Complaint Review: RAMADA PLAZA RESORTS - Fort Lauderdale Florida

I have occasionally checked back to see if this unbelievable scam ever gets shut down. I have been shocked to find that they don't even change their scam tactics. When is the Florida attorney general going to think he has enough against these people to shut them down? This is pathetic. Everybody that has been scammed by this company needs to contact him and the BBB nad their own att. general...maybe if they get enough complaints they will do something.

I have occasionally checked back to see if this unbelievable scam ever gets shut down. I have been shocked to find that they don't even change their scam tactics. When is the Florida attorney general going to think he has enough against these people to shut them down? This is pathetic. Everybody that has been scammed by this company needs to contact him and the BBB nad their own att. general...maybe if they get enough complaints they will do something.

I have occasionally checked back to see if this unbelievable scam ever gets shut down. I have been shocked to find that they don't even change their scam tactics. When is the Florida attorney general going to think he has enough against these people to shut them down? This is pathetic. Everybody that has been scammed by this company needs to contact him and the BBB nad their own att. general...maybe if they get enough complaints they will do something.

I have occasionally checked back to see if this unbelievable scam ever gets shut down. I have been shocked to find that they don't even change their scam tactics. When is the Florida attorney general going to think he has enough against these people to shut them down? This is pathetic. Everybody that has been scammed by this company needs to contact him and the BBB nad their own att. general...maybe if they get enough complaints they will do something.

Well, after all that work it finally paid off..my father in law did receive his full refund credited back on his card. Thank you,all of the people before us on this website who detailed how to get a refund. ~Valerie

