I received a phone call from ELLEN, rep #2 on Wednesday, July 13th. I had won a trip for 2 to 4 people:
Orlando 4 day/3 night
Datona 3 day/2 night
Bahama Cruise 4 day/3 night
Hmmmm - I just realized that THAT doesn't add up very well (11 day/8 night): D - dang, thought I was smarter than that - ANYWAY, I'm always a little suspicious of this sort of call, so I told her I would have to speak with my husband and wouldn't know anything until Friday (the 15th), she said she would call back. I actually figured that if it was a ccam call, they would NOT call back...
Ellen mentioned the $319.00 in taxes that I would have to pay. Well, MOST prize sections in small print say that the winner is responsible for all taxes, so I didn't think anything about that.
I told my husband about it - it was supposed to be "No blackout dates", up to 2 years to take it, oh - and $500.00 spending money. I don't OWN a credit card, but then, she hadn't asked for one on Wednesday...
Friday, Ellen called back, gave me the 888 contact number again, transfered me to "Chris" to get my confirmation number and give them my checking account info so that they could do an automatic debit from my account on the 29th.
I told her that I wouldn't HAVE $319.00 in my account on that date. NO PROBLEM, she said, you have 2 years to take the trip; you can call the 888# and have them 'bump' the debit date up a month - and you can keep doing that until you ARE ready to pay the taxes.
I tried calling the 888 # today - to bump the debit date - got a recording (sounded remarkably like the "Chris" I had spoken with). Left my message. Left SEVERAL messages, as a matter of fact. NOW I was a little concerned. I waited until 4:00 my time, meanwhile I searched the web again for the company and GADS found this site! I guess I had been had.
You would think they might get a little more creative: D - same name - same 888 # - anyway, I ran to the bank to stop payment on the automatic withdrawal...
My bank rep said that, yes, I can stop payment on it (costs me $26.00) BUT, Oasis Travel Club could change the name on the debit and/or change the amount of the debit by as little as. 01 cent, and it would still go through...
I'm closing my checking account first thing in the morning. Yes, this will be an ENORMOUS pain in the backside, since I will have to contact ALL of the legitimate businesses who NEED access to my account and give them a new one - plus I have a few checks outstanding that will have to be sent another payment
BUT - Oasis Travel will not get one thin dime from me this time - hopefully, they won't get anything from anyone else, either!
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