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Report: #226519

Complaint Review: ASTAR TRAVEL - Tampa Florida

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Murarrie Other
  • Author Confirmed What's this?
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  • ASTAR TRAVEL astar.us Tampa, Florida U.S.A.

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We are a family of four from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Yesterday (20 Dec-12-2006) I suddenly got a phonecall from a person (Dorian Wymiller) who was talking so loudly that I had to remove the hook from my ear. He asked for my partner. He was enthousiastic and screamed almost how incredibly lucky we were because we had won a Holiday Package from ASTAR from Tampa in the USA. He was almost unstoppable in mentioning all the "enormous" benefits that were waiting for us.

My partner also got a bit enthousiastic but then he came to the thing to what he was REALLY after : our creditcards !! At first I told him I was reluctant to give creditcard details over the phone as we had been taken for some horrible rides in the past. But he assured us it was safe, there was a security department and that it was safe.

I also didn't like the fact we had to pay (US $ 998 in advance) for winning a "price" ??!! I told him please send us the details first so we can think about it in a more relaxed atmosphere. But no he could not hold the ticket for more than an hour and we HAD to provide our creditcard number to take benefit of this ....

Knowing my creditcard had maxed out I finally give him that number (unfortunately) with the expirydate so the conversation could be terminated as I had an urgent appointment. But he tried to charge the card as we spoke and (luckily in the case) it declined. He reacted immediately : "Why didn't you want to give your number if it declines anyway, that's like robbing an empty house !

Do you have another creditcard I can try ?" I told him I had another one that was also maxed out. Well, he said, give it to me anyway maybe you will be "lucky" this time. Again I gave also this number and not surprisingly to me it also declined. He was amazed that I didn't have any resources to pay the US $ 998. I told him I really had to go now and gave him back to my partner.

My partner asked him to phone our daughter because she also had a creditcard. She was out and he phoned her on her cellphone. She absolutely refused to give her number and told him there wasn't enough credit on it anyway. After hearing that he cut off the conversation with her quite abruptly after trying having persuaded us for almost an hour to pay that US $ 998 !!!

After reading the nightmarish experiences of other people here with ASTAR Travel I am for the very first time very relieved that our creditcards declined in this particular case !!!
I am convinced right now that we would have been ripped off by ASTAR Travel solidly !

Extremely nasty to try to rob average people just before X-Mas !!

Jan
Murarrie
Australia

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 12/20/2006 03:55 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/astar-travel/tampa-florida/astar-travel-bribing-us-to-pay-us-998-tampa-florida-226519. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
11Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#11 Consumer Suggestion

Listen to the offer

AUTHOR: Ben - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Friday, March 23, 2007

Ok,Jan,thank you for pointing out my "improper" grammer skills.Fact of the matter is,that i was so confused reading these reports,that proper puncuation was not a major concern.The point is that when you fill in the entry form on the internet,obviously you are interested in going on the trip.In the offer the words won, lottery, prize,etc.do not appear.We make it very clear that you were selected,based on demographics for your country,for the trip.Like I stated in the previous reply,you do receive exactly what you are described,no less,no more.If you are contacted by one of our associates,my suggestion is to ask questions if you have a concern.They will be answered honestly for all customers.ALL OF THE PHONE CALLS ARE RECORDED!!That is for your protection and ours as well.

I would also like to point out,that I still do not see any reports made by anyone that have gone on the trip.Don't you find that kind of funny?I however do not.We provide trips for thousands of customers every month.Also I would like to ask, don't you think it is funny that we charge the same amount for every person??USD998.Again I do not find that funny.THAT IS THE PRICE!bottom line.
You will find all of this information on our website which is given to you on the call(if it is not given to you please ask for it).

note. If this were a scam you would probably be told:

1 All flights are included(they are not,however we do offer discounted airfares)

2 Meals on land included(again they are not)

3 No port costs(again $199USD canada and $249USD international)

4 Nothing about a timeshare tour(90 minutes are obligated by you to tour the facility)

5 Only 1 dollar for the trip($798USD canada $998USD international)

6 Mickey Mouse will pick you up at the airport in his Hummer limosine(he will not)

The bottom line is this. This is not a scam.this is not a rip-off.What this is,is a great deal.you do get a vacation that is valued at over $4000USD for only $798USD canada,$998USD international.Rip-off-report was designed for people who were ripped off.Now was anyone ripped off here?The answer is no.Most reports i have read are from people who have not purchased the package,and the other few who were charged and wanted to cancel and receive a refund have gotten the refund with no problem.

