Mexico Paradise Getaways, Global Vacation Network MPG Stole my $100 and I never got a trip!!! Branson, Missouri

I received a "free" vacation offer (from purchasing a high ticket item) in September of 2008 from Mexico Paradise Getaways (MPG).  The theory was that they would receive the paperwork and deposit, then send me a survey asking "qualifying questions." From those two things, they would then arrange a trip to one of their participating resorts in Mexico within one year.  I would be notified 45 days in advance of travel, and would then send money for the taxes and fees for the air travel.  After the trip, I would send a letter requesting my $100 deposit back.

I sent in all the paperwork required, including a $100 good faith deposit, making sure to make photocopies of everything I sent in.  I received the online survey invitation approximately one month after sending my certificate, all seemed normal at that time.  When, after another 7 months I had not heard anything, I sent an email asking what I could do, because it was quickly approaching 45 days before the year was up.  I received an email telling me to "create a help ticket" via their website.

So, I created the help ticket, and was told that I would receive a response "shortly."  After four months, I attempted to cancel my certificate via their official "cancellation form" online, because the one year deadline for travel had passed, through no fault of my own.  I heard nothing.

Since I was assuming that they had stolen my money, I filed a BBB claim.  Unfortunately, in the past year while I was waiting for my trip (or a refund), so were hundreds of other people.  I had checked BBB and Ripoff report when I signed up, and most of the complaints were about timeshare pushing and such--things I was expecting and could handle.  By now, however, there were over 125 new BBB complaints, over 2/3 of which were unresolved.

The only response I received from MPG (Mr. Craig Snow) was "this has been sent."  Unfortunately, I was not quite sure what he meant by that.  Had they sent a check when I first canceled in June, but I never received it?  Had they gotten the complaint and sent a check then?  So I waited until the 10 days of my response time was up, and no check came in the mail.  I told the BBB that I did not accept the response from Mr. Snow, they sent the claim back to him, and he obviously did not care.  I have not heard anything since.

My next steps will be to sue MPG for my $100.  Plus legal/court fees.  Plus interest on that $100 and the legal/court fees.  I have copies of EVERYTHING I have sent to these people.  They are obviously just out there to take $100 from as many people as possible and run.  If this were an individual, there would be criminal charges involved.  I'd like to pursue that avenue as well--it seems like they are stealing from enough people.