BOCA RATON, Fla. -- If you've been dreaming of a vacation to spend time away without spending too much, you might be tempted to join Quorum Travel Club. But when Local 10 Investigative Reporter Julie Summers went to Quorum's office in Boca Raton to ask about an unhappy customer she was greeted with expletives.

A man who would only identify himself as "an employee" threatened to sue somebody when Summers visited Quorum's offices.

Paty Alvarez contacted Local 10's Problem Solvers Investigative unit after she and her husband paid almost $4,000 for a Quorum Travel Club membership that promised deep discounts for amazing adventures. The couple was dazzled by a convincing sales presentation. But when the travel deals did not materialize they requested a refund by certified letter and followed up with dozens of phone calls for several weeks.

"I've tried and tried and I can't speak to anybody that has some sort of authority there." Alvarez told Summers.

Local 10 was finally able to reach one of the owners of the company, George Rodriguez, who is based in the Orlando area. He assured Summers he would "do right" by Paty Alvarez and had his office issue her a refund check for the full amount of $3,795.

Alvarez was thrilled but cautious.

"Thank you so much," she said. "Justice has been done. Shall we go in and cash it and see?"

Local 10 cameras accompanied Alvarez to the bank to see if the check was viable. Once inside, a bank manager informed her they had called the bank on which the check was drawn and told Alvarez the funds were denied. The manager suggested Alvarez might have better luck at the bank where Quorum's account is held. But, she got bad news there too.

Even the Better Business Bureau gave Quorum Travel Club an "F" because of the company's disturbing pattern of problems.

"Quorum is extremely high as far as complaints. And they have many many open complaints. And that is what we're most concerned about," BBB's Michael Galvin said.

In fact, the Better Business Bureau said there is no evidence that deals offered by travel clubs are any better than what consumers can find on their own. They also said travel clubs are a "suspect industry" with a high level of misrepresentation.

So, before you sign up with any travel club do some research and check the company's reliability report with the BBB to make sure it's trustworthy.

When Summers went to Quorum, a sign on the door said the office was closed because "the air conditioning was broken." Yet, she and her videographer found it cool inside - except for the hot tempers.

"Turn that thing off!" an employee screamed at Summers and her photographer.

Summers replied "Alright, we're leaving. We just have a question about the $4,000 check that bounced."

"Leave or I will call police," he yelled in reply.

Since that check bounced Rodriguez promised to send the Alvarez family a cashier’s check via courier. So far, nothing has arrived.

According to the Florida Attorney General's office the number of complaints about travel clubs in general has tripled in the past year.