Ramada Plaza Resorts Scammed But Got a Refund, Here's How Ripoff Ft. Lauderdale Florida

Anyone who is reading this has already been duped so I don't need to rehash it. I too am embarassed, but feel obligated to write this up.

I just today got my refund on my credit card so it is possible. The approach that follows will likely help some of you but not all. It will help people who have got duped using a credit card payment and are within 30 days of getting that gut wrenching feeling.

Here's what you need to do.

1. Act on this right away. Don't waste another day. If you're like me, your gut tells you there is something fishy here. Your gut is right. Don't wait for the promotional materials to show up. They aren't worth the paper they are printed on.

2. Call 1-800-203-9783 or the number by their charge on your credit card statement or any of the multiple Ramada Plaza Resort numbers to be found on the web. They have lotsa numbers.

3. Ask to speak to someone who can deal with a refund request. Be VERY firm despite their insistence and often obnoxious efforts to have you do something different. Stay focused.

4. Tell them that you wish to cancel any agreement you may have entered into with them under the terms of the Florida Seller's of Travel Act which states that you have 30 days from the date of the charge to do so. Try to get a refund confirmation number from them. In most cases you won't get one at this stage.

5. Next - Get your bankcard company involved as a third party. Call your credit card company's customer service line. Tell them that you have a charge that you are disputing with the merchant who made the charge. In my case they referred me to a security/dispute resolution area. Ask them to call Ramada Plaza Resorts with you on the line. Ramada will likely say that you have already called. Great - they know you're onto them. Be very focussed at this point and ask them with the bankcard people on the line for the evidence of this transaction. They will likely start to get very unprofessional but will not be able to produce the evidence at this point. Demand that they give you a refund confirmation number that both you and your bankcard service person record. The bankcard people know this outfit. What you are doing at this point is serving notice that if Ramada Plaza Resorts doesn't play ball with you, they could have their merchant charging privileges revoked. The gave me and my bankcard people a number - for what it is worth. Leave it at that for the moment.

6. Check your promo package. (In my case, my promotional package arrived within days of my call. I think they are timed to arrive so you have about 4 days before the 30 time period is up.) Note that there are no phone numbers for Ramada Plaza Resorts BUT on the very back page of the Reservation Forms Book you will note the only place you will see a Cancellation provision. It is near the bottom part of the very last page.

7. Send notification of cancellation. Fax a notification letter of cancellation/refund to them at any one of their multiple numbers. I used 954-331-4180. Follow it up with a certified mail notice of cancellation as prescribed in the bottom half of the last page of the Reservation Forms booklet.

8. Continue to follow up with your bankcard company. I believe you have a good probability of getting a refund if you get the above done within 30 days. The last thing these scam outfits want is for a major credit card company to revoke their merchant status. It spreads like a plague. I firmly believe it is pressure from 3rd parties, banks, lawyers, government or whatever that gets their attention.

9. For those of you beyond the 30 thing - keep working with the bank. The bankcard company can lean on these guys. You need to convince them that it is in their interest to look after your intersts here. Ramada Plaza will respond to bank pressure. It is their lifeblood.

10. If you have made a deposit and can't get it back. Cut your losses. Under no circumstances should you ever go on one of these vacations or be sold something else.

Trust this helps

Byron
Victoria, British Columbia
Canada

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