As the leaves begin to turn and we feel the icy breath of winter just around the corner, the thought of an escape to sunnier climates can be tempting. But temper your daydreams with good judgment before you respond.

Heed the example of a Kittery reader who received notification in the mail from a Miami company that she had won a Florida vacation. Thinking her dream of a getaway vacation for the family finally had come true, she called the toll-free number provided to confirm her good fortune and was told, “You have won an all-expense-paid vacation in Florida with a check for $100 for any extras that might be needed.”

The consumer was instructed to mail a check or money order for $159.95 within three days. At no point was she told why she was being charged $159.95, nor did she ask. The company representative promised that once the money was received, a vacation plan would be sent. The representative further assured that if the customer was not completely satisfied, the vacation plan could be returned within seven days for a full refund.

Our Kittery consumer sent a check for $159.95 the next day and, as promised, the vacation plan arrived promptly. But after examining the plan, the unhappy consumer decided against taking the trip because the “free” vacation was not entirely what she was led to believe. In reading the fine print, she discovered that to receive the “free” vacation, she would have to pay the round-trip airfare herself and the “vacation” was limited to a long weekend.

Two days later, the Kittery consumer mailed the plan back to the Florida company requesting the promised full refund. But when a month passed with no word from the company, she became concerned and wrote a letter to the company asking it to honor the offer of a refund.

When she still received no response, the consumer contacted Northeast COMBAT and asked us to intercede on her behalf as she was getting nowhere on her own.

A COMBAT caseworker immediately wrote a letter to the company, telling its representatives that we expected them to follow through on their agreement since the consumer had dutifully followed their instructions. We asked that they send a refund of $159.95 to the Maine customer within 14 business days. We notified the company that if it chose to ignore our request, we would inform the appropriate authorities in Florida of what we considered to be unethical business practices.

A company representative responded to COMBAT within the requested 14 days, informing our mediation volunteer that the company was sorry for the delay in mailing a refund. The representative claimed the company computer had been out of service and this had delayed the handling of correspondence since all records had to be checked manually. The official further assured us that a check for $159.95 was being processed and would be sent to our consumer with an apology for any inconvenience the delay may have caused.

Six days later the Kittery consumer confirmed that she finally had received a refund of $159.95 and she thanked COMBAT for accomplishing “a next to impossible feat.”

This story has a moral. Maine has many excellent, locally operated travel agencies that can work out a travel plan that fits your pocketbook.

Being aware of special rates on airfares and catering to your individual needs are among the local travel agents’ services. As we are fond of saying at COMBAT, “think global … but buy LOCAL.”

To be placed on COMBAT’s Maine Center for the Public Interest e-mail list, contact NeCOMBAT@aol.com, subject line “List Me.”

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT/The Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. For help or to request individual or business membership information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.