Vanilla visa gift card Brooks smith CEO Vanilla gift card company CEO Brooks Smith vile lying thieves Nationwide

Long story but in short Vanilla gift card attempted to flat out steal the $500 I loaded onto my gift card.  Right after I loaded the money I made a hotel reservation over the phone.  After that my card was declined.  I called to find out why and "customer care" said the hotel had placed a hold on the funds.  He hotel absolutely denied doing this and offered up their records as proof.  So for the next month and a half I was on the phone with "customer care" about 10 times, was issues several different "ticket numbers", set up a three way call between vanilla card and the hotel manager, was told i would have to sign a report through my email and send it back.  Each time I called back there was no record of the previous calls or ticket numbers.  I finally woke up, did some research and realized the internet is full of similar reports about peoples experience with this company.  I called back, got a "supervisor". On the phone and let him know I had recordings of conversations, I was in direct contact with the hotel and if I did not get my money back instantly I would compile the evidence and contact my lawyer as well as the better buisness bureau.  He was angry and threatning, saying I had to turn off my recording device immediately.  I refused to do so and held my ground.  And guess what?  Within 30 minutes my money was back on the card.  Moral of story:  be relentless, fearless and strong with these lying thieves.  Record everything and don't believe them for a second if they say it's illegal.  that is a lie.  After a month and a half of trying to steal my money they were magically able to return it when threatened with legal action.  It is outrageous his company is in existence and the CEO Brooks Smith is a conservative republican shitbag.  Ok!  I have contacted the better buisness bureau and I encourage everyone to do the same.