My wife and I attended a sales presentation by United Vacation Network on February 1st. The presentation alleged that we would be entitled to the lowest available prices of up to 50% to 70% off on cruises, and air fares that would be at least 30% off lowest available prices. At no time would our prices for all other travel be worse (higher) than 10% off the lowest available retail prices, and not be restricted to their "excess inventory" or "hot list" items.
This statement was our inducement to purchase their plan. To verify the accuracy of their comments we asked the presenter to state those percentages again, which he did. We also asked the "closer" to get us "those numbers of lower promised pricing" He left, and returned 5 minutes later to confirm what we had heard.
We signed their contract at that time.
I immediately tested their claims by ordering two trips through their offices the next day. The prices they presented were the same that I had obtained on the internet at the same time as they quoted us.
Our testing began with a trip from Florida to Hartford, CT. Their price was $225 higher than I was finding on line. After advising the agent of this fact, she returned the next day with prices that met (but was NOT lower) the internet prices.
Our second test was to ask them to provide a price for a Carnival cruise. Their price was $400 HIGHER than I was able to obtain on line, as I was on the Carnival web site this same instant, and was comparing the prices in real time.
The "customer Service agent" refused to honor our demand to cancel our contract, and stated that "we had signed a contract and would be held to it". This is in violation of Florida Statutes 559.933 which states " It shall be unlawful for any seller of travel or assignee: (1) To fail or refuse to honor a purchaser's vacation certificate (or contract... See definitions 559.927) request to cancel if such request is made:
(a) Within 30 days from the date of purchase or receipt of the vacation certificate, whichever occurs later.
It is also unlawful in the State of Florida to not inform any signer of contracts with their right to cancel in accordance with Statute 559.923, which they failed to do.
If we have to we will go to court to obtain what the law says they must do, cancel the contract and return all monies, and are making preparations now to do so. When we obtain a favorable judgment, which we will do, I will pursue the forfeiture of their bond with the Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Consumer Services.
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