If anyone has received a promotion from this company.. DON'T accept. It's a vacation dream come true opportunity, until you actually pay for it.
I gave them a $698 deposit, and the other half due prior to departure.
It's fraud to the core!
I did research on the company and they go by other names. It took me over a year to get my money back, but they will refund. I have exact letters used if anyone needs help. If you are a victim of their scam, please private message me and I'll send you the legal letter I designed. It worked!
I got a request from an INR member to post what I wrote to RPR to help them get their money back. Below is an edited letter. I removed my name, address and phone number, and left you with a template you can use. I wish you the best of luck. Please email me again if you don't get results, and I'll help you fight them.
It took me three letters to get a response, so what I did was combine all three letters so you have all the information they will try to say they need. I sent out one letter, and they said I sent it to the wrong person. Then I sent out a fax, and they said they never got it. So the last one I sent out certified, return receipt, US mail. I recommend you certify your letter.
Don't let anyone ther tell you that you need an attorney. I'm certainly not an attorney, and through research, I found out what the laws are, and I pointed out their crimes to them. It worked, as I got my money back.
She will tell you that Daniel Lambert is the only one who can authorize a refund. She handles all calls to Daniel, which is why I think Daniel is a made up person to screen complaints. Obviously, if you ask for Lambert, you never get to speak to him. You only get to talk to Gina, and he has never been available to anyone that I know of.
So, be sure to address your letter to both Gina and Daniel.
Edit this according to your specific experiences and remove anything that does not apply to your situation.
FROM:
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State ZIP
TO:
Ramada Plaza Resorts
Attention: Daniel Lambert, Gina Johns and Legal Department
2419 E. Commercial Blvd., Suite 100
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308
DATE:
Enter current date
RE: FULL REFUND REQUESTED DUE TO VIOLATION OF LAWS
Bait and Switch Scam
Unlawful misrepresentation of Advertising
Mail fraud, using the U.S. Postal Service to send out fraudulent advertisement
Reservation: Enter the reservation number RPR issued you
Issue Date: Enter date of issuance
Purchaser: Enter name of purchaser as it appears on your tickets
Dear Mr. Lambert,
I will not tolerate anymore of your representatives passing me around from one employee to another. I want this matter resolved immediately. I am simply asking for a refund. If you want to play games with your staff and screen my calls, you can count on legal matters.
I have had a terrible experience and get the run-a-round with your staff, as they refuse to put me through to you. One says you are in this office, the other says you have an office someplace else. Regardless of where you physically plant yourself, this letter will serve as the requirements of contacting you as your staff said you are the only one who can reverse a reservation and refund money. I’m beginning to think you are not a real person, but only a made up name that most scam companies invent to screen complaints. The thing is, you and Gina Johns are questionable as to your existence. You are always out of the office, can only speak to each of you through mail, or fax, and I have had it with trying to contact either one of you.
This letter is a formal Demand Letter, for relief relating to Ramada Plaza Resorts' ("RPR") willful, unfair and deceptive marketing of their Orlando/Ft. Lauderdale vacation package. You are in violation of the Fair Business Practice Act
[Section: 10-1-393. Unfair or deceptive practices in consumer transactions unlawful; examples. (a) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of consumer transactions and consumer acts or practices in trade or commerce are declared unlawful. ]
You are also in violation of the U.S. Postal Services mail fraud laws, as you have used the U.S Postal Services to further your scheme:
"The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the law enforcement branch of the U.S. Postal Service, empowered by federal laws and regulations to investigate and enforce over 200 federal statutes related to crimes against the U.S. Mail, the Postal Service and its employees. Postal Inspectors investigate any crime in which the U.S. Mail is used to further a scheme, whether it originated in the mail, by telephone or on the Internet. The use of the U.S. Mail is what makes it a mail fraud issue."
It has been brought to my attention that I am a victim of a bait and switch scam presented to me by your company, RPR, located in Florida. You have exactly 10 business days, from the date this letter was signed for, (I will receive the return receipt) to respond to this letter with a full refund, before I report you to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI (they take Bait and Switch seriously). The package you sold me is a crime, and I will not hesitate to prosecute you.
The mailed package you sent me through the United States Postal Services, as well as my phone conversation logs, and consumer testimonies (who have also experienced fraud through your company) will serve as evidence.
You will get no further requests from me asking for a refund. I will not be calling your representatives anymore, as I am mistreated and lied to on every call I make. The next notification you will receive is an order to appear in court if my money is not refunded.
