I received a coupon from Ramada Plaza resorts, Ft Lauderdale, Florida by mail offering me a vacation package. I called them up on the number which I was asked to call 1-800-635-8523. This happened at 9.15 pm on Oct 7th. I talked to Sherly - when she couldnt convince me she said she would transfer me to the promotions department.
The next lady took 1.5 hrs to convince me into making reservations. She said I had 18 months to make the journey but since I denied it the lady (Deborah Taylor) told me she would give me 36 months! They wanted me to pay $699 upfront but since I didn't want to, they agreed to take half the payment. I was assured that in case I didn't travel in 3 years this would be my credit with Ramada and they would give me coupons for stay or vacation anytime.
The lady said "Ramada is the third best hotels in the world and we wouldn't spoil the reputation we have for 38 years for just $349 "!!! Yeah... Don't know about what repuatation she was talking аbout: P She told me that I could call up my credit card company as soon as the trasaction was over and ask them to see if it was charged to Ramada Plaza resorts. I asked her" how I would know if it were a genuine Ramada and she said we are the original Ramada and not any kind of agents! I asked if I could call back the next day as I had to talk to my boyfriend.in fact while I was talking to them on my landline my boyfriend called me on my cell and I didn't want him to know as I wanted to give him the tickets and tell him we were all set to go on a trip! I asked if I could mail a check but they said "NO". She said she would give me 5 bonus vacation packages too.
Finally I agreed to pay $349 and she asked me for my credit card details which I gave them. I told that lady you have great marketing skills cause you got me to go for this offer - I should probably get trained by you!!! When she she said the authorization process would take 2 mins meanwhile they would transfer me to a lady named Thelma in the Services department who would go over the deal once more and tape record everything. Deborah said she had added 5 more free vacation packages-a total of 10 free vacation packages!!! Thelma asked for my credit card number and address. I clearly stated the terms that I was told as I thought it would help me later on if they asked for more money.
In between the other lady came back on the line to tell me that the credit card authorization went thru and gave me my approval #. She said "Welcome aboard". It should've been welcome to Ramada rip off. Finally I said I was told that I would have a credit with Ramada if I didnt travel in 3 years. Then I heard many people talking and then another lady picked up the phone and said that she was the manager and wanted to know who told me so. I said" Deborah Taylor"- she said i closely monitor my associates and I dont think she wouldve said that. I kept saying. NO she did. And then all I heard was the dial tone.
I called Amex customer service immediately and was in line waiting for a represenative and also opened a browser and typed "Ramada 1800-635-8523". It took me to a page... Which was my worst nightmare. That was just the tip of the iceberg. The link to the site with peoples experiences: http://usacomplaints.com/reports/ripoff53598.htm
Thats what brings me here again.
I talked to an Amex representaitve and I told her that I was tricked into a fraudulent transaction 15 mins back and that I wanted to stop the transaction. She said it was not possible as it had been authorized and until it showed up on the statement she couldnt do anything. And that I will have to call back in 24-48 hrs. She told me that she saw a "pending" status against the Ramada Plaza resorts from my account. I asked her to deactivate my card and issue another card which she did. She also asked me to call Ramada and find out if the reservation had been made.
I called the original Ramada thinking they are all the same. The lady told me that they had nothing to do with Ramada Plaza Reports. I called back to cancel the reservation - but "the manager, Kevin" said I couldn't canel it! My voice was breaking I couldn't even talk so I said thanks and hung up. I called Amex again, I talked to another representative and explained my situation. He told me to wait till it showed up on my statement. He was better than the previous lady. He told me that I could dispute it and can get my money if it was a real fraud. I checked my credit card online could and saw that my credit limit had gone down by $349: (
The next morning I called the customer care # at 1-800-203-9783. A guy picked up the call - he was mean. But I was so nice - i spoke really nicely to him. I told him I wanted to cancel my reservation. He asked for my 13 digit confirmation #. I quoted the one written on the coupon I received in the mail. He said he wanted the confirmation # I got after making the reservation. I told him I wasnt given any number cos I got disconnceted half way thru. Then he asked " did you go thru the whole verification process?" I said " No, cos half way thru the line got disconnected. Then he said " If you haven't then you will not be charged since no reservation has been made and in 5-7 business days the money should be back in my credit card" I almost cried out of joy! I said thankyou so much and hung up. He also said if you need any further help do call us.
Now the big burden on my head was gone by the end of the day. On Oct 9th at 2pm or so I received a phone call from Sherly! She said she was calling from Ramada - I recognised her voice immediately and for a moment I thought I my brain was dead. I couldn't think about anything. I talked nicely to her. She said - the other day we couldn't go thru the entire verfication process. I said "yeah".. And she said "what happened to the line?" I said I dont know it just got disconnected. Then she said shall we go thru that once again? I said "No, I thought about it I dont want that again. As I won't be able to travel in 3 yrs". The she said " But you had agreed the other day". I said "I am a student and my visa will expire in a yr and I have to go back to my country in 1 yr. LOL which is a big lie!!! She put me on hold. And in a few seconds the line got disconnected. I was laughing - at least I could fool them once. For all the trouble they gave many of us.
I waited till today to post this comment cos I wanted to see my available credit limit increase by $349.. And today Oct 15th it happened. I am so happy! I hope everyone checks the web to see if its true before they call to make reservations. Google pulls up this site immediately. Thanks to Google and usacomplaints.com
SS
Hoboken, New Jersey
U.S.A.
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