Very similar tactic used as previously described and as used by many other telephone marketing scams for decades. They led me to believe they are partners of big airlines and Karisma resorts and they have been in business for 20 years. They charged me more than what we agreed on the phone. They added additional taxes where they said the total charge is including tax. They chagrged me in Mexican Pesos so I had to pay 2.5% foreign exchange fees. They have been reported by my local news CTV and CBC in Oct and Nov that many victims in Canada have lost money and had no vacation service as promised.
Next time before you give out your credit card information, ask yourself what guarantees that they will deliver the service they promised? What happens if they dont? The national or local police can not help you because it is outside their jurisdiction. The credit card company will not dispute your transaction because they do not go by your verbal contract with them, even though there is telephone recording. The credit card company only cares if you give out your own credit card info, and if the merchant sent you a receipt that matches the amount on your monthly statement. They dont care if this amount is what you had agreed on verbally. As long as there is a written invoice to match the amount taken.
Back to the common sense when facing telephone marketers:
- do not answer phone calls from unfamiliar numbers
- hang up right away. It is not rude. Because they will not stop talking.
- if you give your credit card info out, it is up to them how much they want to charge you, regardless what you have agreed on verbally.
- If you give your credit card info out. Cancel the card right away because they can put future charges on it without you authorizing it.
There is huge loopholes in our legal system that is why telephone marketing is an organized crime that has been around for decades. Remember, once you give out your credit card info, your bank, credit card company, or the police has little to help you. You are subject to the mercy of telephone marketers what amount to put on your card before you can cancel the card.
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