I just don't understand the ignorance in some people.We are only trying to bring familys to Walt Disney World,Florida,and the bahamas for a fantastic vacation.ASTAR is an agency LICENSED AND BONDED in travel.Any time you make airline or hotel reservation you are required to have a major credit card.I assure you that,if for some reason you do not beleive me.Call Quantis,United Airlines,or any other airline,or hotel you would like to and just try.

Again no one has ever complained about the trip ,that has actually gone on it.That is for a reason.ITS A GREAT TRIP!period.Maybe Im wrong.Maybe I am mistaking paranoya for ignorance.

P.S. paranoid people should not own credit cards

THANK YOU
respectfully,
Ben
Proud ASTAR employee

QUOTE: FROM JAN
"Why didn't you want to give your number if it declines anyway, that's like robbing an empty house !"

THAT IS COMPLETLY REDICULOUS!!! Jan I cannot beleive you even typed that.

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#10 Author of original report

wow ???

AUTHOR: Jan - (Australia)

POSTED: Sunday, February 04, 2007

Ben,

I'd first suggest go back to school and get your linguistics and spelling updated .....
The requirements and criteria for getting a job with ASTAR are obviously not too high ....
Although smooth and persistent talking on the phone will be certainly one of them.

Yes of course I want the vacation : BUT ..... WITHOUT having to pay $998 upfront ! WITHOUT having to pay our own bloody airline-tickets and WITH 1000 or 2000 dollar SPENDING MONEY !!!!
Now that is MY defnition of winning a price !!! A price is a price WHEN I CAN KEEP MY OWN WALLET CLOSED COMPLETELY !!!!! And not the "price" (bogus is a better word) that that guy Wymiller gave me on the phone.

Besides why don't you guys give MLM (Multi-Level-Marketing) a try ? MLM (Amway, Herbalife, Omegatrend, Mannatech, Melaleuca) is all and only based on RECRUITING as many people as you can ! I have tried it and I am not good at it at all but with your special act on the phone you would easily enroll people by the droves, create a downline as big as from here up to the moon and get a magnificent residual income without having to make people "happy" with those bullsh*t "prices" from ASTAR !

Jan *****

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#9 UPDATE Employee

wow

AUTHOR: Ben - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, February 04, 2007

all i have to say is wow ....wow ..i work for astar in the tampa office.i can't beleive you people.this promotional offer is very real.you do get everything you are described.We have been in bussiness for over 18 years.strange i don't see anyone responding to any of these so called "reports" that have went on the vacation.you know why? because it is a great offer.our clients have a great time on the trips,infact most are so impressed they call back and want to buy another package.so for you people who don't think it is real.the only thing i can say is why did you register for the vaction in the first place? we don't get ur number from the phone book.we have your e-mail address also.think about that for a sec.e-mail address listings are not avalible in the phone book.the only thing i can say is if you don't want the vacation.please do not register.

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#8 Author of original report

Verzoek om een charge-back bij je bank !!

AUTHOR: Jan - (Australia)

POSTED: Thursday, December 28, 2006

Hi Marinette,

Asking ASTAR to get your money back ? You may as well buy a lottery ticket I guess .....
Your only option is to place a request at your bank for a reverse charge (charge-back) of your credit-card because you disagree with this transaction.

A bank that cares for its clients will honour such a request (not every bank is like that unfortunately).

There can be TWO different reasons for a charge-back :
1. You did NOT authorize the transaction.
2. You authorized the transaction but you did not get the product(s) or service(s) what was originally promised.

If your encounter with ASTAR is less than 6 months ago and your bank is a good bank your chances of getting your money back are quite good.

Wishing you succes en een voorspoedig 2007,

Jan

PS,
Don't forget to cancel your card afterwards .....

