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I
JUST
WON A TRIP / FREE TRIPS !?
or "If it sounds too
good to be true it probably is!"
Miscellaneous
Diamond Holidays
NDI Network Direct
Security Travel
Special T Travel
ASTAR All Seasons Travel And
Resorts
Other
companies with similar tactics
A lot of people who were trapped by these
companies will somehow blame their bad experience on the Bahamas. After
all, one
of the most tempting element of most of these travel scams is a cruise
with the Discovery cruise ferry from Florida to Grand Bahama followed
by
a stay at a (budget) hotel in Freeport. A bad feeling about the Bahamas
will stay in those people's minds even if the companies and the people
who misleaded them are in Florida or somewhere else in the U.S. and not
in the Bahamas.
1. You didn't win
anything. Everybody get's the same offer.
2. The "free
trip" is far from being "free".
3. You didn't
win a free trip but
a "huge discount"? Beware, the trip will still cost you a lot of money.
They are usually very reluctant to
tell you how much the trip will cost you in the end. If you don't ask,
they won't tell you. And some will downright lie to you.
If you go: Be
realistic. Don't expect a luxury holiday for a budget price.
For Diamond and similar offers:
Read Cal's and Ryan's travel reports here
If you have already given them your credit card number.....
... and they have already charged it with a few 100$, you will usually have three options: 1 give up, write off the money already paid (charged to your credit card) - make sure that they cannot charge your credit card for other payments 2 fight for "money back" - try to cancel credit card payment (charge back - might not possible anymore, but check your options with credit card company). Put pressure on the company: let them know that you are prepared to file a complaint, start with filing a complaint with the Consumer Affairs department. 3 go for it, double check everything, make the best out of it and there are good reasons for each one of them depending on your language skills and your "grimness" or aggressiveness/ability to enforce oneself |
FTC,
Consumer Services and BBB
Travel scams - a summary by the [US] FTC Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/features/travel.htm
About "Operation Travel Unravel"
by FTC in August 2000 http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/travel_unravel.html
Operation Trip Trap in 1999 http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/08/triptrap.htm
Florida Division of Consumer Services
http://www.800helpfla.com/
Florida Division of Consumer Services - Complaint Form http://www.800helpfla.com/ccform.html
(but can a foreigner living abroad use this form?)
BBB OnLine Complaint System http://bbbtest.e-asp.net/(libvrqrmbabtlf45b2g3mn55)/Default.aspx
lots of threads about the subject ... bahamas-mon.com
Sports board
lots of threads here too, search for "free" or
"won" bahamas-mon
Freeport board
some helpful consumer websites
or online articles can be found with google, search for ["free trips"
scams"
]
!! Scambusters
about "travel scams"
http://www.scambusters.org/Scambusters87.html
Know that you can only dispute
credit card
charges within 60 days of acquiring them. So while it's a good idea
to pay with your credit card (so that you can dispute the charge if it
turns out you've been scammed), be wary of travel deals in which the
'availability'
is more than 60 days away. |
The Discovery - a cruise ferry - most/all so called "free" cruises to the Bahamas will be made on the Discovery
The Discovery is a cruise ferry (a small cruise ship or a large ferry...). A lot of people use it like a ferry between Florida and the Bahamas: Americans for a week-end trip to the Bahamas if they don't want to fly or use the CloudX or the CAT (which are other ferries) and Bahamians if they go to Florida for shopping or relatives coming over. A lot of people are quite happy with the ship's comfort others will say that it is not what they expected, not what they were promised (too small, a bit shabby, not a "real" cruise liner etc.). - more info & comments here |
Some of the hotels...
(in Freeport and Florida)
"Some are all simple but clean motel type
properties"
(see Cal's comment)
"Most hotels they put you in are remote, and
you will spend plenty on cabfare" (Scubagirls remark)
. . . other hotels are just dumps...
