Vacation Showroom, E-commerce systems corp, wholessalesorlando, ShellHarborResort ripoff Palatka Florida

I was contacted by Vacation Showroom by phone on June 4 2003. They offered a vacation package with 4 days 3 nights paid accomodations in Orlando, 3 days, 2 nights in Ft. Lauterdale, 3 days, 2 nights in Las Vegas and 5 days, 4 nights in Cancun for $ 298 for 2 persons. After a lot of hesitation I decided to go for it because as a student I don't have too much money and it really sounded cheap. The telemarketer on the phone swore on Jesus that they are real (Jesus will judge him one day...) and requested my bank account # and the check #. He explained to me that they will be using e-checks and that this is the same as regular check (which I wanted to write them first). Well, what I didn't know is that it's not the same, the took the money and din't even use the check # because I blocked it next day and it still went through. I decided to cancel because after the purchase I found all these negative reports about this fradulent company. I tried to call them many times following days and spent hours on the phone just being transferred from one person to another. Some of the representatives got really rude on the phone and woudn't give me their name. Finally I got to speak to a Roxanne Wade (866 639 2002) and first she told me there is no refund policy on their packages. I told her that I've been adviced that according to the Florida law I am eligible for a full refund if I cancel within 30 days after the purchase. She told me that I can mail the cancellation to them and they will refund me withing 30-90 days. Over 6 months have passed and no refund. I sent my letters (2 of them) an cerified mail and requested an immediate response. Nothing happened. One of the return receipts was signed unreadable (like russian). I tried to call them again and their phone number is disconnected. The reservation center says they work for several companies and they don't know their phone number!

So, no refund, no phone number, no adress. I started to read all the other reports and came to the conclusions that:

1.)They change their adress couple of times in a year:
P.O. Box 836, Palatka, FL 32178 (866 639 2002) OR
10151 University Blvd. # 266 Orlando FL 32817 (this also had the same phone number as above and they claimed to be the customer service) OR
715 Reid Street (also often misspelled as Reib (800 368 2088 0r 888 217 2660)or Reed) (888 2172620), Palatka FL 32177 OR
714 Saint Johns Ave Palatka FL 32177-4646 (386 325 0089
OR
140 Shell Harbour Rd Satsuma FL 32189 (SAME phone number as last adress! 386 325 0089, fax 386 328 8730), this is also their official information filed with the better business bureau (the last time I checked their information on BBB site in June 2003 the official adress was 715 Reid Street, Palatka FL 32177)
There are also several adresses from Walaka FL which might be connected to them:
Shell Harbor Resort Welaka FL 32193

2) They use different names:
Vacation Showroom, E-commerce systems corp, wholessalesorlando, ShellHarborResort for example if you look for any of them you on the web you land at the E-commerce site. They also removed another website since June.

3.) The owners according to all the reports are: Deborah Walters (is reported to be fake by an ex-worker). Other names appaer as Tom Arrigoni, Doug Kapplin. They seem to have a fake manager Ray Burke according to other reports

I hope all this information helps other people to avoid this horrible company and I hope you can help me to get my money back. I still have all the letters and return receipts and will be willing to send you copies.
And one advice to everyone: don't buy anything on the phone unless you call a company!

Vivien
Chicago, Illinois
U.S.A.