I have outlined the details of the crime, as well as references to other victims of the same scam. If you fail to respond to my request for a full refund, not only will I prosecute you, but I will also file a class action lawsuit, and invite all parties mentioned on the Web site: http://www.ripoffreport.com to join the lawsuit. It is apparent you are not popular with a lot of consumers and a class action suit is probably a welcomed event. If you force this into litigation, I will sue for damages over and above the amount you owe me for the refund, as there will be costs involved for attorney fees and other expenses.
I expect your prompt attention. You may send my refund to the above address, as I have closed the debit card you charged for this package, to ensure no other payments were withdrawn, so you will not be able to credit my debit card.
CRIME COMMITTED:
Bait and Switch
Quote from the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division Web site:
"In general, the Bureau is only authorized to file formal legal action where it has reason to believe that a business is engaged in illegal practices and it is in the public interest to do so. "The public interest" may include a pattern or practice of fraud, an important question of law, a significant number of consumer victims, a significant amount of money at risk or a variety of other things."
THE BAIT:
Vacation package including a trip on the Carnival Cruise, however, after I paid for half of the package, I was told that ship would not be available and I would have to go on the Imperial Majesty instead. I was told I could upgrade if I wanted to go on the Carnival Cruise, however, it was not presented to me as an upgrade. It was either/or and I chose the Carnival Cruise. I was promised a vacation in Las Vegas, Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and other locations. The sales pitch from RPR sounded like a nice vacation, at a reduced rate and for a limited time. I agreed to pay a deposit, and allow payments to be taken from my debit card.
THE SWITCH:
RPR has a 30-day refund policy, however; the package details are not revealed to the consumer until well after the 30-day refund policy has expired. Only then does the consumer learn this is not a real vacation, but instead, it is a timeshare sales pitch, which requires the consumer to be subjected to unfair business practices instead of a vacation.
Even the pamphlet sent in the package, containing the reservation tickets, shows the appearance of a true vacation. The promotion package mailed to me also included a Frequently Asked Questions page. That did not mention anything about a timeshare package either, and it only added to the excitement of a vacation. Never once was a timeshare package revealed to me throughout the entire sales process. It is only through my own research and warnings through other consumers did I learn that this was not the package I thought it was.
I called RPR when I found out it may be a timeshare, and I asked if it was true. The representative said it is true. I asked for a refund, but was refused. I was told I had 30-days to get a refund and I was past my 30-days.
Sales personnel tried to pressure me into purchasing an extension and upgrade on the package. I even got another call last month telling me that my package had expired because I did not take the trip before the deadline. I told them I am researching this package. The representative told me I had to purchase an extension or lose the entire trip. I told him I would not allow any more money to be paid on this. He said it’s my loss and the package is expired. He also said the next representative I get may or may not allow me another opportunity to extend the package, and I will have lost all the money I paid, then he hung up on me.
RPR makes sure the consumers do not know about the timeshare-hidden agenda before the refund policy expires.
OTHER VIOLATIONS:
Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law
Mail fraud
NO RESPONSE:
I have called several times over the past year, and have been told there is a legal department, however, the representatives refused to transfer me to the legal department. I asked that notations be made in my account as to what our phone conversation involves. When I call again, I ask the representatives what is in the notes. The notes do not show previous conversations. I have tried for over a year to get information about this vacation package, and I am not allowed to get past the representatives who answer the phone.
The representatives continually tell me I missed my refund date.
I did research on the Internet to see if others were experiencing the same responses I received, and found a site through the google.com search engine. The site, http://www.rprsucks.com, came up in the search, and after reading through the reports of scammed consumers, I learned that I was not the only one who could not get a response from RPR.
I have now been able to establish the grounds for an investigation as shown above in the subject: CRIME COMMITTED. As, there is a pattern or practice of fraud, an important question of law, a significant number of consumer victims, a significant amount of money at risk or a variety of other things. In fact, there is a public record of numerous victims!
On my last call to your representatives, I asked if your company has heard of rprsucks.com and the representative said they know all about that site. When I asked to talk to the legal department, I was transferred to another representative, who also mistreated me. She refused to transfer me to the legal department. Your representatives are well aware of other consumer complaints and have spent one year of my precious time deceiving me. If you truly do have a legal department, perhaps now I will be forwarded to them.