Redwood Hotel (Redwood Inn) website http://www.the-bahamas-hotels.com/redwood/
Island Plam / Island Seas http://www.bahamasvacationguide.com/islandsisters.html - "Island Seas, that is good. It is a nice resort on the beach. Be sure that you are not staying at Island Palm. It is a sister resort, and is located downtown and about five miles from the beach (see Cal's comment) -
Royal Palm - no website? http://www.wguides.com/city/167/32_122327.cfm
Victoria Inn http://thebahamian.com/victoriainn/ (Cal's description of the Victoria Inn Bahamas-on-line 15.04.04)
Bell Channel Inn http://www.bahamasvacationguide.com/caribdiv.html (Cal's description of the Bell Channel Inn : a clean and servicable motel tyoe property on Bell Chanel Bay. It is across the bay from Port Lucaya marketplace. It is about 12-15 minute walk around the bay to get to the Marketplace. there is a bus stop across the street. There is a small restaurant and a dive shop on site. It is not fancy, but is clean and servicable. There is usually a hotel tax added, It is often $12-$15 per night per person. Geographia/GBI board 05.11.04
Ramada (Ft Lauderdale/Orlando?)
helpful resources: http://www.ramadarefunds.com/
- badbusinessbureau
Ramada Inn / Ramada Plaza (Ft Lauderdale /
Orlando?)
which
one is it?? http://www.ramadainnairport.com/
- tripadvisor
reviews or Ramada Inn Sea
Club
- tripadvisor
reviews or Ramada Plaza Orlando/Ft Lauderdale - review
Orlando - review
Ft Lauderdale
see also here for
Diamond
Holidays hotel lists
for other hotels and for more general
links about Grand Bahama / Freeport
see here
Diamond Holidays |
website of Diamond Holidays http://www.diamondholidaystravel.com/index.html
Their hotel lists - Orlando,
Ft
Lauderdale, Bahamas
Bahamas-mon
- lots of comments & tips about free trips (about Diamond and
others)
e.g. Ryan's
trip report 27.5.04 and 13.08.04
lots of threads about the subject ... bahamas-mon.com
Sports board
lots of threads here too, search for "free" or
"won" bahamas-mon
Freeport board
.. if you are THIS kind of a traveller, you might be happy with what you get
I won a trip from Diamond Holidays and so far I must say my experience has been great. Yes, I admit, after paying the taxes, fees and charges, its no longer free; but how many times have I been saying that I need a vacation and never ever get around to actually booking one? I'm glad they called me and held my hand through my vacation purchase because if they hadn't, tomorrow I'd be sitting here at my desk infront of this computer instead of getting on the ship - which is exactly what I'll be doing. Matter of fact, at this time tomorrow, I should be nice and drunk off of rum punch. Thank you Diamond Holidays! source Bahamas-mon Sports etc board |
... Maybe not illegal, but
a
con none the less.!"
says Scubagirl, a very competent forum regular,
about Diamond Holidays: "
The fact remains, people aren't get anything for free.. or even discounted and they certainly didn't WIN anything. They are paying $77.00 each to PROCESS (which is bogus), and $100 port fees, which are non-existent. The hotels offered are usually pretty ragged, and with all these associated fees, they could book a real vacation without having to listen to a time share presentation. Just those facts make this a con. Maybe not illegal, but a con none the less." source: Bahamas-mon board |
Cal: How to make the best
of
your
"free" trip
(Cal's trip might have been comparable with
"Diamond
Holidays' free trip", see also below, but not
with
Special T and similar)
QA-Source: http://www.the-bahamas-islands.com
> thread not available anymore > see Cal's of 03.08.04 comment on
Geographia/GBI
board A From Cal: on Tue - Nov
4,2003 This is the routine.
