Universal Fun Pass Scam

Hi Gomer - it was my partner who filled in a questionaire of some kind, and when they called her I got pulled into it. I`ll try and find out what it was she filled in. And yes, the card has been cancelled, resulting in a bunch of difficulties of course. They`ll not get another penny out of me. In the meantime, i`m waiting for my bank's fraud people to get back to me.

And I have to say that politeness and gentlemanly conduct is currently the last thing on my mind WRT to these vile leeches.

If I told you what I know, and what I'd worked out, you'd be even angrier.

I'm not trying to torment you by telling you that, but I'm mighty suspicious of what's going on.

This scam has been developing over a number of years and it's been refining itself - almost like a virus adapting and finding better ways to attack victims.

I'm going to have a tough time taking this on in America, which is where it's centred, and the scammers have learned to avoid US citizens who have brought numerous court cases against similar companies.

I'm looking for links to UK companies where they might be getting their leads from. Though such sompanies may seek to deny any knowledge of what happens to leads, they are effectively passing your details on to criminals, and as I live in the UK, and have some experience in this type of thing (Brighton Winter Wonderland) it would be useful if I can get connected and find where my details go.

My scam baiting knowledge means I can do it without any personal risk, and also be sure I know where the info came from and went to.

Discovering how information is being collected on victims will be a major step, and also make the it worthwhile and interesting to get the attention of consumer media. Even if there were prosecutions in the USA, others would merely take their place. Taking away victims by publicising the scam will kill it quicker.

Good luck with your card company too.

Even if there were prosecutions in the USA, others would merely take their place. Taking away victims by publicising the scam will kill it quicker.

Unfortunate but very true, please tell your family and friends what has happened to you, even consider telling a radio station if you wanted to go that far, the more people who know about this the better, you just never know who you will save by sharing your story


Good luck with your bank

Just to update all on myn previous posts.......my money has gone back into my account

Excellent and brilliant news - a great result - so happy for you.

Thank you for posting this information and your methods earlier in the thread.

Others will now know just what steps to take. Well Done

That is great news foolishscamvictim, but don't get carried away, they'll probably fight 'tooth and nail' to get the money back if they can.

I certainly recommend that anyone in your position fights to get their money back, but the scammers won't give in easily.

Any person who has a facility to process card transactions will lose it if they get too many claims, so it's not just the loss of your money they're fighting for, it's the whole scam that will fall apart.

I won't go into the full details of how this scam is set up, but it doesn't reflect well on the banks/financial organisations who supply these facilities. Before I retired, I spent my whole life working for a bank, so I have knowledge in this area.

When you get your money back, it helps everyone. In fact, just raising a complaint puts a red flag against anyone invloved.

Much to my amazement, I've found out that the money has gone back into my account! I bank with Alliance 7 Leicester, so looks as if my ultraprompt action on the Night Of The Scam seems to have worked in my favour. Cannot express how relieved I am. Needless to say, I shall never let myself be fooled over the phone again. Venceremos!

Hi all
Yes I am still crossing my fingers because bank have said they got 7 days to try for the money again. I have also in the meantime sent 2 e-mails to the fivestaruniversal........no reply as yet!! and also tried to ring their number which is always a answer phone message.

I am spreading the word to all i know about the scam and telling them to tell everyone they know.

What ever the outcome i have learnt a valuable lesson and will NEVER get caught again.

An update since my last post...my credit card company have refunded me my money back!!!
I worked quickly after it happened to me. I phoned my credit card company immediately after universal phoned me, and informed them i thought i'd been scammed. I emailed five star universal the day after i was scammed and told them i wanted to 'cancel all services'. The next day i contacted my credit card company again, and they did do a conference call with universal (which i know perhaps is not advised), but fortunately they could easily hear the taped had been edited as the conversation didn't flow naturally. I then had to send my cc all info that i had from universal (terms and conditions etc.) and a full letter of exactly what happened over the phone. I also sent via post a cancellation letter to universal. After 4 weeks of no response from universal my cc said they would take up the dispute. They now have, i believe formed a 'charge back' to universal. I am in the uk. In short act quickly with both universal to cancel, and your cc. If your cc know you are trying to cancel the transaction by yourself they are more willing to help you. I am lucky i have a friend who use to work for a large credit card company and they gave me alot of advice. Hope this info helps someone else.

That's great! I don't know if cc companies share info about dodgy businesses, but if they do, it may help other victims.

Hi,

My bank has also refunded the money to my account. There is the 60 days for them to dispute the refund, however I have pre-empted this as I have already explained to my bank that:

1. They will attempt to play them a recording of me accepting the terms and conditions and authorising the payment; and explained that a. this has been faked (detailing to them in what way) and b. that I have not authorised them to play this to a 3rd party (thanks for that Ofcom info Gomer).

2. I had requested a FULL transcript of my conversations with ALL 3 members of their staff on the day of purchase (both by telephone, e-mail and snail-mail), which now 60 days later has not been, and suspect, never will be received. My main reason for this is that the first person to speak to me informed me that I had one a competition and the FAQ on the website states 'this is not a contest, lottery or drawing'

3. I have completed the booking form, as my bank have advised, e-mail and faxed it back to Five Star Universal. Since requesting a refund, I have received no contact from them, my bank have considered this as 'non receipt of goods'

4. Five Star Universal claim to be affiliated/partnered with Universal Studio's Orlando. I have contacted Guest Services at Universal Studios, who stated that Five Star Universal are not affiliated with or partnered with Universal Studios in any way and that they are not authorised to redistribute park tickets. Guest Services were also more that happy to re-confirm this with my bank if they wished to contact them. (incidentally, I forwarded the confirmation pdf to Guest Services, less my personal information. Apparently Universal Studios are looking to make a court action against them for misuse of their trademarked logos and misrepresentation )

My banks response to the above information was that due to the above information; especially the legal non compliance on the part of Five Star Universal, that it is highly unlikely that Five Star Universal will be able to claim anything. Since I initially contact my bank, they informed me that they have received complaints from other customers about this organisation; and have requested suggested they follow the same steps as I have above.

Gomer,

I believe they may have obtained my details through Opinion World. Sadly, this site donates funds to charities for each survey completed (one of which is St John's Ambulance, with whom I have checked that they to donate) and appear to be legit. Unfortunately, because of the problems I have had with Five Star Universal, I'll not be using the site again.

Hope this help

Not that I bother to do any surveys, but I am also a member of that site and my details have not been compromised (that I know of).

While it is possible you are right, I tend to think that it may be from somewhere else.

Tremendous news and I congratulate your tenacity and attitude, and am glad that you have been rewarded with success.

Your approach is good template for anyone else to follow, and for every person who manages to get their money back, it's another nail in the coffin of these scammers. It's likely that they'll resurface under different names elsewhere, and I've already seen copycat scammers operating in other parts of the world.

I've got a dossier on this group and I'll submit it to Universal and see what their reaction is. Obviously every person they scam is a customer lost to them and it harms their trademark and worldwide reputation to have these people misrepresenting their good name this way.

For my own records I'll keep a note of the link I'll use here, as I'll write something out and then come back to it.

http://www.universalstudioshollywood.co ... dback.html

Gomer,

May I also suggest the following link ...

http://www.universalorlando.com/Resort_ ... vices.aspx

The important part is that Five Star Universal claim affiliation with the Orlando studios. I know this seems a small point, however most companies the size of Universal Studios/Pictures to operate as many smaller companies who tend to deal with their on local affairs; i.e. if the scam is affecting Universal Orlando, Universal Orlando will deal with it (as I found out when trying to confirm/deny the affiliation of FSU)