LifestyleThe Guardian

‘I was making no money’: Travel agent side hustle promoted by influencers criticised over fees

A travel agent side hustle promoted by influencers including Love Island's Yasmin Hadlow has left recruits out of pocket after fees outweighed any earnings.

Would-be marketers enticed by online talk of entering a world of travel and easy cash find that the reality is rather different

The Long Sip
What happened

Influencers including a Love Island contestant and a former Geordie Shore star have been promoting a travel agent scheme that critics say resembles a pyramid structure.

The detail

Seven people who joined InteleTravel via PlanNet Marketing told the Guardian they struggled to make money once sign-up fees of around 150 pounds and monthly costs of 30 to 40 pounds were factored in.

What it means

Recruits say they were encouraged to focus on signing up new agents rather than selling holidays, raising concerns about how the business model actually works.

For you

If you are considering joining InteleTravel via PlanNet Marketing, note that agents pay a sign-up fee of around 150 pounds plus 30 to 40 pounds a month, and many recruits found recruitment became…

Full story at The Guardian

What readers are saying

merv47
The part about the first year profit guarantee sounds helpful until you read the long list of conditions like buying business cards and booking a hotel stay every quarter. That changes how realistic it actually is.
DarwinColleen
Does the story mention how many of those seven people actually claimed the first year profit guarantee?
maz1966
The annual income disclosure statement shows average earnings from recruitment are about $40 a year. That explains why so many ended up pushing the PlanNet side even though they signed up to sell holidays.
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