I received a call from this number 718-228-1157 as well as 718-228-1154 & 212-736-6919 a few times now after attending the "Everything to do with Sex Show" in Halifax, NS where I filled out ballots to win free trips and so on but apparently it's a HUGE SCAM!! DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE YOUR CREDIT CARD NUMBER!!! People have fallen for this and have lost money because there is no trip and the person calling probably isn't even using their real name!! They never leave messages either! Apparently, they say they're calling from Majesty Cruise Lines or something like that.
I'm in the same boat as all of you.
The same day I paid them, I checked out these forums and realized my mistake. I immediately called my credit card company to block any other charges from them. They told me to talk to the company to get a refund first.
Florida Bahamas Cruise Vacations said that I had won a cruise "dream vacation" worth $2500/person for 2 people. So $5000. But the reservation cost was $299 per person. So listening to them go on and on, I was excited. As I'm looking at what was being offered. It is a far cry from the $2500 "dream vacation!" And shouldn't it be worth $2800 since I had to pay 299 already? And they still want flight and dock fees? RIDICULOUS!
I tried to call them about an hour after I booked it and cancel. I gave them a reason that I was having financial troubles and couldn't commit to it at the moment. That at a later date perhaps I could look into actually booking a vacation. So they offered to cut my cost initial cost in half and move the date to book another 6 months. But when or if you decide to go on the vacation, you still owe that amount of money before the expiry date is up.
My credit card company said that if they don't keep the agreement of sending me the package within 3 business days, then they'll be able just to go through a process of canceling the charges. I doubt I'll receive a package within 3 business days. I live in Canada. Also in terms of that refund, it hasn't transferred yet. The 600 comes right out, the 300 back, now takes awhile. Making me less and less happy about this situation.
Tomorrow I will call again, and probably to be run around for a few hours. The Florida law states that you have 30 days to cancel in writing. Another person posted above and said that because he lived in NY that he only had 3 days. But what Lauren said is absolutely true. The company is a Florida based company and must abide by those rules. If they come at me with that, in the province of Ontario, the law states I have 15 days to cancel my purchase under any circumstance. All you need is return their package and write a letter to them stating you no longer want the service. If they fail to comply, you have full capability to sue them for costs and restitutions.
In the Consumer Protection Act it says: "If the supplier fails to meet these duties, the consumer may sue them for restitution and damages in relation to the default [CPA s.96(6)]. Additionally, if the supplier is prosecuted and convicted for failure to comply with these duties, the provincial offences court may order restitution" [CPA 116(1)(b)(viii), 117: see Part B, Ch.9: "Prosecutions"].
I'm sure this is similar in the Florida State Law as well. I just have to double check that.
So I called to cancel today again! 24 hours after I got scammed. Same deal, I got the run around. She basically made me feel stupid for authorizing this trip. Said, if you didn't want it, why did you give them your credit card #.
I stated the law from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Act. They proceeded to tell me that because I am not in Florida, I don't fall under those rules. Well then I stated the laws of my province, and they were like...umm..oh, yeah we know that. So then I say, well then you should have no problem canceling this and honouring my request. They said, yes you have the right to make a complaint, but we don't have to honour it. That's ridiculous! You are bound by law to honour the refund if requested.
So they sent me to another woman that tried to cut the price down even more. $299 for the entire package. I got them to outline what was included in the package and the overall breakdown of the prices. It came up to about $1300. But you still had to pay the extra fees. But what was promised to me was a "dream vacation" package worth $5000. So if they were willing to honour and let me book my own vacation that would be worth $5000, I would take it. If not, cancel it.
They then proceeded to transfer me to a manager. She said confirmed everything the other woman said while reiterating my words. I agreed and said, that's it, I just want to cancel. She proceeded to offer me a reservation worth $99, the rest to be paid at a later date. What the point of having that there? If I want to book a vacation at a later date, I will do so later. There's no point for $100 to sit there. I knew for sure they were trying to keep as much money as they could.
I said, thank you for explaining me and trying to be a good customer service representative, but I still want to cancel.
So I got a confirmation # of cancellation. They said that they record their phones, but who knows. Just to be safe, when dealing with them, I recommend that you record the phone call for yourself. At least you have evidence that the transaction was cancelled and that they can't put anymore charges on your card.
They said it will be credited to my account in 3-5 business days. I also contacted my credit card company with the new information. They will help me verify the company has honoured the refund. If not, the credit card company will deal with it. It helps that I have hard evidence :)
I hope it works out ok for you, because on top of the $600 they initially charge you, there's another $129 per person due right before your trip, then on top of that there's undisclosed daily fees for crude oil or something about the boat, plus only pop as a drink is included in their "deal".
So for two people, $860 plus airfare, plus the fees they don't disclose, is that really a deal at all?