Tastemakers Africa Unresponsive to Fair Request for Refund Brooklyn New York

I booked travel with Tastemakers Africa in March 2020 to Ghana in August 2020. I paid for the trip in full at the time of booking. I did not receive booking confirmation via email after booking, as two of my travel partners had received. I reached out to the trip organizer/CEO to advise I had not received booking confirmation. I provided my email and full name the trip was booked under and was told it would be looked into.

Exactly 3 weeks passed and I had not heard anything regarding confirmation of my booking. I reached again with no response. I then reached again and was told all payment systems were checked and the booking could not be located. I forwarded confirmation of payment and was then told this information could be "traced" and the payment would be located by end of day. I never heard back on this and asked for an update 11 days later.

I never received a response to my inquiry. Out of fear of being out a couple of thousands of dollars, I turned to my bank for help. I disputed the charge explaining the situation. Unfortunately, the charge dispute was in favor of Tastemakers as the charge was deemed legitimate. However, the legitimacy of the charge was not in question, but rather the services promised/rendered. I paid for a trip that I could not be booked for because the business allegedly could not locate the payment.

 The trip was canceled due to COVID concerns. My travel partners both received a refund due to the cancellation (the same was offered to other planned trip goers). I reached out inquiring about a refund as well and was told I should have already received one and would get a receipt for it and if not this would be researched. Two and a half weeks later I still have not received any updates after several requests for an update. Tastemakers has been completely unresponsive since my original request for a refund and it seems as if they have no concern with providing me one in a timely manner, if at all.