CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION ORDERS
SELLER OF OPRAH WINFREY SHOW TRIP PACKAGE
TO PAY RESTITUTION AND CIVIL PENALTIES

Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that his Consumer Protection Division has issued a final order requiring a seller of a bus trip package to pay restitution of more than $30,000.00 and to pay a penalty of $36,000.00. Terrance Hawkins of Temple Hills, Maryland, who trades as Royal Travel Group and Royal Stages, Inc., collected deposits from consumers for a bus trip package that included tickets to The Oprah Winfrey Show, hotel reservations, casino rebates, and bus transportation to Chicago and Detroit. Although Hawkins cancelled the trip, he failed to refund the money that he collected from consumers.

The Consumer Protection Division found that Hawkins committed at least 96 violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act when he took money from 96 individuals as payment for a trip that he was unable to provide. The Division’s order immediately bars Hawkins from offering or selling bus trips unless he is able to deliver the goods or services on the promised date.

“I hope this order serves as a lesson to other business owners in Maryland: provide consumers with what they have paid for and what you have promised, or you could end up paying much more in the end,” said Attorney General Gansler.