Universal Fun Pass Scam

Hi,

I received a call from Universal Fun Pass on the 12th January 2009. The lady I spoke to told me that it was a wonderful day and that I was one of the lucky 3% to have been selected for a fantastic offer, she then asked where I would most like to go on holiday. I replied Florida and she said that was fantastic and spoke extremely quickly about how I should be eligible for a holiday in Florida and that she just need to confirm a few things, one being my martial status, to confirm I owned my own property, I earned over 20k and finally that I had a VISA card which started with and she then recited the first 4 digits of my credit card. She then proceeded to tell me that I was really lucky as it seemed that I was going to qualify for this fantastic holiday and she kept saying that all she is asking is that should send her a postcard to say how much I enjoyed my holiday, she then said something that I didn’t catch and put me through to someone else.

This lady asked for my credit card details and I informed her that I did not want to give her these as I never purchase anything with out knowing and seeing what I was getting, she informed me that this was a great offer, to which I replied that I still wanted to make sure I was happy with it before committing my self. The sales lady (con artist) then said that she first had to confirm that I was indeed eligible for this holiday and just needed my card details to confirm this. I stupidly gave her my credit card details and she said that she was happy to confirm that I was authorised for this offer, this made me feel nervous, she then proceeded to say that I would receive a confirmation email to confirm this and she also gave me a website to visit.

As soon as I got of the phone I contacted my credit card company and asked if any money had been requested from my account, and they confirmed that a transaction for £550.99 was due to be taken from my account. I have disputed this with my credit card, and when I received the email the following day I emailed them back to complain, I have also phoned and left messages to no avail!

When I checked the documents they sent the holiday was for accommodation only and I would still be liable for the accommodation tax. The company do not make you aware of the most important fact that this package is NON-REFUNDABLE highlited in red in point 8 of there terms and conditons below! Worse still a 90-minute tour of premier resorts is required at each destination!

Please warn all your friends and family as I do not want anyone else making the same stupid mistake I did. If anyone has been duped then please make sure the dispute it ASAP with your credit card company. I have also logged a complaint with BBB, who have received complaints about this company the link is http://atlanta.bbb.org

Below is the terms and conditions for this dishonest company which you receive by email.

Universal Fun Pass Disclosure of TERMS AND CONDITIONS For participation in our Annual Florida / Bahamas Vacation offer.

Terms and Conditions:

1. This vacation entitles the registrant to the following accommodations:
•5 days and 4 nights of resort accommodations in Orlando Fl
•4 days and 3 nights of hotel accommodations in Daytona Beach Fl.
•4 days and 3nights of resort accommodations in Freeport Bahamas.
In addition to the accommodations, you’ll also receive the following:
•(2) 2 day star passes for Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure ® in Orlando, Fl.
•A $500.00 Savings Booklet good towards meals and entertainment for Orlando & Daytona Beach, Fl.
2. This vacation is valid for up to 4 guests of which at least one guest must be at least 23 years of age and possess a major credit card. Income qualifications may vary by location; however, each guest confirms and agrees that their annual combined income at time of purchase is between 40,000 to 50,000 or greater. Please contact customer service for further details.
3. Your vacation consists of all of the above-mentioned destinations for a total of 4 guests.
4. Additional room nights are available at a special discounted rate to vacation certificate holders only, please contact your personal travel coordinator for availability.
5. Reservations must be submitted at least 30 days in advance, 45-60 days advance notice is suggested for holidays and peak seasons.
6. Universal Fun Pass is not to be held responsible for any acts of nature and/or any other irregular circumstances beyond the control of Universal Fun Pass causing a vacation destination or request to become unavailable. Under such circumstances we will offer a substitute destination based on availability.
7. Your vacation voucher is valid only for your hotel accommodations. Normal incidentals such as transportation, food, beverages, taxes, gratuities, port, docking and service charges are not included. Hotel taxes are not included in this package price and must be paid directly to your hotel.
8. This promotion is made available without restrictions pertaining to peak season travel with the requested advance notice of a minimum of 60 days. This promotional travel package is purchased on a non-refundable basis, if for some reason you can not travel within the first 12 months you may extend your vouchers annually until completed, or transfer destinations by contacting your travel coordinator at no charge.
9. All confirmed reservations are processed in writing or by contacting travel services. Every effort will be made to honor your travel request, with proper advance notice. This promotion is valid a year from the date issued unless otherwise extended.
10. A 90-minute tour of premier resorts is required at each destination. This will be scheduled at the Welcome Center at your time of Check-In. Couples must attend presentation together.

