On a yukky day I foolishly responded to a pop-up which appeared on my computer monitor, informing me 'Congratulations! You are the 1000th visitor to our web-site & have been selected to receive 1202.00 in travel pounds towards a Florida Holiday (including Disney Tickets) Call 0800-849-6823 to claim your prize. Res. #787'. I thought, my good luck is knocking my door. I ringed them. It is the most stupid decision I have made.
I didn't realize that I was going to be charged for the package, they said nothing about purchasing. I was convinced that I was the very lucky one. As I recalling it now, they quickly mentioned something like the value of the package is US$1700. But nobody told me that I had to pay US$498 to get it. I was totally baited by the picture the sales girl described to me, and it is free! She walked me to the webpage www.wholesalevacations.net, again no price is showing there. They promise a 'Vacation Accommodation in Florida, Complimentary Theme Park Tickets and or a 7 Day Alamo Rental Car'. They ask the tricky questions like" What credit card do you use when travel? Can you tell me your card number?" I should have known it better, never ever give out your credit card number when you are not sure what others are doing to it. Before yesterday I beleived that I was not an idiot.
Once they have you hooked they pass you on to another person to take your personal and financial details. After a lot of questions about my address, postal code and phone numbers, to which I answered a lot of "yes", this person was reading a paragraph very quickly, including what are in the package and some other items and conditions. I almost lost my patience at the end of his long speaching, just automatically said yes. I didn't remember that he asked me anything about the authorization of paying US$498. Till then I didn't know that my credit card was charged for the US$498. After I hung up, I was kind of awake. I talked to myself, hang on a second, why did they asked for my credit card number? I felt that I might be deceived. Immidiately, I called the number again. The salesman said that I authorized the payment of US$498 for the alleged "super value package". He even pulled out the record of our phone conversation for me to listen. I doubt it is a fraud one because that guy was definitely speaking very fast and ambiguous while in the tape his voice is pretty clear. According to the tape record, he did ask me at the end of the very long paragraph "are you authorizing the payment of US$498 today", which has nothing to do with the previous paragraph.
I was not expecting to pay anything for the package because I considered it a free trip, so I asked them for a full refund. Apparently they said that it is not refundable. And finally when I talked with their supervisor, he said that the only thing he can offer is another US$200 discount and a bonus 2 nights accomodation in Vagas. If I want to cancel it, the cancellation charge would be $198 because they put my" purchase into process already. What a crap! When they didn't know my travel date, my trip arrangement was already processed! He also "compromised" that my package is valid in the following 4 years. For God's sake, is the company going to survive for another 4 years?! I told them that I would think about it and call them back. At night, I searched on a couple of website the price of travel to Orlando, finding that 10 nights hotel accomodation and 2 round trip ticket from Seattle to Orlando only costs around US$1645! And they allege that 10day/7night staying in Florida is worth $1700! At the same time, I got their confirmation email, states nothing about the price and what I had been charged. I was irritated and called them again this morning to ask for a full refund. They transferred me around many "managers", the final conclusion is that they do not refund anything.
I just found that there are many more hidden expenses if you keep yourself on their hook. The Disney Tickets, you have to attend a morning or afternoon resort tour, they obviously hope to sell you something else and the car, thats yours if you forgo the theme park. You have to pay them more money when you arrange the booking.
Don't make the same stupid mistake I made. Never trust them! I wish this report will help me getting my money back. I will file a complaint to the Division of Consumer Services of Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (http://www.800helpfla.com/sot.html). Let's do it, everybody who has the same experience as I do!
Michelle
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
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