You may call me at (enter your number) if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Kookaburra left INReview
Last edited by Kookaburra on 11-27-2003 at 04:44 PM |
I've gotten private messages about this company asking for help, and I would like to encourage each of you not to give up. If you need me to make some phone calls to Gina to help you get your money back, I'll be happy to help. Remember, they are breaking the law and the law really is on your side. They continue this because no one has taken them to court yet.
I don't understand why Ramada (the real one) doesn't shut them down as it's giving them a bad name. Before I knew they were separate companies, I called Ramada trying to get my money back. They were aware of RPR and said they are not the same company. They said they get a lot of phone calls about this scam.
So please don't give up. Send me a private message, or post your activities in this thread and I'll respond. I would love to get as many people as I can to get their rufunds.
Kooka, I'm glad you fought back and got your money refunded. There are so many people who give up and I'm glad you didn't. Thanks for sharing your experience and bringing it to attention.
I have a friend who was promised a high end television for attending a time share session locally. He went to the session and there they told him he didn't "win" the TV but won a keychain or something instead. He did what you did and his new TV sure looks great in his family room ... nice picture
Additionally ...
1)This letter contains excellent, very well-researched legal information that can be used directly or as a guide in the event you are faced with ANY type of scam.
So I think anyone who reads Kooka's letter should copy it and save a copy in their files.
2) Note that Kooka saved all receipts, fax confirmations and logged all calls. Be careful to do as Kooka did and SAVE and DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.
3) If you have "older" family or friends who might be more easily victimized ... warn them or tell them to refer any "too good to be true" stuff to you. ( My Aunt asks the ones that call if she could please have their number so that she can have her son the lawyer call them back. )
Kooka ... there are so many people who get stung by these things. You may want to repeat or put a link to this excellent and helpful thread in the law forum as well ? It certainly deserves attention.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly,what is essential is invisible to the eye."
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I can put it there as I think it's a good idea. I'm not an expert in law, but working with attornies made me want to do research on my own. They have a tendency to charge money for work I can do for free. In fact, I found an attorney to take a case for me where a couple was selling a house. The thing is, when I tried to pay the owners off in full, they send the sheriff's office out to give me a 7 day eviction notice.
That's when I learned the house was not really for sale. I had rented it for 1 year. The owners said they wanted to finance the house 100%. I started doing research on the house and found out the owners didn't own the house outright, and four other people tried to buy the house, only to be evicted when it came time to pay in full. The owners were making a whole lot of money on people.
I knew the owners were up to something when I did a title search.
The owners SUED me! Can you believe it? They wanted me to pay them because they said I owed one more month in rent (after the deputies sent notice). They also told me they know the magistrate, and they will win. They were right. They took me to court and won and I never was allowed to present my documents in magistrate court.
Most people would stop there and take their loss, but I appealed it to state court. One week before I was scheduled to appear in state court, my attorney backed out. He said I won't win because of their attorney and because there wasn't enough time to get witnesses. One day before the state court case, my attorney handed me my file (at 6PM). He told me to take my loss and don't go to court. He said state courts are more formal and I don't know the rules.
I'm stubborn. I'll go up against anyone if I believe I'm right, and I won't back down. I decided to go to state court without an attorney and see what happens.
So here I am in the midst of many people in this large court room. I heard the judge call my name out first, and he asked me to come up to the front. He wanted to know why I don't have an attorney, so I told him my attorney backed out. I asked the judge if we can continue anyway and he told me to go sit in another place. Shortly, the plaintiff's attorney came and got me and took me in the hallway.
He wanted to know what I was doing, and I told him I'm going to ask the judge to continue this. He said he'll make sure I don't get a continuance (I learned about that word the night before from my attorney).
He laughed. He said he fully intends to be rough out there and defend his clients, and I laughed back. I said I expect you too, but I'm also ready for you. I told him I have been in contact with the previous buyers of the house, and I know the house really isn't for sale. I told him he has an advantage over me because he knows how to behave in state court, and I don't. But I also said you want to go against me in that courtroom then let's go. He said are you sure you want to do this? I said you better believe I do. I told him I'm not afraid of anything he has to dish out, and I will just do the best I can and ask for a continuance.
So we went back in the court room and the attorney went and said something to the judge. The judge called me to the bench again and asked me what I'm doing. I said your honor, I know this house is not for sale, and I just got my file last night. I'm asking you to give me time to get the witness in. He asked me if I'm in contact with a previous buyer and I told him I was. He said, young lady, I'm going to give you time, and in addition, I'm going let you present your case before me, without a jury.
I turned around with the biggest grin on my face and walked out of the court room.
