AG gets temporary restraining order against travel firm

OZARK, Mo. -- Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon won a temporary restraining order Wednesday against a business that sold travel club memberships for up to $7,000 to visit Branson.

Nixon alleged Wilderness Point Services Unlimited, which operates as The Voyagers, has shown a pattern of misrepresentations, fraud and harassment of consumers.

He also is seeking restitution for the 25 people who claim to have lost a total of at least $50,000 through the alleged misrepresentations of the business and its owners, Thomas W. Hopkins and Sharon D. Hopkins.

The judge granted the temporary restraining order after determining that the Hopkinses may have violated Missouri consumer laws, Nixon said. It prohibits them from misrepresenting savings available to The Voyagers members, as well as attempting to collect from people who have tried to rescind their agreements within 72 hours.

Attorney Randy Angler, who represents the Hopkins, said his clients have not done anything wrong. Their contracts include a 72-hour rescission period, he said.

"The judge entered a temporary restraining order, but it doesn't tell the full story," Angler said. "It just says that my clients are not supposed to do anything illegal, which they haven't."

A Christian County circuit judge has set an Oct. 29 hearing for a preliminary injunction against the Hopkins' business.

Nixon filed an August lawsuit that accused nine companies that do business in the Branson area of travel-related fraud. He is seeking $200,000 in restitution.