Complaint Review: Calypso Cay Resort - Kissimmee Florida

September 30th,2005 I received an automated phone call saying I'd won a prize holiday too.After this, 2 girls got on the phone 1 after the other. One called Laurie Toussatt and Taylor Lovett did the recording.

Package included:

4 people

6 days,5 nights in Orlando Florida luxury vills resort, 2 tickets to Disney world/ Universal Studios, $500.00 discount voucher,2 star passes to a theme park with vip seating and a preview brunch, Daytona Beach 3 days and 2 nights,2 tickets on sterling silver Cruise, drinks free, paradise swim with the dolphins 12 months extendable, transferrable and an all inclusive 3 days 2 nights round Cruise trip around the Bahamas.

All we had to do was pay $598.00 us ($798.00aAU) I asked if they could call me back for an answer, but no I had to answer there and then. I was stupid enough to say yes!!( they even approved my partners credit card even though it was me calling.)

On the day of purchase 1 hour later I recalled the resort to tell them to cancel as there was no way I could afford flights to Florida ( I looked up flight costs before calling them.)They said they couldn't, I demanded that they refund me.They put me on hold and a man came on the phone saying they would find us cheap flights, not to worry wait till I got package, use the 30 day cool off period and then call them back if I still wanted to cancel.

So I received my package ( a Cardboard box with a printout in it). I packed it back up returned it in the given time.

I then tried getting in contact by both phone and email, finally after numerous attempts, I spoke with Barbara she told me they had received the package and to allow a month for my refund, which I did.... NO REFUND!! Since then I have spoken to numerous customer service staff after great difficulty getting in contact with them, some of them have been very rude and unhelpful one was called Sherrie Holden.

One helpful man by the name of Ian Magall gave me the refunds number and could not believe no one had given it to me any earlier.

I once asked for a manager to call me a couple of weeks later a man by the name of Ramone Ramirez contacted me)29th September 2006, he tried to tell me that American Express was the reason that I haven't received my refund, so obviously I contacted them straight away, they didn't know anything about any refund, so I called Calypso Cay back left numerous messages for Ramone to call me back, he never did. 1 person whom was helping me was a woman called Nicole Robertson but she has stopped answering my emails. In one email she sent me, "Your refund has been flagged as urgent, please allow a little more time." That was approx. 6mths ago still nothing.

On my credt card statement the company that took it out was called "The R and S Group Lewisville TX" and it actually didn't go from my c/c till the 6th October,2005. I contacted American Express they said they couldn't help me???

I have filed a complaint with the Department Of Agricultural and Consumer services after numerous correspondance they coud not get in contact with Calypso Cay and said they cannot demand a refund?? Only a meeting (how I'm in Australia) I have only just received the message saying they weren't able to help.

Which I don't understand, why, if they have helped other people with the same company and same problem.I am very distressed and do not know what else to do.

Please can someone help me? the most frightening thing is we are so far away I wouldn't know where to start.

My confirmation number with the resort is ASA09300517.

Like many other of your reports I have been given many numbers/ emails some connected some not.

How are they allowed to get away with this?? Please help me.

Sammie

Mona Vale

Australia