Gypped :(

[snookumsnort]

I hate this. We buy phonecards to call our family from this company. Last month, they told us that we "won" a Holiday Adventure Package. For $500, we get free airfare, free cruises, or free accommodations to 12 destinations in and out of the US.

Of course, my hubby fell for it based on the reasoning that they were pretty reliable as a phonecard company. So we paid the $500 and got the package.

They sort of implied that they'll do the booking for us, it wasn't a scam and all. What they failed to tell us was that (1) we had to buy either plane tickets or 1-week hotel stays to get any of the freebies on top of the $500 we paid, and (2) bookings were going to go through "Holiday Travel of America" which has over 80 complaints against it for non-delivery of services.

I called for a refund of our money but they said my husband signed a waiver acknowledging a $150 cancellation fee. They insisted that we should bear the loss even if I said that they misrepresented this product to us. Is there any other recourse for us?

[purplefdu]

File a complaint with your credit card company (I'm assuming you used a CC for such a large charge). Otherwise you can file complaints with the better business bureau, the state attorney general, etc and hope they get this all back for you.

I'd also kick your husband for being a goon. If you win something and have to fork over $500 somethings not right, lol.

[CopyCat]

Maybe its just me, but I think your husband should have to incur that $150
dollar cancellation fee... Most anyone would have seen this coming like a
freight train... Maybe if it hurts a little bit, [Like putting your finger to a
flame as a child] he'll know better next time...

[oldmoviebuff]

Your husband is a very gullible person, isn't he? You really need to give him a crash course in common con games. How does a prize equal $500 paid for a "free" item? None of those terms are interchangeable. Good luck to you in getting it canceled and not paying. Definitely report this to anyone you can and hope it saves someone else the hassles.

[jinzodude]

SUE SUE SUE for false advertisement and such.... HEY!! I'm only thirteen, what else would you expect?

[Tyrfingr]

I find it hard to believe that companies would scam people on peanut money. Don't get me wrong though, it's alot of money for the tax payer. But for the company, with all the money that runs through these corporations... 500 seems like it wont even be noticed. The only thing that will happen is that people who are subjected to this will end up being a lost customer, and in the long run they will have lost ALOT more than 500 from that person.

Fast money NOW and short term solutions is always the path to ruin. Both options means dishonesty, the long term effect will be a bad reputation that causes people to avoid you and turn to someone else... No geniuses in that phone card company if you ask me.

My advice is to end your business with them pronto, and don't mince words with them about it. As for solving the issue you have.. Seems a little tricky to me as i don't know too much about the laws in the State in these cases. I would seek advice from someone who works with these kind of things on regular basis. I'm not too sure if the Federal trade comission handles cases like these, but they ought to have people who can give you advices on necessary steps you could take...

You should tell your husband that he should ALWAYS, ask about everything. They never tell you about the catches unless you ask. In some cases they are obligied to do so, and if they don't it can be voiding the the whole case.

Good luck with the thieving f******.