- Report: #631248
Complaint Review: Union Bank - Lynwood California
Reported By:
Concerned -
Los Angeles, California, USA
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Union Bank
3831 Martin Luther King Jr Bl Lynwood, 90262-3601 California, United States of America
Phone:
(310) 761-8130
Web:
https://www.unionbank.com
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Union Bank DECEITFUL PROMOTIONS! DON'T FALL FOR IT! Lynwood , California
A representative of Union Bank convinced me to open a business account and in return, after I complied with several terms of the promotion, I would receive one free ticket to Italy and 2 free nights at a hotel in Rome. I did exactly as they requested, for example, deposited $7,000 into my bank account for 3 months etc. Since at the end of those three months I was supposed to receive a voucher for my free ticket to Italy I contacted Brenda Lopez from the Montebello branch. Ms. Lopez only provided me with an information sheet on the details of the promotion and when I noticed that it said I would receive a free DOMESTIC flight NOT an international flight, I brought this to Ms. Lopez's attention but she insisted that a flight to Italy was included and proceeded to show me a list of the international hotels, including, hotels in Rome, Italy.
Once the 3 months were over I contacted Ms. Lopez and she said that I should be receiving my voucher in the mail very soon. I proceeded to make plans to go to Italy and was going to use that free ticket for my husband. Months passed and still no sign of the voucher. Everytime I called, Ms. Lopez insisted that I would receive it soon. Eventually, she stopped answering my phone calls.
When I was 2 months away from leaving to Italy I called once again and this time I had to call from another phone number so that she did not recognize the call. When she answered, I demanded an answer and told her I was no longer willing to wait. She promised she would look into it. The next day she left a message saying that it was "too late for the promotion" but that they were willing to give me a $250.00 gift card. I was livid. How they think that $250.00 equals a ticket to Italy PLUS 2 nights in a hotel is beyond me.
I contacted Union Bank's corporate office and eventually got in touch with the assistant to Union Bank's president, Ms. Maria Velasquez. After she did some research she confirmed that the promotion was only domestic and not international. To this day, she still can NOT explain how if the ticket is only domestic, then why did Union Bank provide me with a list of hotels in Italy? Was I supposed to only fly here in the US but stay in Italy? How does that work? I suppose I missed the part of taking a boat to Italy?
In the end, I had to go to Italy without my family and it ruined my plans completely. What's worse, is that Union Bank does NOT take responsibilty for fraud and unfair business practices . Not to mention unprofessional employees who lie just to get an account open. Union Bank REFUSES to give me what was promised and keep offering the $250.00 gift card which to me, is a joke.
I have a lawyer on this case and intend to take it all the way to the media. Banks should not be allowed to do this. This is FRAUD! And should NOT be tolerated!
I WOULD NOT OPEN AN ACCOUNT WITH UNION BANK! And stay away from their promotions since they are DECEITFUL!
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Concerned
Los Angeles,California,
USA
Still doesn't make sense
#2Author of original report
Fri, August 27, 2010
I asked several times many questions and they lied to me. Unfortunately, one of the bank representatives involved (which I did not even mention) was a woman we trusted so we did not even question her. And if someone brings me a flyer that says "free airfare" and then a LIST of INTERNATIONAL hotels, it makes sense to anyone that they would be used together, not separate.
Robert, how did you get that information so fast? Do you work for Union Bank? Not even Ms. Vasquez had that information, we asked her and she never gave us clear answers.
Ronny g
North hollywood,California,
USA
So..the report is legit?
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, August 13, 2010
Seems Robert has helped your case. Well other then using an oxymoron "clearly in fine print"...it seems there was a degree of deception used either way..(not surprising if a bank is involved) and as well...a bank representative may have lied to you.
Lodging a report here is was a good gesture to warn others. If I was in your place I would take the 250 dollar gift card, as legally that may be all they have to give you according to the "clear" fine print.
Then I would clean out the account and stay as far away from this bank as possible (as long as this does not subject you to any early withdrawal/termination fees), make sure you check the terms carefully or you may subject yourself to another swindle.
I guess there are a few lessons learned here..
1) Don't trust a bank
2) Don't trust what a bank representative tells you
3) Read the fine print, if you don't understand any of it either have someone else look it over who does, or just avoid the promotion and bank altogehter.
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
Information..
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, August 13, 2010
I believe I found the promotion you are talking about
http://www.companionticketinfo.com/ubtravel/
While on the surface you may wonder why they list International Hotels when it is only Domestic Airfare. The first page which is the "advertisement" and not the fine-print explains it.
Do I need to use my companion airline ticket and hotel stay at the same time? No. The two offers are independent of each other and may be used simultaneously or separately.
So you could use the Airfare one time and the Hotel another if you wanted. Also it is quite clear in the "fine print" that it is only valid for domestic travel, and they even have a more detailed map that lists specific cities.
I am not saying that it may not be confusing. And if the employee stated it should be International Flights as well, then at best it is a mis-understanding, at worst she did outright lie to you. So now it comes down to your "damages". It is also very clear on the promotion that you have to book through that company and not the airlines. Since this is a "companion", meaning that you buy the regular ticket through them and they give you the other ticket for free. So I am not really sure how you were making arrangements for your trip without having the voucher in question. Even if you bought your ticket and just figured that once you got the voucher you could get the free one..what if they didn't have any seats left?
But beyond that. Another section of the advertisement states this..
Will I receive a 1099-INT for the value of this offer? Yes. Registration will trigger the receipt of a 1099-INT with a value of $257. You will be issued a 1099-INT if you register for either the companion airline ticket, the 2 night hotel stay or both. The value will be $257 for any registration.
Which means that the value to Union Bank is $257. That would explain why they offered you a $250 Gift Card(although it probably should have been $257). So not sure if legally you have any claims on damage greater than that.
Now, just a comment on these "companion" programs. Anytime you have to book through a specific company you need to watch out. Not that they are not legitimate, but they often don't have the best fares. Where getting a rate on your own outside of the promotion may be cheaper than using the "free companion" fares. For example you may be able to get a Round-Trip from LA to Chicago for $400 through the Airline. But when you call this company for your "free" companion ticket the best price they have is $850 Round-Trip. So instead of getting two tickets for $800 you now have two tickets for $850 plus all of their fees. Now this doesn't always happen but it happens enough to where you should not sign up for anything based on a free "companion" ticket without looking at all of the fine print and costs. Then of course as with anything, if it is not in writing you MUST treat it as if it was never even said.
