Oil threat affecting vacation plans

TOPSAIL BEACH, NC (WWAY) — The explosion that caused what could turn out to be the worst oil spill in history is impacting vacationers not just along the Gulf Coast, but here in southeastern North Carolina.

The Walters family from Kentucky was worried the oil spill could affect their Topsail Beach vacation. After the oil ruined her family’s plans for a trip to the Gulf Coast, Fawn Walters called Ward Realty in Topsail Beach to see if she could get a refund if the oil spill came here. Walters says Ward assured her of a refund, as long as she got trip insurance.

After paying for half the trip, she called to check again. Walters says Ward said she needed to check with the insurance company, which said oil reaching Topsail would not get her a refund.

“I know the disaster is unavoidable, but I absolutely expect a good company to honor what they tell their customers,” Walters said. “This is unethical. This is bad business practices, and we’re on a budget, so if we’re out this money, there’s nothing we can do about it. We’ll have to sit in a house with an oil-covered beach, and that’s not fair.”

Of course, there’s no way of knowing if oil from the Gulf will wind up along our coast, but that’s beside the point for Walters, who got a full refund on her trip planned for the gulf coast.

The owner of Ward Realty, David Ward, says it was his company’s mistake to assure walters she could get a refund. The realtors weren’t sure if it was covered until they called the insurance company to find out. The Walters family is now looking for another place to vacation, and they’re hoping the third time’s the charm.