The Ohio Attorney General's Office filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Discovery Tours on Friday after the company was accused of taking money from parents and schools for trips it never provided.
The most recent case was when the company left 500 Mentor school students high and dry just 12 hours before their Washington D.C. trip — a crushing blow for parents who saved for the trip and for students who had looked forward to it since grade school.
Since May 2, the AG's office has received more than 700 complaints from concerned and frustrated parents who paid the company hundreds of dollars and were not refunded before the company canceled all trips and ceased operations.
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The family that owns Discovery Tours filed for bankruptcy on Monday. Court documents show the family paid themselves back first before trying to repay families and schools.
The investigation done by the AG's office found the company accepted the money from families and schools while knowing it couldn't provide the promised services.
Those who are affected by Discovery Tours can file a complaint here.
