On or around the Summer of 2001 I received a solicitation in the mail regarding a fabulous dream vacation for two to Florida that included a Cruise to Nassau, Bahamas. After reading the material sent to me I decided to call the 800 number and get more details.
I called and spoke with a gentleman who was really pushy and told me this was a one time deal and I didn't have time to think about it. He basically talked his way into charging my credit card $598 for an intial deposit, only to still have to pay another $598 atleast 60 days before I took the Florida vacation. Along with this vacation I was to receive three mini-vacations to Las Vegas, Williamsburg, VA. And Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
I received the materials in the mail and found them extremely hard to understand.
All was well and I put them away to wait and find out when I was going to take my vacation. But I ended up being laid-off and going through some financial hardships and was unable to take the vacation within the alotted 18 months. I was told I could call back to get an extension. So I did, I called back in August of to pay for the other half of the trip and pay for my extension which was $89 for 18 more months. The saleslady offered me a bunch of upgrades which totaled $100 more than the $598 I anticipated paying and I accepted since she said the original hotel was a meager hotel and not beachfront and the cabin on the cruise was two bunk beds and no window. So she upgraded me to a cabin with a window and a queen bed and a beachfront hotel in both Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
I put this on my debit card. The original deposit was put on a Mastercard I no longer have opened. Again time went by and I was unable to take the trips for several reasons, money, change of jobs, and alas pregnancy and then a newborn baby. I was originally told I could see the trip on e-bay or call back to try and get refunded. I went to e-bay to see if anyone else had succesfully sold this trip. I found one woman who had tried to sell it in Feb. 2003 and she didn't get any bids. I e-mailed her and asked her whatever came of her vacation package and if she got refunded. She told me she had to file a complaint with the Florida Consumer Affairs, so I have filed that complaint online.
However I want this scam to be known so I am filing with as many agencies that will listen. I searched on Ramada Plaza Resort Scams and hot hundreds of hits and come to find out this is a complete scam.
The hotel accomodations were a far cry from luxurious, the luxury cruise liner looked like an oversized garbage can, you have to attend a timeshare presentation lasting anywhere between 3-5 hours (2 presentations actually) that I was not told about and there are hundreds of extra fees involved on your "all inclusive" cruise! The rental car is a small geo metro and it costs nearly $200 to get an upgrade to a nicer car. Plus you have to pay taxes at every hotel, on the boat, gratuity on the boat, taxes on your rental and insurance! I was flabbergasted at reading these complaints. Luckily, I haven't experienced these awful trips but since I did not take them I want my money refunded to me.
0 comments