Ramada Plaza Resorts Ripped me off in amount of $756.00 for down pmt & extension pmt. Ft Lauderdale Florida

I would like to say that I feel really demoralized for being so stupid as to allow this to happen to me, not once but twice. After deciding to investigate to see if others had been also taken advantage of, I stumbled upon this website.

Last year: Feb 04, 2004 I received a phonecall from a solicitor calling from Florida, to offer me a wonderful bargain cruise to the Bahamas, free car rental, weeks stay in luxury hotel, airline vouchers and the whole bit, but all I had to do was authorize on my credit card for 8 months, which I foolishly Ok'd because they promised to send the video, vouchers,information, etc, etc..and they did this, allowing me 18 months to take the tour. I was happy and content that I had done a grand thing to gift myself for my 50th birthday, man was I duped!

My voyage date was scheduled for Aug 07, 05 but I could not make it. I called and was told that I needed to pay another $58.00 to extend for a year, or $78.00 for another 18 months. Well I did that two weeks ago; then this week for three days straight I get calls from different sales reps in same office telling me that I had better contact them or lose my exorbitant payment due to cancellation.

I even had them tell me it was already cancelled, but today I spoke with a Supervisor:Mitch, who seemed pushy yet sympathetic to my plight/he offered to upgrade if I would just authorize another pmt of $698.00 balance of the "double-occupancy" required to book trip, also he stated the things had changed; person who took my $58.00 was incorrect, should have asked me for the final balance payment. I stated that I didnt have that amount in bank account nor Credit card, but he practically begged me, ensuring that he could hold my spot and have the extesion fee credited back onto my credit card, allowing me another 18 mos to take my vacation.

Since was on my early workbreak, I told him I could not decide, didnt want to lose my job over this issue,and would call him back in the evening to discuss it, but instead I decided to investigate online first to see what my recourse would be in handling this strong-arm tactics he employed against me. I imagine the next time he wont be so understanding and more assertive in persuading me to do or lose my investment, but I already feel like a loser for my naivete'

After todays conversation with Mitch I know without a doubt that I was taken. I may never see my payment, nor take a vacation of a lifetime, but at least I feel comforted that I am not the only one, and perhaps I/We can do something positive to bring this company down, they dont deserve the honor or right to claim to enhance peoples lives with "the gift of lifetime memories," when other more reputable companies are being tainted to even be in the same league as these fake imposter vacation planning wannabees.

The only reason I said yes intially was because of the name "Ramada" which I associated with the "real" hotel chain, of which they claimed were one in the same; NOT!!

Please help me, if anyone can offer any advise or referrals, please feel free to email me, Thanks.

Vic
Seattle, Washington
U.S.A.