Although I don't know if Ramada Plaza Resorts is a scam, I do believe that the business (it's owners and telephone representatives at least) have acted in at least an unethical manner.
My 89-year old mother "bought in" to the sales pitch, thinking that she was going to be giving my husband and I a vacation. The price was reasonable she thought at just under $400 for a week of free hotel accomodations and a 2-day cruise to the Bahamas.
She saved the packet of information and Reservations Forms for us as a surprise gift. When I read through the fine print, after 30 days, I decided to call.
Calling several times and being put on hold for 15-20 minutes, and then speaking with "Customer Care" representatives whose focus seemed to be a "hard sell" for this "one-time only, you have to make your reservation NOW" was an unbelievably unpleasant process. The representatives started off friendly until I began asking questions: Is it refundable? No. How much more will this vacation package cost? About $400, not including air fare (which ended up being around $800 round-trip for two adults). Can I explore some other dates and airfare costs and call you back? Representative hung up on me.
I finally sought out information about this company online. I found numerous consumer affairs and advocacy sites providing warnings about this "offer" and a plethora of posts from individuals who had been "scammed" as well. Many writing of far more horrific stories than mine.
The good news is that my husband and I decided to talk with my mother and share with her all the information we researched so that she did not feel ashamed ("See, many other people were taken, too".). And we offered to reimburse her the money she had already paid to the company.
I do not know if this business is a scam; however, speaking as a daughter who tries to watch out for her 89-year old mother who lives on a fixed income and just survived cancer this past year, I am angry at companies - and this one in particular - for acting in what I believe to be unethical.
Could my mother have said "no." Sure. Could she have read the fine print? With a high magnification eyeglass. Is it likely that an 89-year old with barely one good eye would do so? Unlikely. Might she have researched the company online? No, she does not have Internet access.
I suspect that companies like this will remain in business, and I am saddened and angered about that.
I don't plan on attempting to seek a refund for my mother. This is a lesson hard learned. I do hope that enough people who are also angered and believe these practices to be wrong will speak out, file class-action or individual small claims suits if possible, and that consumer affairs, better business bureaus and the FTC will be able to shut them down.
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