Complaint Review: All Seasons Travel - Atlanta Georgia

Like many other individuals who have posted on this site, I stupidly gave out my credit card information over the telephone to receive a host of lodging vouchers, cruise, and rental car, for a grand total of $698. The representative who called me made seem at first as though I had won a great prize, saying such things as "aren't you excited?" and "won't this be great to use as your honeymoon?" Given that, and the fact that I had signed up for this prize at a Bridal Show, I was at first confused into thinking I had actually won something. My first indication that this was a shady deal was the representative's definite lack of geographical knowledge. She asked me where I had been considering taking my honeymoon, and I told her we were planning on vacationing to the Mayan Riviera Suncoast in Mexico. When she replied with an ancedote about Acapulco, I almost laughed. Anyone with the slighest knowledge of the location of vacation destinations in Mexico knows that these two locales are at opposite ends of the country...and last time I checked, a representative of a travel company should be privy to this info. Regardless, I was caught up in the moment and decided to purchase, since the representative told me this was a one-time offer. After speaking with my fiance and adding up the other costs that would be involved with the vacation (flights, meals, entertainment, hotel taxes, etc.), I decided it would be in my best interest to cancel the package. I called my credit card company in an attempt to block the transaction, only to learn that the transaction had already occurred. (All Seasons Travel keeps you on the line for what seems like FOREVER, so the transaction can be 'validated'...i.e. they can charge your card). So, I closed that card and transferred my balance to a new one, and informed the card company that should this charge from All Seasons Travel not be credited to my account, I would be disputing the charge. My next step was to call All Seasons Travel to try to convince them to cancel my package and refund my money. After being on hold for approximately 30 minutes, I was finally transferred to a customer service representative. She was very friendly, until I informed her of the reason for my call. She told me that her computer was down, therefore she could not access my package information and cancel for me. I asked her if she could please transfer me to a representative whose computer was working, and she said the entire system crashed (which I did not believe). She said she would call me when it was up & running. I waited for approximately 30 minutes, and received no phone call. I found it incredibly hard to believe that a company which requires the use of computers to make sales would allow their system to be down for such an extended period of time. I called back and reached a different representative. This time, I pretended I had a question regarding my package and what do you know?? The computers were running again! What a miracle! After she was able to access my account information, I could hear the first representative in the background telling her that she had just talked to me, and I wanted to cancel my package. I confirmed this was true, and the representative told me she would cancel the package and it would post to my credit card within 10 to 12 working days (obviously the excuse that the computers were down could no longer be used as an excuse). I began asking her if she could please provide written confirmation of intent to cancel to my email address, and she hung up on me! I called back, and talked to the first representative again, who did what I asked. I received the written notification, and my refund within the time period promised. So, Jenny, the advice I can give is to contact your credit card company and inform them of the problem. Get all correspondence w/ All Seasons in writing. Act fast, I'm not sure if they operate under a policy which will only allow for cancellations during a certain time period. While I cannot attest to the quality of the vacations given, and cannot really complain as I was refunded my money, I will say that this company and their offer left a bad taste in my mouth. They rely on shady marketing techniques to pressure you to buy, and the quality of their customer service rapidly deteriorates have the first initial contact. Go with your gut instinct (I wish I would have gone with mine)... it's usually right. Hope this helps!!