Wholesale Connection - Vacation Showroom - SCD Marketing - Direct Reservations - BSM Travel All FRAUD Company takes money and runs RIPOFF Maitland Florida

Back in Dec of 04 I worked at BJ's when I saw a fax come through saying "To all employees, from Corporate Travel Dept." No business name on the peice of paper. It was $315 for 4 days, 3 nights in Orlando, 3 days, 2 nights in datyona beach, 2 one day passes to Disney world. Plus as a bonus, 3 days, 2 nights in your choice of Jamaica, Cancun or Vegas with airfare included.

I called the company up got the company name, Wholesale Connection Company. Called the better business bureau to find out some info on it, being smart. They said it was relatively new, but no complaints. So I thought it was legit. Called up, paid $315 credit card over the phone. They said my dates were guaranteed, I had two years to use it. Sounded great. 3 vacations for my girlfriend and I for $315.

Then I get the brochure in the mail and it says I have 12 months to use it, they sent me a cruise vacation also, which I didn't pay for, I had to mail the dates I wanted 45 days in advance, and they weren't guaranteed. Also, I had to go on the two florida trips first before the jamaica, cancun, or vegas, and I don't get the disney tickets until after my florida trip.

So I called up told them the discrepancy, and the lady said the vacation package I paid for was for the guaranteed dates, 2 years, tickets, everything mentioned before. Then I question why I got this package in the mail, and she got frustrated with my questions and concerns and she hung up on me.

I call back, and ask for the supervisor, she gave me a name of sara, rep 10150. She said I was hung up on because I used profanity, and I never once swore. So this was all resolved. I then sent in my required $58 activation check along with the dates I wanted. I get a call back from a lady who called herself "leslie davis" telling me I couldn't have those dates, she left me a msg. So I call her back, she didn't answer, left a msg. 2 days go by, nothing, so I call again, leave a msg.

Called back a few days later, I ask for different dates, and she said I can't have those. Then she hung up on me. But despite all of this, they tried to cash that $58 check. Luckily for me it bounced. And I put a stop payment on it, I called many times asking for a refund, but they don't give refunds.

According to the Better Business Bureau, it's the law that they have to allow 30 days to give a refund. But they don't offer a refund. I did some research, the company goes by many names, about 25-35 company names, about 100 addresses, they've had about 100 telephone numbers, but half are disconnected now.

Doing the research I found their corporate HQ number, which is 321-281-5201. The funny thing is, they have so many company names, that they only answer the phone saying "Customer Service how can I help you". They don't say "WCC Travel", or "Vacation Showroom's", because they have so many. The bbb found out that a few of them don't have liscences to sell travel.

I called the HQ number one night and it lets you dial an extension to reach a person, so I just was playing around, and typed in 328 which is Doug Kaplan, who is the owner of these companies, but he didn't answer. The next day I called the HQ number and asked to speak to the owner of WCC Travel, she asked who was calling, and I said a consumer, she said I'm sorry this isn't wcc travel, me-well whats the name of this company? her- like I said sir, I'm sorry but This isn't WCC travel" have a nice day, and she hung up.

I called back and said I need to speak to Doug Kaplan, asked who was calling, I said a customer, and she said I'm sorry sir there's no one here that goes by that name, I asked the name of the company again, she wouldn't give it to me. I said so if no one is there by the name Doug Kaplan, then try hitting extension 328. sir we don't have extensions like that? me- oh you don't? her-well they run in the 1,000's. me-ok well hang up with me, call your own number and dial 328 see what comes up. her-ok i'll be sure to do that.

Then she hung up on me, call back and dial 328, and a guy answers the phone finds out whose calling, and then anything I ask he has nothing to do with, doesn't know wcc travel, no doug kaplan. But 2 min earlier when I called I got the voicemail of Doug Kaplan, but now they won't let it go to his voicemail, they won't let me hear it again.

I contacted 3 police departments down there, orlando, maitland, and orange county sheriffs office. I read some addresses to one of them and they told me they sound like fake addresses. So I notified those three, plus all the detective branch, in those three sectors. Also the BBB, and the Florida Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs.

I'm now getting the Attorney Generals office involved. I'm trying to get the media involved also, I contacted Channel 7, and am trying to get hold of channel 5. The more people who pursue this, the more chances we have of winning together. I saw all the other reports on this web site, and wanted to respond, but i had to sign up. at first i was like ehh I don't want to go through all that, but just do it, tell your story, and you'll help other people.

The company got fined by the FCC for solication on the fax machine already, they don't follow the 30 day cancellation law, and they don't give any refunds, or provide you with what you pay for. It's fraud and its against the law.

I will pursue this until these companies stop. Because what they do is open a company under one name, have a few addresses, few phone numbers, make a million bucks, shut down that business, phone numbers, addresses, open a new one, and the cycle continues. Phone numbers and addresses are interchangeable between all of these companies. Their all the same. Please respond if you want to pursue this!

Phil
Stoneham, Massachusetts
U.S.A.

STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!