Complaint Review: Ramada Plaza Resorts Imperial Majesty Vacations

My wife filled out two contest ballots at Toronto's recent National Home Show, and she was very careful about said ballots. One was a 'Yellow Pages' contest and the other... well, she doesn't quite remember, but she was sure it was NOT 'Ramada Plaza Resorts'.

But that's who called us a few days later, from a 212 phone number. The guy's name was Melvin Hipp and he was very good: not at all pushy, quite social and had just tons of great news for us. On and on it went - the main theme was a cruise ship to Barbados but it didn't stop there - and I kept waiting for the ask for the credit card info (all this was available for just a $299 fee per person, you see). Put it this way: if I didn't get the card ask, there was a slim chance this actually was legit. Of course, he asked for the card (expiration date first, oddly)... and the jig was up.

I said I would call back after discussing things with my wife, and I hung up. After all, if I'm the winner, then I'll still be the winner when I ring back, right?

I found this Ramada Plaza group online and their website, which seems to be rarely mentioned here at Rippoff Report and is not mentioned very much by Ramada Plaza themselves: myvacationmoments.com. Looked a little hokey but not too bad, really... and by comparison their cruise partner imperialmajesty.com looked quite good.

But then I found various Ripoff Reports talking about Imperial as a really hokey cruise line (with one beat-up ship), the Florida hotel being a disaster, and of course all those fees they slap you with as you move along on your vacation ('port' fees, meals, the rental car etc.).

I'm really glad I told friendly Melvin I would call him back, and that I took the time to research things. I haven't called Melvin back and I won't be doing so. Just remember: NOTHING is ever that good... and your ultimate fall back should be to BAIL OUT when they ask you for your credit card info!

Finally, a pox on the Home Show itself... how did these guys get my info from the ballot(s)? Do they sell/share their ballot info? Makes me want to never fill out any ballot for just about anything ever again!

Curling Guy
Mississauga, Ontario
Canada