I would like to warn consumers about Oasis Travel Services/Oasis Vacations, located in Daytona Beach, FL.in November, I attended an event in Fletcher, NC with a friend. As we entered the event, we were told to fill out entry forms for a drawing, which we did. The following Friday afternoon, I received a phone call. The woman told me I was "live on the air" and that I had won the drawing for a travel package for two people worth over $3,000. She explained that I would be getting trips to Orlando, Daytona Beach, and Ft. Lauderdale, plus a bonus cruise to the Bahamas and another bonus trip of my choosing. I would receive an email with my travel information within 90 minutes and my travel documents in the mail in a few days, This all sounded great, until she got into the details - I would have to pay my own transportation costs to each location, I would have to attend sales presentations at each location, and finally, I would have to pay a $448 registration fee. I asked if it was possible to review the information they were sending before giving them my credit card info, and she said no. I also asked if there was actually a drawing, or if they were just calling everyone who filled out a form. She told me that only 3% of people from the rodeo would be offered the deal (I doubt this is true, because the friend that attended the rodeo with me also received the same phone call a few days later). Unfortunately, I was hesitant to pass up the "opportunity" so I went along with the deal, even though I had reservations. After I got off the phone, I looked up the company and found their website. It wasn't very professional-looking and contained absolutely no specific information about the accommodations they offer. I also tried looking for information about them through the BBB, but at the time, there was none. I waited to receive the information they had promised via email, but got nothing. At that point, I decided I had been scammed and that I needed to find a way to cancel the vacation package. I tried calling their customer service number, but got no answer, so I emailed and requested that it be cancelled. Two days later, they responded with my trip confirmation number, completely ignoring my request to cancel. I called the customer service number again and was told I would have to wait for my travel documents to arrive in the mail and return them with a written request to cancel. I was also told that the entire amount would not be refunded, because there would be a $49 "administration fee." My travel documents arrived that afternoon, and they consisted of 2 brochures for dinner cruises and 3 pieces of paper with vague information on them. They looked like they were created in Microsoft Word and printed from someone's home computer - not at all like legitimate travel documents. Once again, there was no specific information about the accommodations they were offering. I returned the documents the next day along with a letter requesting a cancellation, and $449 has been refunded to my credit card. I wanted to find a way to warn others about this company, so I did some more research and found that Oasis does now have a record on the BBB website. There is a whole list of warnings posted there about this type of sales practice, and they match my experience with this company almost exactly. I was particularly interested in this part: "Keep in mind with regard to cancellations: the entire amount involved is refundable. Unethical sellers of travel may offer to refund all but a certain amount, but they are required to refund the full amount paid to the seller of travel, if the consumer cancels the vacation package, in writing and returns the vacation package, within 30 days of purchase or receipt of the vacation package." I sent the company an email quoting this information from the BBB and requesting that the remainder of my money be refunded, as required. I did not receive any response from them. I have also filed an official complaint with the BBB, and so far, the company has not responded to that either. I sincerely doubt that this is a legitimate travel business, and if it is, I find their sales practices extremely unethical. I hope that by posing this report, I can help others avoid this situation.
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