Ok..I said I would update and put the letter my father in law used if it worked. On 6/16/05 he received a letter of apology from Gina Johns promising a full refund of his money.I want to thank this website and specifically Denise from Groves,Tx whose letter was a good example that helped out alot.here's that letter: May 25,2205 Daniel Lambert Ramada Plaza Resorts 2149 E. Commercial Blvd. Fort Lauderdale,Fl. 33308 RE: REFUND DUE TO VIOLATION OF FLORIDA'S SELLERS OF TRAVEL ACT OF 2004 AND VIOLATION OF FLORIDA'S DECEPTIVE AND UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES ACT Dear Mr. Lambert, Please refund the full purchase price of $2882.00 for the vacation package I purchased from Ramada Plaza Resorts based on false and misleading advertisements and statements. My package information is as follows: *Client #************** *Down payment on 9/11/03 of $738.00 *Final payments on 4/25/05:$698.00,$574.00,$872.00(not charged to card until 4/28/05) *Complaints against you,Daniel Lambert,and your company,Ramada Plaza Resorts,have been filed with the following agencies: Florida Division of Consumer Services Florida Attorney General New York Attorney General Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida If a full refund is not received within 10 business days I am prepared to begin proceedings of a class action lawsuit in the State of New York. This is a formal demand letter for the full refund of the above funds.Ramada Plaza Resorts has willfully and knowingly violated Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act by engaging in unfair methods of competition,unfair,unconscionable and deceptive trade practices,including,but not limited totravel scams and false or misleading advertising. I purchased this package after being promised a "First Class All Inclusive Luxury Vacation" in Florida and a "Luxury" cruise to the Bahamas. I was lead to believe it would be a prepaid vacation with no strings attached. NO mention was made of the requirement to spend anywhere from 3-5 hours in a time share presentation in order to get our vouchers to further proceed with this trip,(though I have been told repeatedly that I was told of this) and that we could not go on our cruise or get our vouchers if we did not stay for the presentation,whether we wanted to buy or not.The use of the names "Ramada","Carnival", and "Universal Orlando" led me to believe this was a QUALITY vacation. I have since learned that my "deluxe" accomodations include two sub-standard hotels and an old, poorly kept ship. I am a working class,church going man that wanted to take my mother and son,his wife and 2 children on a nice vacation. How can you expect me to bring my grandchildren (one of which is 14 months old) to 2 hotels that numerous people have described as having roaches,dead rats,smelling of urine or soiled diapers, and on a cruise that has been described as a "floating garbage can"? I have learned that the internet is full of dissatisfied customers (i.e.www.ripoffreport.com) and governmental warnings and litigation. The Better Business Bureau has your company listed as unsatisfactory and the Attorney General of your own state of Florida has an ongoing case against you (L05-3-1053). Not to mention the other states with lawsuits against you. Ramada Plaza Resorts is also in violation of Florida's Sellers of Travel Act of 2004, which states in code 559.932-559.933 that in your contract it must state,"You may cancel this contract without penalty or obligation within 30 days from the date of purchase or receipt of the vacation certificate,whichever occurs later." It also states that "It is unlawful for any seller of travel or assignee to fail to refund any and all payments made by the vacation certificate purchaser within 30 after receipt of the certificate and notice of cancellation made pursuant to this section, if the purchaser has not received any benefits pursuant to the vacation certificate." Also,"It is unlawful for you to misrepresent in any manner the purchaser's right to cancel and receive an appropriate refund or reimbursement as provided by this part." The following is a detailed report of the attempts on my part to reconcile this matter over the phone: When I called and cancelled my vacation package on 5/24/05 at 7:15pm,I asked for a refund of part of my package price(the charges made within the last 30 days) or $2144.00. I was told by your employees: Mimi,Johnny, and supervisor Willy that because I had paid the package reservation fee on 9/11/03 and that I had confirmed my travel plans that I would #1. Not be entitled to a refund of any part of the money,even the charges within the last 30 days, and #2. I would also have to PAY a cancellation fee of $100.00 per person (when the law clearly states that if I cancel within 30 days I will have no penalty or obligation)...just another fraud of your company. I proceeded to tell Willy to cancel my vacation package, and also told him that I had called my credit card company to prohibit any further charges. I informed him that if he charged my credit card it would be an Unauthorized charge and would constitute credit card fraud.I called Ramada Plaza Resorts (1-888-217-2620) back at 8:18pm to confirm that Willy had indeed cancelled my vacation. Orville transferred my call to Maness in Reservations who informed me that my trip had NOT been cancelled. I asked him to cancel my trip and give me a cancellation confirmation #. He told me that my cancellation confirmation number was my client #(**************). I asked him about my refund. He said they do not give refunds,so I recited the Florida Sellers of Travel Act of 2004. he put me on hold and talked to his supervisor,Philip. He then told me that i could not receive the original deposit of $738.00 made on 9/11/03. I told him that I was not seeking to be refunded the deposit because it was paid over 30 days ago,only the $2144.00 that was charged on 4/25/05. He put me back on hold and talked to Philip,then told me that I needed to call back on 5/25/05 between the hours of 10am-4pm to talk to Clover in the Reservations dept.,the woman I originally made the purchase of the package with to CONFIRM my cancellation and REFUND. He told me that I needed to call DEFINATELY on 5/25/05 because it would be the 30th day according to the Florida Sellers Act. He led me to believe I was to be given the refund. I called to talk to Clover at 11:05am and was told that her schedule was changed and she would not be in until 3pm. I called back at 3:03pm and Jennifer transferred me to Clover. I confirmed my cancellation and inquired about my refund. She put me on hold at this time and pulled up my package information. She then informed me that I was not entitled to a refund. I advised her that the Florida Sellers of Travel Act of 2004 states that I am entitled to a refund because I was within the 30 days. She put me back on hold for 5 minutes and then told me to call back and talk to her supervisor. I called back 30 minutes later at 3:41pm and asked Yvonne for the supervisor. She put me on hold and 5 minutes later the manager,Vontrice, came on the line. She informed me that I would have to pay the cancellation fees and that I could not receive a refund,but that I could sell this package to someone else or my money could go towards another trip with your company. I told her that I would not subject anyone I know to this misleading and fraudulant vacation. I alsl told her that I would never be traveling with your company. I told her that I would get back with her and for her to have a good day. I called back at 4:02pm and asked to speak to you, Mr.Lambert, and was told by Jennifer that you do not take calls. She transferred me to the Reservations Supervisor,Philip,who again confirmed my cancellation and again denied my right to receive a refund. I recited again the Florida Sellers of Travel Act of 2004 and he told me that he was very familiar with the act, but still denied me. I again asked to speak with you, Mr. Lambert, and was told no,but that I could write you a letter and was given your mailing address. I told him "Thank you and have a good day." Because of your compnay's unwillingness to cooperate and resolve this matter in a timely manner I am now asking for a FULL refund of my money ($2882.00) instead of the partial amount of $2144.00. If I am forced to begin legal proceedings against you, I will be suing for the full purchase price of the package,any and all legal fees incrued (including,but not limited to:lawyer fees and court costs),the plane ticket price of $1257.01,and the $500.00 I had to pay the airline to be able to change my destination since I have no further need to travel to Florida. Since you,your co-conspirators, and your company are no strangers to litigation, you know all too well that it will be worth your effort to see that my money is refunded to me promptly and without further hassle. I have no intention of forgetting about this or letting it go until I am fully and legally justified. I may be reached by U.S. Mail ONLY. All further communication should be in writing. Telephone calls will not be accepted. You may credit the refund to my credit card or mail it to the address that follows: Daniel E. Sadler ********** **********,NY ***** Sincerely, Daniel E. S Cc: 1)Office of the Attorney General Charlie Crist,State of Florida-Consumer Fraud Division The Capitol PL-01 Tallahassee,FL 32399-1050 2)Florida Department of Consumer Services-Division of Consumer Services 2005 Apalachee Parkway,Rhodes Building Tallahassee,FL 32399-6500 3)Office of the Attorney General Eliot Spitzer,State of New York The State Capitol Albany,NY 12224 4)Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida 9050 Pines Blvd. Ste.358 Pembroke Pines,FL 33024 *********************** Here's some advise for anyone dealing with this company: 1.Don't accept their "No Refund" speech,they will keep telling you that it's their policy **2.steps you need to take to get your refund(more or less,depending how generous they are feeling or who you talk to): a.first,call and cancel over the phone,request refund--be sure they give you a cancellation #--take down all names,times,etc.--detail what they tell you b.fax or send a certified letter of cancellation to Daniel Lambert or Gina Johns similar to the ones you see here with personal information and reasons(make it your own) c.send a copy of the same letter to all the people that are listed and Cc it so they know exactly who you have sent it to d.be polite and courteous in any communication with them (even when they really piss you off!) e.be patient!--it's gonna' take them a while to get around to all these complaints they are getting!! 3.DON'T GIVE UP AND LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT!thousands of people have been suckered into their scam..let everyone you know about this and eventually they won't have anyone left to scam(6 degrees of seperation) GOOD LUCK!!!!!