Mini Vacations - MVI Marketing ripoff Tampa Florida

Let me tell you what I found out about Mini Vacations.



This is how it started...

December 2004 my husband received a gift certificate from Mini Vacations for a discounted cruise as a gift for graduation. April 2005 we sent off the gift certificate for our welcome package. We received our welcome package soon after. On November 1, 2005 we booked our cruise for March 27-30 out of LA. We used our Debit Card for a $649.00 transaction...



On February 1, 2005 we called to check on my vacation and was informed at that time that we were not going to get to go. I was told that we are to receive a refund in four to six weeks? I wanted to speak to someone above this person and they said call Pat Flynn at (941) 552-2000.



I held on the phone at MVI Marketing & Mini Vacations cooperate office in Tampa Flordia for Pat Flynn for 3 1/2 days. February 1,2,3 and on Monday the 6th I only held for half a morning. The receptionists were very rude and I knew something was up because NO ONE would talk to me. Typically at three o'clock each day I usually got hung up on (because it was 5pm Florida time) and when I called back the phone went straight to an answering system. But Monday the 6th the answering service was turned on at ten am mountain time. Every number said they had too many calls coming in or that they were busy. Also when you wanted to leave a message in a voicemail it would just ring and ring then go back to the answering service.



So I almost just gave up because it was too stressful and I have a life besides fighting to just talk to anyone! I did not call or try to find out anything on Tuesday February 7th or Wednesday February 8th .



Then I got bored and looked them up a second time on the BBB website and found new information posted. I had been to their website on the 1st of February and had seen nothing but bad stuff but about them. On the 9th of February their website posted information on contacting the FDACS for filling a complaint against them because of so many bad reports on them. It also listed a couple new phone numbers for them .



First I started calling these new numbers and some of the old. When I got to (941) 552-2000 I tried to leave message for, who I thought was a president of MVI Marketing, Mr... Michael Burke. I kept trying and some how I got to listening to a Michael Burke's voice messages (Apparently his password was all zeros because that was all I pushed and he was just a sells rep). I heard several companies calling about certificates and I even heard people calling about trying to get money back for their consumers. I wrote down phone numbers (I felt sneaky, but I just wanted to talk to anyone who knew anything about MVI!!) And I called a couple of them. The ones I spoke to were pretty helpful and then not so much at the same time. One lady gave me a phone number of her sales rep. Jose Martinez at-813-758-8269. I did tell all of them how I got their number and I appoligized for being so nosey. They all agreed they'd do the same. And that they wanted me to get in touch with someone from MVI Marketing & Mini Vacations. Others said they had tried to get in touch with them but was also having no response.



My next step was to keep calling those new numbers and I when I called (813) 621-2601 ,a Mini Vacations phone number, someone answered. After days of calling and leaving messages and emailing everyone finally someone answers.

The number had that the same hold music and same prompts.



The gentlemen on the line said their name is GRAND INCENTIVES and that they had JUST moved in???!!!



I asked why they had the same music, the same numbers, the same messages? He preceded to tell me that Mini Vacations, INC - MVI Marketing shut down Monday February 6th . (( This is like Thursday only four days later!!! ))



He said they are just answering the phone to tell us that MVI,Inc is no longer in business and to tell people to stop calling . I asked him if he knew what they were going to do for the consumers who need a refund for their money? He said he knew nothing. I asked about phone numbers names anything and he said he had no information for me!! Wow they are using their phone numbers and their office space and taking select clients off the top, sounds like they should be responsible for MVI marketing and Mini Vacations debts and obligations. They are in their offices/ using their phone numbers profiting from their many years in business!! How legitimate is that? Seems like fraud to me.



I then decided to call the FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) , because the BBB site said to. The FDACS said that MVI Marketing shut down on Monday and they did not know anything about Grand Incentives. They said that in Florida to sell travel you must be bonded through some one. The FDACS usually is the one who bonds travel agencies. But the FDACS said that Mini Vacations, Inc was bonded thought the ARC(Airline Reporting Corporation).



I decided to call the ARC then.I was transferred to their investigations department. I spoke with a gentleman named Doug and he said that they are bonded with them. I thought great! But ARC stands for Airline Reporting Corporation. So they only bond major airlines and not consumers who get ripped off with other types of travel . I asked them how this could be legal. And he said he did not know. This all figures, after reading the many reports on this website I can see where Florida does not protect it's consumers. Florida seems to be a haven for bad business with no protection from the government.



I then called the number for the gentleman that I had received from the business owner who had been doing business with MVI for years. Jose Martinez. This is where I learned a great deal. Because the lady I had called who gave me his number said that he was in charge of Grand Incentives. His cell phone's, 813-758-8269, voicemail says thanks for calling Mini Vacations Inc...still??? I left one message today called back to double check his message. He answered!! He said that he and a couple other past employees of Mini Vacations have put together a NEW COMPANY --- GRAND INCENTIVES. He said that it has NOTHING to do with MVI. But he did say they are doing business with a few companies that were long time consumers of MVI Marketing!! But not with peons like me!! He was rude and I did record the conversation. He hung up on me on that note and said he can not do anything for me that I need to call my credit card company!! Which my transaction was on Debit - Poor Me!!



Jose Martinez seems to be cherry picking what business he is taking from MVI Marketing and Mini Vacations profiting from the long time business relations from both companies. This sounds like some pretty fraudulent activity to me. According to what he said to me it seems like he is taking the business he wants to take from MVI Marketing and Mini Vacations and saying screw the young couple and their dream vacation and better yet forget helping them get them their money back



In the name of good customer service like Mini Vacations has had in the past with this website Rip Off Report. I would strongly suggest you save your reputation Mr. Martinez and contact Rip off Report to get a list of those who have been victimized by this shut down !!! Do the right thing before it is too late.



I am really shocked that we as consumers can be taken advantage of so easily and not be helped by the state at all!! Thanks Mini Vacations or should I say Grand Incentives for ripping me off and staying in business as some other company. Sound illegal to me!!!