If the trip is a 3 day 2 night trip, you
will
have about 2 full days in the Bahamas. Add up all the costs, and the
total
can be about $400-$500. Often, you have a choice of 2-3 hotels, (Island
Palm, Royal Palm, Victoria Inn, or Redwood Inn). They are all simple
but clean motel type properties. Island Palm and Royal palm are
downtown
and about 5 miles from the ocean. Victoria Inn is on Midshipman road
and
about ¾ mile from the ocean. Redwood is right at Port Lucaya, so
you will not waste any time commuting. If you stay downtown, you
will have to taxi or bus to get around. In the Bahamas, you will be approached by people who want you to visit a time share or get hair braids. They are not overly pushy. Just say no politely and they will not hassle you. At Port Lucaya, there are 100 shops and restaurants, and it is right across from the beach. There is live music on Count Basie square at Port Lucaya every night. There are several affordable restaurants at Port Lucaya. Our favorites are 1. Giovanis - an Italian/American/Bahamian restaurant with good food and reasonable prices. The serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 2. Zorba the Greek - Greek/American restaurant. There is also a Domino Pizza, a Dunkin donuts, and many other restaurants. This is definitely a shorts and jeans trip. We visit there six weeks each year and about everything is casual. You can use visa most places, and travelers checks are used everywhere. As for transportation, you can take the public bus to the Royal Oasis casino for $1. You can easily spend the two days walking the beach and enjoying. There is scooter rental right beside your hotel. Be warned, they drive on the opposite side of the road, so you must be careful. The trip to the caves is nice. this is Lucayan National Park. Gold Rock Beach across the road is absolutely gorgeous. You would need a scooter or car to get there. Snorkel trips are nice. Let me know if you have other questions. Grand Bahama is a wonderful place to visit. My wife and I have been visiting for 16 years. We bought a timeshare at Taino Beach in 1990 and a studio condo at Harbour House Towers in 1997. We plan to Retire there. My cost estimates may not be exact, so check them out closely. Some “free trip” packages provide hotel before and after the trip, some do not. Estimated Costs Base on 2
people: This does not include travel expenses before/after the trip such as airfare, food or activities. And, this is for 4 days / 3 nights. For a comparison of a alternative package, Check out http://www.gbvac.com for comparable deals. A From: Jerry on Tue - Nov 4,
2003 I have
seen many posts starting. "I just won a trip......" As Cal points out,
you haven't "won" anything. Check out these sites for some good
information
about so-called free trips. Keep you credit card in your wallet until
you
research the whole package and know exactly what you are getting into. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/features/travel.htm
/ http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/trvlalrt.htm
... Q From:
Jennifer
Date March 06, 2004 NDI trip to Freeport, need input QA-Source:
http://www.bahamas-mon.com/bahamaforum/freeport/1243.html
more about NDI see here |
Great Report! Ryan: My "Free Trip" to The Bahamas...and tips I learned
QA-source: Bahmas-online
board May 2004 |
Security Travel |
Security Travel website http://www.securitytravelusa.com
long comment by "former employee" http://www.bahamas-mon.com/bahamaforum/sports/1922.html
It's not scam, but they tell so many lies that they should be shut down. |
atevo - very long thread about Security Travel
(slooow)
http://www.atevo.com/interactions/exchange/item/1,3769,-bd=10-ix=45-in=15-so=2-mg=5505013,00.html
Jorgen about someone who actually made the trip
(but without the Bahamas part): by
Anne 14.04.04
How to get a refund 22.09.04
by Gerald Richards - successfully
by Clinton 10.05.04
Security Travel's connection to "David's Bridal"
We won this trip by registering at David's Bridal Shop in Orlando, Florida. I called David's Bridal Shop's corporate HQ to inquire about Security Travel USA, Inc. They inform me they are a real travel agency, they pay for the name lists that David's Bridal Shop provides them. I asked what was in it for Security Travel USA, Inc., and I was told that there are charges, the port tax, $39.99 "application" fee, etc., but they mainly hope you will either upgrade or decide to book additional vacations with them again in the future. source: bahamas-mon forum |
Special T Travel STT / Travel Shopping Spree |
Congratulations!" the window screamed. "You are the 50,000,000th visitor to this website. Click here to close this window and contact our prize department immediately." [...] as it was 3am, and I was a little curious, I followed the instructions and clicked "here". Another pop-up window appeared. "You're Today's Winner!" flashed the banner at the top of the window. "You have won an $1600 Travel Shopping Spree. Your confirmation number is xxxxx. Call within 3 minutes and receive a Holiday Bonus! Operators standing by - Call Now!" In the same window, a clock is slowly ticking down the seconds I have remaining to call the number listed. So I got sucked in ... I rang the number. [] source: random/Gee |
Their website http://www.specialttravel.com/packages.html
they say they are a division of a UK company
but nobody seems to be able to locate it... http://www.special-t-travel.com/privacy.html
!! Orlando BBB (Better Business Bureau) Reliability Report http://www.orlando.bbb.org/newsearch2.asp?ComID=0733000000301267
This company has an unsatisfactory customer experience history with the Better Business Bureau. |
Complaints etc.
