Last Thursday I received a phone call from a lady asking if I had recently visited a local festival and filled out a ballot. Of course, I remembered this and immediately got excited, thinking I had won something. Was I ever wrong! Unfortunately, I didn't know at the time what I know now. She proceeded to explain to me that my name had been 'chosen' (key word) and she explained this great vacation. Everything was going so fast I kept asking her to repeat, as I was trying to write down all the information.
She told me it was a trip for four people, as I was replying on the last possible night. She went on talking about how amazing it was and that it would only be about 200$ us. She also said that all I had to do was tell them 60 days in advance when I wanted to take this vacation, making it seem like thats when I'd have to pay.
After making me quite comfortable with this, she reviewed my personal information, such as my name, address, etc. She then said that I had checked on the ballot that I owned a visa and asked for the number. Having filled this out at a very well-known touristy festival, I trusted these people, big mistake. She then reviewed more information with me, telling me where we'd be staying, what the cruise to the bahamas included (spa service, meals included, etc). She also included that the travelling would be covered and that a 7day rental car in florida would be ready for us. As excited as I was, I just assumed since I thought this was actually a trip won, that the airfare was also covered. She explained that all the tickets I would need for the trip would be sent by mail, etc.
She then said I had to speak to someone else in order to confirm all the information. Fortunately, one of the first things he asked me was if I had any problems getting to Florida on my own within the next 18 months. At this point it clicked that she had never clearly stated that the airfare was included, all she had said was that if I decided not to fly we would get a 2-day pass to Universal Studios, again making this sound like a deal. I was starting to realise this wasn't as good as she had made it sound, and I asked right away if it was possible to cancel this entire thing.
The lady I first spoke to had been listening all along and she quickly said she would get the manager. He came on the line and asked if there was a problem. I clearly told him that I wanted to cancel this trip beceause the information had been misleading. All he said was that this is unfortunate. I asked if any charges from them on my visa would immediately be cancelled and he told me it would take up to 72 hours but that would all be cleared.
Well the next day a lady calls me from Ramada wanting to check to make sure that I had cancelled. She also offered me a free upgrade and 'compensation for airfare'. After telling her I didn't want anything to do with them she nicely told me that she understood and that there should be no charges on my visa from this company.
Well we are now Monday afternoon, well after the 72 hours I was promised. Just to be safe, I cancelled my visa right after the initial call, Thursday night. However, I was told that a charge of over a thousand dollars canadian was pending. I called today and that charge is still on there, after I was told that it would be removed by now.
I called 1-800-203-9783, a number recommended by one of you nice people on here, but the lady told me there were no charges on my account and that they didn't have my visa number. Since I don't have a confirmation number (because I didn't go through the entire process), I don't know how else to verify what's going on. I also have the extension number and the name of the lady who first called me to tell me 'my name had been chosen'. I am trying to find the phone number for this company. If anyone had any advice for me, it would be greatly appreciated. I am also willing to try any other usefull phone numbers. I am not willing to let them get away with my money, especially after they clearly told me I could cancel. These people are completely misleading and hopefully they will be stopped soon enough. I truly hope that some people will see this website before making the same mistake that many of us did.
Liette
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
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