This is what had happened to me:
I received an offer thru mail in the spring of 2001 from ramada plaza resorts and i called the number on that offer and purchased a florida/bahama vacation package of $1196 for two people. I paid $598 at that time and i was informed that the package is valid for 18 months. But i couldn't work out my schedule so i call in april to have it cancelled. But the representative told me it couldn't be cancelled yet instead she could extend it for another 18 months for me. I agreed that.
On Oct. 30 i got another phone call from ramada plaza resorts, a woman named leslie platt told me that i owed $598 to them and i need to pay the full balance otherwise my package is expired. I argued that i called beforehand and got extended but she insisted that there's no record on it. She transfered me to a mr. Robert deners, who was her supervisor. I told mr. Deners that i'm an international student and if i go to bahama i have to re-apply my visa so i haven't got a chance to use that vacation package. He said that my package was expired at the time and offered me to modified the content of the vacation package and turned it into a land-based orlando vacation and i need to pay the full balance of $1196 to keep my vacation package valid.
So i agreed to pay another $598.00 from my credit card.
During all those conversations with those representatives they all did the same things as stated in the following:
1. I would be subject to time share presentations.
2. They pressured me by creating a false sense of urgency to make a decision immediately on the phone.
3. They didn't tell me that I had 3 days to cancel.
4. They misrepresented that nature of the offer.
(They said it's special, highly-discounted offer only for me but I purchased it on what seems like a regular price)
Fortunately i found out the notice of cancellation myself.in that notice it says i can get a full refund without any penalty and obligation if i mail this notice with in 3 days upon receiving the package. I also found out from my credit card statement that they took $21 from my card for a "give-away" vacation package, which i had never agreed to order. So i mailed out both notices (one for the package i bought, the other for the gift package) with a request in writing for full refund of $1196 $21. But two weeks passed i got no response at all. I called them on Nov. 25 and requested for a refund but the representatives i spoke to were rude and refused my request.
I even got hung up while i was talking to a supervisor from cancellation department. On the same day i found out that this company is a national scam and they have many victims just like me. I called on Nov. 26 and talked to ms. Joan smith. She told me that they can only refund me $598 (i didn't even bother mentioning the $21 one). She also told me a quite different story. She said that what i purchased is two different packages and that's why i can only get refund for the second one, the land-based orlando package. The first package is still valid, and there is a record showing that i called in april to extend my package.
The first $598 is secured and can't be refund. I don't know who's lying, this women or those people who called me on oct. 31. From my understanding, i have bought a land-based orlando vacation worth $1196 and i have every right to get a full refund. Ms. Joan smith tried to convince me that i misunderstood ms. Leslie platt and mr. Rober deners but i'm very sure that i didn't because i made notes while they were selling me the package.
During my conversation with ms. Smith she did admit that those representatives misled me and what had happend is not my fault. However, she refused to refund me the first $598 and said that i can only cancel the "second" package. Now the company agreed to credit me back only $598 within the next few days (i hope that will happen) but i think i shouldn't be satisfied because i didn't get anything from the money i paid.
Dejun
Brookly, New York
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