search with google for more ["special T" cruise
bahamas]
Consumersaffairs website about Special T http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/specialt.htm and dont miss the "response" - one of the victims writes: "I have got back from VISA half of what I paid to Special-T-Travel, since they don't have my signature."
rec.travel.usa-canada (via google) about
Special
T Travel starting 01.04.2002 - have a look at comment by "travel
agent"
Nov 14th 2003: the mentioned message boards are definitely bogus-boards
i.e. "produced" by Special T Travel - baltimorehotels
- lasvegashotels
- leadcart
rec.travel.usa-canada (via google) about
- Special
T Travel starting 15.06.04
S Lloyds' description http://www.complaints.com/directory/2004/april/10/7.htm - in the end, she got her money back / she mentions a class action suite http://www.napierlaw.com/special_t_travel.htm "Inhance v. Special T Travel Services" (unsollicited faxes, in 2001/2002)
Ripp-off website http://badbusinessbureau.com/reports/ripoff111535.htm
holidayscams http://holidayscams.proboards21.com/index.cgi?board=warn&action=display&num=1061561372
atevo - vey long thread about Special T (sloooow)
http://www.atevo.com/interactions/exchange/item/1,3769,-bd=10-ix=45-in=15-so=2-mg=5505430,00.html
solvalou - another nice description of the
"procedure"
http://www.solvalou.com/messages_view.php?mid=74&selected=710
random/Gee - and another description http://www.macunisoccer.com/Random/March2003.htm
complaints.com - search it for "Special T Travel"
and "bahamas free" http://www.complaints.com
some recent discussions
Geographia/GBI
- BVG
Freeport board - frommers
(scroll to the bottom of the thread) -
Deutsche
Forengruppe
- Kreuzfahrt-Forum (in German)
Der 1. Diskussionsfaden (Mitte Nov 04) wurde vom
Forumadministrator gelöscht:.
27.11.2004 Wer anonym Firmen namentlich
benennt
und verunglimpft (berechtigt oder unberechtigt ist egal) setzt dieses
Forum
und den Betreiber juristischen Angriffen aus. Das ist Missbrauch dieses
Forums und das können wir nicht dulden. Haben Sie mehr Mut und
stellen
Sie in Ihrem eigenen Namen Strafanzeige!MfG |
2. Versuch, unvorsichtige und
unsensibilisierte
(deutschsprachige) Zeitgenossen zur Vorsicht aufzurufen und allenfalls
Tipps an/für Betroffene zu geben/sammeln
http://www.forengruppe.de/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=1384
(siehe auch hier, falls der Faden wieder
gelöscht
werden sollte).