Shortly that day my "spineless" attorney called me and said he worked out a deal for me. He said their attorney called and wanted to drop the case.
After telling him I went to court on my own and relayed what happen, he said, well you scrappy little thing. I guess you got your own deal.
So, I don't care how the odds look. If you know you are in the right, don't back down. There is a way for people win cases on their own. You just have to be smart ahead of time.
I approach life this way now: have an open heart that people mean well, but assume they don't.
What I mean by this is don't go into something thinking a person is nice or a friend or whatever. Assume there is a risk for deception, and make sure you document everything. In the end, you'll have a really nice case for yourself.
And also, don't assume that because you don't have the education a professional that you can't get something done.
RESEARCH!
I'm involved in a federal lawsuit, and I have saved tons of money doing my own research. On top of that, you learn things attornies don't want you to know.
No need to hear the case. The plaintifs backed out when they saw me leave the court room smiling. They knew I was granted a continuance and their attorney didn't even get a chance to object to it.
They dropped the case against me and I won. Now I'm working with the previous buyers and we are going after them, only this time WE will be the plaintifs.
The previous buyer lost $47,000.00. I only lost $12,000, so we are going after the house itself. It's on a prime spot. We're going to sell it to a developer and she'll get her $47K, I'll get my $12K, and we'll split the rest.
I recently was pulled into the Ramada Resort & Cruise Vacation Scam hoping to receive my first sping break getaway - a dream I had always hoped for. I am an eighteen year old female college student and desperately need help on getting a refund. I dont know where to start. Please help me, I would grealy appreciate it.
I just received a supposed travel voucher for the Ramada Plaza Resorts cruise vacation. When I called to ask for more information about it, I spoke with a very pushy sales rep. I hung up on him and did a search on Daniel Lambert and Ramada Resorts with imperial majesty and carnival and found several upset posts to various sites. I called Ramada and they are aware of it and supposedly working on it. I also called Imperial majesty and they said its not a scam. They are interested in knowing more information about it to investigate it. It sounded like they were unaware of the misleading information people are given linked with their name and Daniel Lambert. They told me to fax any info I have to customer service at 954-971-6678.
I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED A VACATION FROM RAMADA PLAZA RESORTS. 2 DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED I CALLED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT MY VACATION. THE GUY ANSWERED THE PHONE "HELLO" AND I TOLD HIM I WAS A CUSTOMER AND HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT MY VACATION. HE DIDN'T ASK MY NAME OR ANYTHING AND JUST STARTED SPOUTING OUT ALL OF THIS WEIRD STUFF THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT. SO I GOT ON THE INTERNET AND LOOKED UP THE NAME RAMADA PLAZA RESORTS AND FOUND OUT WHAT A RIP OFF THIS COMPANY IS AFTER I HAD PAID. MY HUSBAND CALLED AND ASKED FOR A REFUND AND WE WERE TOLD NO. SO I WROTE LETTERS THE THIS LAMBERT GUY AT THE RESORT, THE FLORIDA BBB AND THE FTC. I SENT COPIES OF ALL OF THE LETTERS TO MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY. BUT WHEN I CALLED MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY THEY ACTED LIKE I WOULDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS A SCAM UNTIL I WENT ON THE VACATION MYSELF. NOW I AM FREAKING OUT THINKING THAT I WILL NOT GET MY REFUND. SO I AM JUST WAITING IT OUT TO SEE WHAT MY CREDIT CARD COMPANY WILL DO. CAN YOU HELP ME OUT. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD BE DOING TO TRY TO GET MY REFUND??
this is a reply to the ramada scam. yesterday, i got one of those letters in the mail, so i thought i would call. i was a little skeptical, but i thought i would at least call. well i called today and this guy named david went on and on about the vacation package. it sounded like a good deal, but still. i had planned on calling the bbb to find out for sure. i told them i wanted to think about it and call back, but then he transferred me to someone else. i told them 698 was a good deal, but i don't have that kind of money laying around. since i had 18months, i wanted to see if i could think about it for at least a day. i did not feel comfortable giving them my credit card number and not knowing much about them. they told me that it was now or never and i said forget it then. they tried and tried to change my mind. finally the other guy said that he would transfer me to someone else to receive a parting gift, but all i got was a recording of him saying that he was out of the office. so tonite i was surfing the net and thought i would look up ramada resort to see what i had missed out on. i am glad i went with my gut instinct...best of luck to all of you....i could have easily been there also..i just wanted to share my experience...
10-02-2003 06:30 PM
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