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#7 Consumer Comment

alstar

AUTHOR: Marinette - (Netherlands)

POSTED: Wednesday, December 27, 2006

astar called me also but i was soooo stupid to gave them my creditcardnumber and let me tell you the 998 dollar was gone when i was still on the phone with them thats how fast they go.
I send them a letter that they have to sign for.
And i hope i can get my money back.
Because i can use it myself hard enough.
blaming myself do why was i soo stupid to fall for it?
well good luck to all dealing with this company.
i wish we could all do something togheter.

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#6 Author of original report

Indeed better safe than sorry !

AUTHOR: Jan - (Australia)

POSTED: Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Thanks Juliet !

I was in doubt but after having read your advise I went to both banks and had my cards cancelled on the spot. All it took was 1 hour and they will just sent me two new cards in the mail within a week.
In one case the bank could even see that ASTAR had tried to charge the card a second time AFTER the phonecall had finished and it must have been already clear to them that my cards were a no-go !

This is a lot better than checking your transactions on-line every time with the fear that a tranaction might NOT be yours .......

Kind regards and have a good 2007,

Jan

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#5 Consumer Suggestion

Cancel The Cards!

AUTHOR: Juliet - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, December 25, 2006

Jan, cancel those credit cards, and get new numbers!! I have no knowledge of this company, one way or the other, but what can it hurt to get new card numbers? It might involve some work, if you have recurring payments or something attached, but if you DON'T change them, and the company is as unscrupulous as it sounds they may be, plenty of harm could be done!

Better safe than sorry!! Good luck!

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#4 Consumer Suggestion

Cancel The Cards!

AUTHOR: Juliet - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, December 25, 2006

Jan, cancel those credit cards, and get new numbers!! I have no knowledge of this company, one way or the other, but what can it hurt to get new card numbers? It might involve some work, if you have recurring payments or something attached, but if you DON'T change them, and the company is as unscrupulous as it sounds they may be, plenty of harm could be done!

Better safe than sorry!! Good luck!

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#3 Consumer Suggestion

Cancel The Cards!

AUTHOR: Juliet - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, December 25, 2006

Jan, cancel those credit cards, and get new numbers!! I have no knowledge of this company, one way or the other, but what can it hurt to get new card numbers? It might involve some work, if you have recurring payments or something attached, but if you DON'T change them, and the company is as unscrupulous as it sounds they may be, plenty of harm could be done!

Better safe than sorry!! Good luck!

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#2 Consumer Suggestion

Cancel The Cards!

AUTHOR: Juliet - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, December 25, 2006

Jan, cancel those credit cards, and get new numbers!! I have no knowledge of this company, one way or the other, but what can it hurt to get new card numbers? It might involve some work, if you have recurring payments or something attached, but if you DON'T change them, and the company is as unscrupulous as it sounds they may be, plenty of harm could be done!

Better safe than sorry!! Good luck!

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#1 Author of original report

Creditcard numbers exposed to ASTAR TRAVEL

AUTHOR: Jan - (Australia)

POSTED: Monday, December 25, 2006

Just in addition to the ASTAR Travel's phonecall about one week ago :

It seems that they have left my 2 creditcard numbers alone (sofar) after finding out they have maxed out and declined.

That indicates that they probably won't go as far as sheer fraud and I haven't read anything about this in other peoples' experiences with ASTAR Travel.

I certainly have sent them an email that I do NOT authorize to charge either one of my cards for any amount now or in the future or otherwise I would report them to the appropriate authorities and file a trans-action dispute with my bank.

However I am not too sure what is going to happen when I decrease the debts on the creditcards and more and more credit becomes available once more ?

I am really thinking about having the numbers changed because it feels a bit like being a "sitting duck" for the ASTAR clowns (and God knows who else !).

The lessons I have learned are this :
IMMEDIATELY shortcut a conversation (just put the hook back where it belongs !) certainly when it comes to giving out your creditcard numbers.

And NEVER EVER give your creditcard number(s) over phone to someone you DON'T know !
Who knows what that Dorian Wymiller does with those numbers ? He could give them out (or even sell) to anyone who may be interested !
After what I have seen I am certainly not thinking highly of his decency, morale and good manners !!

Jan

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