24.11.04 Rückfrage bei Kreditkartenorganisation hat klar ergeben, dass Rückbuchungen in solchen Fälle (CC-No. über Intenet oder Telefon gegeben) das ganze Risiko beim Kunden liegt. Der Kunde habe mit der Angabe der CC-No. die Vertragsbestimmungen des Verkäufers akzeptiert. Wenn der Kunde die CC-No. angibt, ohne die Vertragsbestimmungen gesehen oder gelesen zu haben, geht er ein Risiko ein, dass er selbst zu tragen habe. (Folgendes nur für die Schweiz gefragt:) Grundsätzlich kann man immer innert 30 Tagen nach Erhalt der CC-abrechnung eine Beanstandung mittels Formular einreichen. Dies geht an die juristische Abteilung zur Bearbeitung. Wenn die CC-No. über Internet oder per Telefon angegeben wurde, werde eine Beanstandung wahrscheinlich von der juristischen Abteilung der CC-Organisation üblicherweise gar nicht mehr angenommen, weil sich der Kunde fahrlässig verhalten habe. So schreibt z.B. die UBS in ihren CC-Vertragsbestimmungen: Einkäufe mit Kreditkarten im Internet.• Prüfen Sie bei Einkäufen immer die Geschäftsbedingungen des Vertragspartners, bevor Sie Ihre Kreditkarten-nummer nennen oder einen Vertrag unterschreiben. • Geben Sie Ihre Kartennummer nie nur zu Informationszwecken bekannt.• Drucken Sie bei einem Vertragsabschluss die Homepagedes Anbieters aus oder merken Sie sich die URL. Dies kann für spätere Korrespondenz oder Kündigung des Abonnements sehr nützlich sein.• Sollte eine Kartenbelastung ohne Lieferung erfolgen, teilen Sie uns dies bitte innert 30 Tagen schriftlich mit.[] |
Other companies with similar tactics |
whoever is behind THIS link http://www.freecruise.com/
- same procedure - have a look at the arguments under FAQ e.g. "how can
you
give away a cruise?
Feb 2006 - same type of scams but newer forum
threads (Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland)
http://www.cyberhq.nl/2005/07/26/free-caribbean-cruise.html
http://boakes.org/ameri-scam/comment-page-44
http://battleangel.org/item/1674
http://www.grumbletext.co.uk/vt.php?t=1146&subj=complaints+Your+VIP+Holiday+complaint
ASTAR All Seasons Travel And Resorts
their website http://www.aseasonstravel.com/ (NOT the same as e.g. http://www.allseastravel.com/)
Ripp-off report 19.10.2004 http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff113663.htm
- more
reports - read also warning about BBB reports
Atlanta BBB report http://www.atlanta.bbb.org/commonreport.html?bureau=atlanta&compid=6008067&code=UP
rec.travel.usa-canada (via google) about
All
Seasons Travel starting 12.02.2003
some recent discussions
Tripadvisor
Freeport board msg1 and msg2
NDI
- Network Direct Inc
(thimeshare presentation with free "gifts", one
of them a cruise to the Bahamas)
website of Network Direct Inc http://www.networkdirect.com./
a 1997 article about NDI http://www3.baylor.edu/Lariat/Archives/1997/19970321/14_dfk.html
a long discussion thread about NDI (going on
since 2002) http://ilx.p3r.net/thread.php?showall=true&msgid=1975096
and an even longer one here (mainly about Global
Advantage / Global Discovery) http://www.asymptomatic.net/articles/323.htm
see also ndi-comment here
Textsave siehe auch hier
