, I might add. They move hundreds of guys around the world everyday. A nice vacation for me is to be home for more than 72 Hrs. Oh, and I like tiny airports.
Sue Collins appears to be betting on the odds. Sell trip insurance (generally not a smart buy), collect the premium, don't buy the insurance, and pocket the cash as there are very few instances where people can actually file a claim. She just got caught.Â
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Maybe with those two pairs of glasses on her head she has double vision!!!
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My guess is she has a gambling problem, spending problem, or drug and/or alcohol problem.
@I812 ......trip insurance "generally not a smart buy"..... You shouldn't make that generalization. Everyones life circumstances are different. For some people it can be crucial.
@Rob C It is not a generalization, it is a fact. Trip insurance is sold because the insurer makes money, plain and simple. The policies are tightly structured and the odds against collecting are very much in the insurers favor. It may be a smart buy for a limited percentage of travelers based on their personal circumstances but for the vast majority it is a waste of money.Â
@Rob Collins  I am not clarevoyant but I might be clairvoyant. ;)
@I812 ......wow! Anger issues?? Didn't know you were clarevoyant. And it must be wonderful to be as smart as you and an authority things you know little about. I won't give Sue anything. Don't know her, never have. Never will
@Rob Collins Apparently you can neither read, comprehend, nor understand logic and rational reasoning Rob Collins. There are numerous reasons to purchase insurance, even when it is "generally not a smart buy." Here are a few: It is a legal requirement, it prevents substantial or catastrophic financial losses, it provides peace of mind, and/or it assures a specific level of service. Statistically I would be better off to purchase only catastrophic coverage to prevent financial devastation but I choose to purchase more mainstream coverage. It is an expense I justify as an intangible safety net that provides peace of mind. None of my insurance, including health insurance, has been a "smart buy" based on an investment return analysis.
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My statement is and will continue to be statistically correct as te process of underwriting is geared to maintain profitability. And no, I do not begrudge businesses making money. What I do dislike is a business that purports to sell travel packages and sells "trip insurance" on top of it thereby collecting a commission. There is an inherent conflict of interest in doing so as different insurers pay different commission rates and the travel agent is most likely to place business where it is most beneficial to the agent.Â
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Finally, Rob Collins, you seem to have some anger issues as well as comprehension problems. I don't intend to continue to respond to your comments. I truly lack the patience to educate the uneducable, and reason with those lacking the intellectual capability of rational thought.
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Give my regards to Sue.
@I812 .......I am not related to Sue Collins and what she is alledged to have done is despicable. Based on your logic........cancel your car insurance and homeowners policy. Since you're an expert on statistics ( as well as travel) odds are in your favor that it may not be "beneficial " for you. I said you generalized and wrongfully so. Still have a problem with people making money? Oh yeah, that selling insurance thing.
@Rob C While you are searching for reality let me break it down for you. I did not say travel insurance was not beneficial for some. It can be. What I said was "generally travel insurance is not a smart buy." Millions of travelers take trips daily throughout the world without purchasing travelers insurance and don't need it. As a percentage, those finding travel insurance pays dividends are a very small percentage of the traveling public. Therefore it remains "generally" not a smart buy.Â
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Now, if you do not understand statistics, I cannot begin to help you understand my statement.
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Your defense of Sue Collins could lead one to believe you are related in some manner.Â
Let me break some news to you. Your feelings and beliefs do not make facts.
Here are some people that can benefit: Parents, Senior Citizens, travelers with pre-exsisting medical conditions, travlers with jobs. I could go on but you are stuck in your mind set.
 And of course they make money on it. Is that a crime?? Would you sell something that isn't profitabl?. You generalized about something you know nothing about and put it out there as fact. Thats whats wrong with the internet. And your comment.
@Rob C You asked if you could ask. I said you could. I didn't say I would answer. Whether or not I am in the travel business is irelevant to the fact that insurers only sell travelers insurance because they can make money on it. That fact in and of itself means that "generally" travel insurance is not a good buy.
@I812 .....okay, I'm asking. How long?
@Rob C Yes you may.
@I812 .......may I ask how long you have been in the travel business?
@I812
"My guess is she has a gambling problem, spending problem, or drug and/or alcohol problem"
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that's a little presumptuous
Sue Collins thinks she is a banker and is above the law. Boycott will fix the problem.
@Obongo Geddon ........travel agent.....banker ? Wow ?
I book all my trips myself and have NEVER had a problem, I'm sure I get better deals too.
People still use travel agents? Last time I used one was 20 years ago.
@Billy Batts ......... You know you're getting the best pricing and products??
just saying that if you find a good, educated, honest travel agent it's not that bad. you never know it could help you save money, it'll definitely save you time and headache. who knows? it never hurts just to call and see if they can find a better rate.... just sayin...
@Billy Batts It has been 20 years for me too. It is too easy now to just do it yourself on line.
@Dirtman Yep, and if you use your CC you'll be able to dispute any charges for services you didn't receive.