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People to People

Susan of Cabot, AR December 9, 2006

I just read your online articles about People to People International ...  and just wanted to add my two cents' worth. The articles say that PTPI admitted to getting names from student lists. Well, they must be getting names from more than that. Our PTPI letter (and this is the second one we've received in the last few years) came addressed to the Parents of Earl Gray.

Let me tell you -- Earl was our one-eyed cat who died about 10 years ago. He's buried in the back yard. I'm not making this up. We've gotten lots of laughs out of these stupid PTPI letters (and also Earl's invitations to Space Camp), but with this second letter, I felt I had to warn people. What a pack of lies this company is selling.

About 12 years ago, my husband and I ordered one item (ONE ITEM!) through the mail in Earl's name, just to see how the name got passed around via mailing lists. We never ordered anything else, or responded to any of Earl's mail. It's unbelievable that his name is still floating around, not to mention that someone figures he's in high school now and deserves a trip to Europe.

Kim of Turner, OR November 30, 2006

Deceitful marketing tactics --- In the first letter we received from People to People (dated September 27, 2006), they claimed that my son was invited to study in Australia because he has been named for the honor by a teacher, former Student Ambassador or national academic listing. In a postcard that I just received today from People to People (November 29, 2006), the first line says to my son you earned a special invitation to the People to People Student Ambassador Program .... The words honor and earned leads us to believe that this invitation to study abroad is based on my son's merit; when, in fact, they received my son's name from a mail list.

I called People to People to ask how my son earned this invitation and they admitted that it was nothing he did. They also admitted to me (after I questioned them) that their interview process has no determination on being selected (as they led us to believe) for the trip --- the group is filled on a first-come-first-serve basis on paying the deposit. Basically, People to People's wording in their letters led us to believe that my son received this invitation as an honor and that he earned this.

We simply cannot afford this trip right now. However, we felt that we owed it to my son to at least try to get him in this program since he earned this invitation --- even if it meant to go further in debt for him to go on this 20 day trip to Australia.

Fortunately, we found out the truth in time --- unlike my brother whose daughter also received this "honor" this year and has already paid the deposit ON CREDIT. I read that People to People has changed their tactics --- which they have changed some wording, but only slightly. They still very much lead people to believe that the student was personally selected.

Anyone can go on their website and nominate anyone to receive an invitation. They still don't make it clear that the groups are formed on a first-come-first-serve basis and that it is NOT formed by the student's interview performance. Basically, the first ones to place a deposit on the tour, are accepted on the tour. So what are all the required references and the interview for? I believe that the People to People's program is not a scam --- but their marketing tactics are very deceitful. My son was crushed to find out that he was not really nominated and that he did nothing to earn this invitation. It's really too bad that they are ruining a great program with their deceit. This company needs to be forced to stop their tactics before more innocent children's hopes are dashed and before more people go into unnecessary debt (like my brother's family did) after feeling like they owe it to their child after she earned this honor.

Consequences --- my son's hopes were raised and then dashed. My brother's family went into further debt after being misled by this company with the same tactics that my family received from this company. The company has still not stopped these deceitful tactics even after they have claimed that they will immediately stop these procedures. Many people are continually being misled.

Peggy of Youngstown, OH November 22, 2006

I am a fifth grade teacher in an urban school district which serves some very needy families. This year, several of my students came to me with literature from People to People. I became suspicious of the program and its costs which led me to your site.

The parents of my students can not afford vacations, and they would have denied themselves an automobile, or Lord knows what else, because they believed the claims of the advertising letter.

I want to thank you for your investigation.  Children really should be free of mailing lists from advertisers.

Rhonda of Jackson, AL November 21, 2006

My child received a letter in July 2006 and responded. For all who plan to participate there is an application process that requires three letters of reference- two from teachers and one from a community leader. The next step is an in-person interview with a panel of interviewers (educators, both present and retired). That is the point at which the program is selective. I believe in the program due to our involvement in monthly meetings each month since we got our invitation. The students meet with P2P officials to plan fund-raising, receive instruction on the cultures of the countries they will visit.

It has already been an experience of a lifetime for my chlid and I am thankful for this opportunity to do something positive for our country and its futures leaders. Maybe the programs in some states don't live up to the ideals of the founder -- but the South Alabama Region is sincere and true to the organization's founding principles.

Tracie of Niagara Falls, NY October 12, 2006

I recently had written to you about this company. They have finally told me after hiring a lawyer where they received my sons name. It is called American Student List. They buy our childrens names! What can we do to stop the selling of childrens names? One day these LIST are going to get into the wrong hands! I am giving the name of the company to all readers of this web site so they know how people to people get childrens information.

The list is called American Student List address 330 old country rd, Mineola, NY 11501. 1-888-462-5600

Tricia of Barnegat, NJ October 2, 2006

Today, my 14 year old daughter Ciara received a letter from People to People International. It is dated September 29,2006. It stated that she had been invited to go to England, Wales and Ireland in 2007. The letter also stated that she had been named for this honor by a teacher, former Student Ambassador or national academic listing. The letter is signed by Ron Goddard, Senior Program Director.She then called a friend to tell him about the letter she received. Her friend stated that he, also, got the very same letter. 

My daughter suffers from ADHD and depression. She was ecstatic upon receiving this letter. She struggles in school due to her ADHD and depression. She wanted to know what teacher had recommended her so she could thank them. When I informed her of the complaints that I had read about, she was devastated. She stated how it had made her feel special to have received this invitation. It was hard to explain to her that she still is special and that in no way does the misleading letter mean that she is not. I feel something immediate needs to be done about this company. From the prior complaints that I have read, it is obvious that they have not changed the content of the letter as they stated they would. 

Tracie of Niagara Falls, NY September 29, 2006

I was very excited when I received a letter from people to people saying that my 10 year old got chosen for next years europe trip. Well if it was because of his academics then why did EVERYONE in his class get a letter AND EVERYONE on his baseball team get one -- what a slap in the face it was I feel I have been lied to and I wouldn't give them a penny. I have email them over 40 times to get the mailing list from them either the school is selling it or the baseball team. If I find out I will press charges because my childs information is private. They may not sell it.

They don't like when you question them at all I am going to there info meeting to confront them so other parents are not ripped off. I believe they should be able to tell you who recomended your child if they can't they bought the name and it is against the law. I was lied to. Someone sold my sons personal information to this company

Deborah of Hanover, MD September 25, 2006

Letter from People to People is misleading as it says my son was referred by a teacher, former Student Ambassafor or national academic listing. I was very excited when I first received the letter, then I found out that they send the same letter to everyone.

It was very disturbing to find out that they send this form letter out to people and not tell you how your child was selected

Sue of Rockville, MD September 25, 2006

People to People has invited our homeschooled middle school student to travel to China. The letter tells us he was nominated by a teacher - hard to believe I nominated my son and forgot.

Loidys of Miami, FL September 22, 2006

I just received an invitation and I am not a student. The letter is addressed to my parents. I am adult who finished high school a very long time ago. It said that I was recommended. I searched the internet and found out about the lady whose deceased baby had been recommended. I do not know how they got my name. I had never even heard about the company.

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