Complaint Review: Ramada Plaza Resort Orlando Fort Lauderdale Vacation

WHERE IT HAPPENED?
-Okay so I went to a festival on Labour day weekend in Hamilton at Gage Park. I entered this draw to win a "Free" vacation to Fort Lauderdale Florida, or to the Bahamas. A few days later I got a phone call from a private name/private number. It was the Ramada Plaza Resort Orlando-Fort Lauderdale.

I thought I won this amazing dream vacation. Only to find out they needed my visa card. Not thinking I gave it to them. Afterwards I asked the representative why they needed my visa if it was a free vacation and she then said it wasn't. It was a "promotional" deal. Then she said I'd have to pay $795 US plus hidden fee's for the vacation. So what did the vacation consist of?

VACATION PACKAGE:
-11 day 10 night Imperial cruise to the bahamas. A trip to Fort Lauderdale Florida, Orlando and a bonus trip of my choice to Mexico (5 days 4 nights), or Las Vegas (3 days 2 nights). I'd stay at Daytona Beach with a 7 day car rental in Florida plus free tickets to Disney world. A round trip for two adults to the bahamas with stops learning to snorkle, scuba dive & while aboard free dinner, spa treatement etc.

I could use this trip or sell it. I'd have to call them 60 days in advanced before I wanted to go on my vacation. The total package in retail would be $3285. $795 American would be the total that I'd have to pay for this amazing vacation (not including my own way to florida & insurance).

After hearing all this I was pissed off. The lady already had my visa number and charged the $795 Us ($1060.22 Canadian)to my visa. She then refered me to another guy on the phone a security coordinator. He asked me to confirm my address and asked all these questions. I said "this sounds like a scam, and I dont give you authorization to bill my visa account." (the conversation was recorded, again). He tried fighting it by saying "Ya but would you just give your visa to anyone? you just did!" I told him there is no way I give him any authorization to use my visa at all and he said he'd lower the cost for me. I said no, you still don't have my permission.

Then he said the only thing he could do would be to 'freeze' my visa account for 10 days. After the 10 days the money would be put back on my visa. He said that usually the money is replaced within 3-4 days. I asked him for a contact number and he wouldn't give me any other then the one he called. I said listen, you just got done telling me that if I was a customer and had a problem I could talk to a customer service rep. So I asked him for that number & then he said "you are not a customer are you, so you don't need the customer service number".

After fighting he gave me the customer service number. My dad heard the whole thing (the idiot was on speaker phone during this whole ordeal)& faught with the guy. Anyway the guy told me that if I wanted to cancel, I'd have to call the customer service tomorrow and see if it'd still be possible and fight with them about it. I immediately called my visa specialist and told the manager what happened.

They are trying to work with me now on this case. I found this site by going to Yahoo.com & typing in the customer service number (1-800-203-9783) in the search engine. Now, I know it really is a scam. I guess if something seems to good to be true, it probably is.

RAMADA INFO:

-Ramada Plaza Resort Orlando Fort Lauderdale Vacation:
1-800-203-9783 customer service.

-Oh and their Original site is :
"Disneyworld hotels"
www.4biz.com/nts/rsg.html

WHAT TO DO?:
-If you go through the same thing, you have to call the customer service number (above) and fight for your rights. You have 10 legal days to get your money back in Ontario if you've bought something over the phone by a telemarketer by using your visa. In the states it's 30 (Hung, Albania Ontario wrote). You also ask for a "authorization-reversal" & confirmation sent to your email address incase you need it for legal purposes.

Good luck to everyone, some people are sick.

Brianne
Hamilton, Ontario
Canada

EDitor's Suggestions on how to get your money back!

HERE IS WHAT RIP-OFF REPORT SUGGESTS YOU DO:

Go to your bank within 60 days of the charge, or as soon as you know about the charge, don't delay, and tell them that there has been fraudulent activity within your account. Explain that you wish to file a dispute, and demand that they assist you in accordance with Federal Regulation E.

According to the majority of victims interviewed by Rip-off Report, those who immediately called their banks to dispute the charges did not get very far. Many victims got the following responses from their banks: we could not do anything for you or you waited too long; it has been more than 60 days.

If the bank is says that you have waited too long, explain to them how you called their 800 number as soon as the charges were found, and were told by the bank that nothing could be done. Remind the bank that they failed to assist you properly at the 800 #, and instead, provided you with an inadequate explanation of your right to dispute. Tell the bank that it's their fault time has expired, and since they gave you the wrong info to begin with, they will just have to deal with it, take the loss and reverse the charges.

Tell them the truth; this was unauthorized and your account was NOT to be charged! Keep emphasizing how you never authorized anything! Direct them to the hundreds of victims reports that were filed on Rip-off Report.com. And if you're at the bank, walk them over to their computer and make them go to this site! If you are on the phone with them, tell them you will wait while they access this site! Either way, be persistent!

DO NOT TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER!

Let them know nicely, that you were advised to Report them (the Bank) and this situation to the Banking Commission in your state. Since each state has a different name for the agency/controller over banks, find that name before you call or get to the bank so you can throw it in their face. The more knowledgeable you appear to be, the further you will get.

And just continue to demand the Federal Regulation E form! The bank CAN, MUST and WILL reverse the charge! But, you must be persistent; ask to speak to the supervisor or the area manager for all the branches in the state.

Let the bank personnel know you are meeting with the media later in the day, that you would much rather they do the right thing (as most other banks have) by looking at the complaints and immediately reversing the charge(s) to your account; no matter how long ago it was. Be sure to call the Media if necessary so you are telling the truth.

If you have to, be loud (but nice) in front of other customers. If you are just calling by phone, the above tactics should still work. The bank can easily fax or mail to you the Federal Regulation E dispute form.

CHARGES TO YOUR CREDIT CARD

If the charge was to your credit card (not debit card, check card, or checking account), contact the credit card company as soon as possible to request a dispute form. Consumers usually have a little longer to dispute fraudulent credit card charges (up to 6 months), but it is better to act right away. In this type of situation, credit card disputes are usually successful since fraudulent companies often won't contest the disputed charge. In rare cases, credit card companies will review disputes, but refuse to reverse the charges. If this occurs, complain to a manager and let them know you will be filing a report here.

Remember Don't let them get away with it! Make sure they make the Rip-off Report .. The more Reports filed on a Company or individual, the more likely it is that the authorities, media and attorneys will want to take action.

And good luck Let us know how you do!

ED Magedson Founder, Rip-off Report.com & Author of www.ripoffrevenge.com
EDitor@RipoffReport.com
badbusinessbureau.com
www.ripoffreport.com

Don't let them get away with it.
Make sure they make the Rip-off Report!

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CLICK HERE to read about Credit Card Scams... find out how to get your money back. *Rip-off Report Investigation provides valuable information.

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