Families at four California high schools say they’re out as much as $140,000 after paying a Kennesaw-based trip planner for tours to Japan that fell through.

Kennesaw-based Harmony International could not be reached for comment about the report on Wednesday by NBC affiliate 7 San Diego.

“We have families that have paid them $10,000 and, you know, who knows if they’re going to see any of that money,” one mother told the TV station.

The families each paid in excess of $3,600 for each student to travel to Japan with their school bands, according to the report, which said company owner Brad Matheson later sought an additional $700 per family, prompting the families to demand their money back.

They say they didn’t get it, and the report quotes a lawyer for Harmony who indicated the company was going out of business.

That lawyer, Erika Orcutt, told the AJC that no Georgia families were affected.

Harmony's website was taken down -- replaced with a white screen and a short message indicating it could be contacted through Orcutt.

Brad and Margaret Matheson are also listed in state records as the officers of MFPI Group, Inc., another tour company.

The couple appeared in an AJC article four years ago about downsizing homes, when they moved into a 1,600 square foot condo in the W Atlanta.

In other Education news:

High school students in North Fulton County were inspired after a classmate took drugs at a house party and drowned in Lake Windward in 2016.

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