In September my girlfriend was enticed to buy a vacation package that she saw online.included was a trip to Costa Rica and at least four other destinations for the price of $996. If she will pay an additional $100 the trip will be "all inclusive". We have been planning to make a trip to Costa Rica for the past 2 years, a dream we have shared and have been excited to discuss at great length in this time. She purchsed the package from Summer Winds one day in Sept. The salesman told her that she would need to have someone who is 30 years old to accompany her in order for her to purchase this vacation. I am so she did.
The months have gone by and we have been saving and waiting. We are getting our passports in order, and we are ready to purchase our plane tickets. We decide to call Summer Winds to make reservations.
First, the associate we speak to tells her that we will need to pay an additional $100 for a reservation fee, then another $100 dollars for a transportation fee. We don't agree to the transportation fee because we wanted to rent a 4X4 at the airport and drive ourselves. We were intending to stay in Costa Rica longer than the 4 nights offered by SW. Hence it would inconvenience us to be restrained by their choice of taxi service.
SW did not want to waive that transport fee AT ALL. My girlfriend dug in her heels. After being put on hold for nearly 15 minutes, we were transfered and she was again put on hold. When she finally spoke to someone she was told she wasn't eligible for the trip to Costa Rica, since she is not yet 30, no matter what the salesman told her. She starts to ask about getting her money back, she is told that SW is not liable and deals are subject to change without warning. She is transfered to a woman who won't let her get a word in edgewise, and wants to make consolation offers of extended stays in Gatlinburgh! Who wants to go to F-n Gatlinburg? Civil War buffs? She then offers her a free winetasting there, whoopy! That is what wineries do, that isn't even an offer!
This woman is making my GF upset, but at least she isn't rude. But the SW rep tells my GF she won't likely get a refund, and not to even bother.
My GF phone dies, I am angry, the SW rep calls back, I tell her to call later, since her company has ruined our summer plans.
My GF calls them back, and is put on the phone with a very rude man. He tells my GF she never intended to go to Costa Rica, calling her a liar. He then berates her for being a college student that, "doesn't even work." Which again is untrue, she works her little but off.
This sales rep says we should never have been sold a package, because she is under 30, and doesn't make enough money. If that is the case, then we should be allowed to break from their contract, since they broke their own rules first.
I will say, we don't make a whole lot of money, our combined income barely squeezes into $40,000. I am an electrician and she is an aide. But next year she will be a salaried teacher. That $1000 dollars and that trip to Costa Rica meant the world to us and that damn company put their bootheel right into it.
We want out, we want our money back, we never want to speak to those people again, and we will never have anything nice to say about their organization.
We feel humiliated and taken advantage of and we want justice!
Lowdog
Harrison, Arkansas
U.S.A.
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