Like many of you we received a coupon-style invitation to claim our cruise, and we thought it wouldn't hurt to call. So my wife and I conference-called the Ramada people on June 29. We talked to a very nice man for close to an hour, asking all the important questions, getting a full understanding of what was involved, time frames, costs, etc. We felt pretty comfortable proceeding. So we charged $689. To get the process started.
We received all the information in a timely fashion, looked it over, and still no red flags. We were promised the South Florida vacation, the two-day cruise, and the Orlando leg, eight days in all. We were told we had 18 months in which to schedule the S. Florida trip, and then for taking that trip we were given two bonus vacations to Las Vagas and Mexico, which we had to take within 18 mos. Of the Florida trip. My wife and I took copious notes as we talked to the salesman, and our notes absolute concur.
Early in August (14 mos. After buying the package), I called to schedule the Florida trip, and the scheduler was shocked and wanted to know how we were going to fit all three trips in before the 18 months was up on December 29. When I explained to her that we were told we would have 18 months after the cruise to take the remaining two trips, she told me that we were misinformed. I assured her that that was not the case.
She checked with her supervisor and came back with a one-time offer to extend the deadlines for the trips another 18 months for $84, or if we needed more than 18 months, we could extend for longer up to five years, but with progressively more financial commitment for the privilege.
I said, why should I pay more money for something that was already part of the deal. She apologized and checked with her boss and came back with one free airline ticket to Florida if I bought the extension. I expressed concern about the companies trustworthiness. I told her I'd get back with her, but that we might just consider the whole thing a wash, lose our money, and not take the trip.
I couldn't sleep that night; so I thought we can't be the only ones who've been scammed. A quick google and I was at Usa Consumer Complaints.com. I was so relieved to read of the many people who had been lied to and some who had even successfully been refunded their money.
I was concerned that not too many had written about refunds over the perusal period allowed by law. But I followed the advice of several people on this site: wrote a kind but firm letter to Daniel Lambert at Ramada in which I detailed my concerns with the company's misrepresentations to us asking him to do the honorable thing and refund our money, cancel our vacation, and remove us from any call or mailing list. I let him know that I was also informing the Florida Attorney General's Office and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs. I mailed the letter "Certified" so that I would have a record of its receipt. I asked that my credit card be reimbursed within 15 days of Ramada's receiving the letter.
My letter was dated: August 15. Ramada signed for it on the 21st. My full refund was posted to my CC on the 27th. No hassles!
My thanks to this website and all who contributed. You gave me hope to pursue Ramada and get my money back, even after 14 months. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs people were also terrific. They acknowledged my initial contact and then sent me another letter along with a copy of the response they had received from Ramada verifying that Ramada had already issued a credit to my CC.
Irv
Ankeny, Iowa
U.S.A.
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