Danke für die Antwort. Dass das der Grund für das Löschen des Fadens war - darauf wäre ich jetzt wirklich nicht gekommen... Geschockt .... wie soll man unvorsichtige, unsensibilisierte Zeitgenossen vor einem Lockvogelangebot warnen, wenn man den Namen nicht nennen darf ... Geschockt Dann werde ich mich mal besser vorsichtig ausdrücken, wenn ich hier die IMHO wichtigen Punkte aus dem gelöschten Faden wieder aufgreife: In *Florida* ansässige, hier nicht namentlich benannte, Firmen, erscheinen u.a. auf dem PC-Bildschirm mittels Pop-up-Fenster, die den Gewinn eines "Free trip" oder einer "wahnsinning günstigen Reise" ankündigen. Zur Reise gehört meist ein Hotelaufenthalt in Florida und eine Kurz-Kreuzfahrt auf die Bahamas. Unvorsichtige, unsensibilisierte Zeitgenossen klicken auf das Pop-up-Fenster, rufen dann die angegebene Telefonnummer an und geben im kommenden, raffiniert geführten Verkaufsgespräch schliesslich ihre Kreditkartennummer an. Der Haken bei der Sache ist, - dass das Gespräch in Englisch stattfindet > Unsicherheit, man fragt nicht alles, was man sonst fragen würde - dass man mit der Angabe der Kreditkartennummer die Vertragsbedingungen akzeptiert, sich aber über deren genauen Inhalt nicht genügend informiert hat - überwältigt von der Freude über den unerwarteten Gewinn und unter Zeitdruck (künstlich erzeugtem - bei einer Variante sieht man am Bildschirm sogar eine rückwärtslaufende Zeitanzeige; man muss zusagen, bevor die Uhr bei Null angelangt ist, sonst ist der "Gewinn" weg). - dass die Firma nach dem ersten Gespräch nur noch schwierig erreichbar ist . In den mir bekannten Fällen wurde während des ersten Gesprächs z. B. eine Zahlung von rund 700$ vereinbart ("die ganze Reise kostet nur 700$ statt mehr als 2000$!") und sofort der Kreditkarte belastet. Monate später, als man dann wie vereinbart das Reisedatum festlegen wollte, waren plötzlich "Port + Immigration Fees and Taxes" von rund 200$ fällig. So eine Gebühr war während des Gesprächs nicht erwähnt worden, ist aber z.B. auf der Webseite sehr wohl aufgeführt (das es für das betreffende Land offiziell weder Port- noch Immigration Fees gibt, ist ein anderer Schuh...). Hinzu können je nach Fall noch Hochsaisonzuschläge, Wechsel in ein besseres/besser gelegenes Hotel, Doppel-/Einzelzimmerzuschläge usw. usw. kommen. Erst jetzt dämmert es einigen, dass sie da wohl raffiniert über den Tisch gezogen wurden. Für das, was man angeblich gewonnen hat, muss man einiges zahlen und weiss dann, endlich misstrauisch geworden, immer noch nicht, was einem während der Ferien überhaupt erwartet (ist das Hotel die letzte Absteige? Ist das Hotel zwar "einfach aber sauber" aber so weit von allem weg, dass man Taxi benutzen muss, um zum Strand zu gelangen, wird man zur Teilnahme an einer Timesharepräsentation genötigt usw. usw.). Am liebsten möchte man alles rückgängig machen. Dazu ist es aber normalerweise zu spät. - die Kreditkartenfirma wird einem
(meist mit
Recht) Unvorsichtigkeit vorwerfen und nichts unternehmen wollen Wenn man sich trotz allem auf die Reise einlassen will, sollte man jetzt alle Teile der Reise genaustens abklären, um zu retten, was noch zu retten ist und das beste daraus zu machen: - auf dem Internet nach Informationen über die Firma suchen (in deutsch ist leider nur wenig zu finden) - bei der Firma *hartnäckig* nachfragen, welche/s Hotel/s genau gebucht wurde/n. Reviews auf dem Internet lesen. Evtl. Hotel wechseln, ein anderes günstigeres Reisedatum wählen. Mit Hotel/s telefonieren und abklären, ob es eine passende Reservation gibt. Dasselbe machen mit Mini-Kreuzfahrt, Mietwagen usw. - Mit Firma abklären, welche Gebühren noch kommen werden bzw. was muss man dann vor Ort noch selbst zahlen (z.B. Hoteltaxen). Vertragsbedingungen studieren, schritliche Bestätigungen verlangen usw. Ich hoffe, dass diese Angaben dem einen oder anderen hilfreich sind. Gruss Johanna |
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