Privacy Policy
Any information provided to any representative of Universal Fun Pass is kept confidential. We do not sell, share, disclose or trade any of our client’s privileged information with any outside entity for any reason.

Customer Care Policy
We are highly confident in our promotional packages so we do provide you with a personal travel coordinator to guarantee personalized service during your travel experience.

Hi, brightkandle1, and welcome to Scamwarners!

I'm sorry to hear that you've been swindled. I hope your credit card company can reverse the charge.

Phone scammers talk very fast and throw a lot of words at you to confuse you and convince you to go along with what they say. The best defense is to say no to anyone who calls you unsolicited to sell you anything, or who say you've "won" or "qualified for" a free anything. And certainly do not give your credit card details to anyone you didn't call.

I realize, a little late for you, but good advice for anyone reading this thread.

Part B of this type of program is typically a very high pressure sales pitch, most likely for timeshares. Some of these do actually offer a decent deal on the trip, provided you can deal with the sales pitch, while others aren't even offering decent pricing. I do actually know a few people who enjoy going to some of these sales pitch packages, because they are immune to high pitch sales and have no qualms about making sure they get the better end of the deal. This is not for the vast majority of people, though, as the sales pressure is incredibly intense, with even more aggressive techniques than you got on the phone.

This may be "non-refundable" but based on what you have written, you never actually agreed to the trip, and therefore are not bound by the terms of that agreement--this is what you need to make clear to your credit card company.

As Holly stated, never give your CC or bank account info on the phone. If you get a phone offer and honestly think you might be interested, then tell them you cannot consider any deal unless you have it in writing first. A real business will be happy to send you the information, while many scammers will (a) try to convince you the deal is going too quickly and you need to accept now (or they will send it to you after you provide bank or CC info, which screams scam--if they were legitimate, they would have some kind of flier or information, and they don't have to review your financial information to put it in the mail), (b) have some excuse why they can't put it in writing (c) get snotty with you, or (d) hang up on you. If they react one of these ways, hang up, and if they continue to bother you, block their calls. If they are willing to send you info, you can take your time researching the offer (which is exactly what they don't want you to do).

You should consider reporting that credit card compromised and canceling it right away, as your details are now in the hands of some very unscrupulous people.

Thank you for your posts, good advice which I will use if this ever happens again! My cc company cancelled my card as soon as I told them the story, I think it helped that I called as soon as I got of the phone from the unscrupulous company

to brightkandle1 per your comments.... by brightkandle1 on Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:13 pm

You are not very bright if you have clearly provided documentation as you just posted all th company"s terms and conditions... an you still bought this company's products'

Universal Fun Pass Disclosure of TERMS AND CONDITIONS For participation in our Annual Florida / Bahamas Vacation offer.

Terms and Conditions:

1. This vacation entitles the registrant to the following accommodations:
•5 days and 4 nights of resort accommodations in Orlando Fl
•4 days and 3 nights of hotel accommodations in Daytona Beach Fl.
•4 days and 3nights of resort accommodations in Freeport Bahamas.
In addition to the accommodations, you’ll also receive the following:
•(2) 2 day star passes for Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure ® in Orlando, Fl.
•A $500.00 Savings Booklet good towards meals and entertainment for Orlando & Daytona Beach, Fl.
2. This vacation is valid for up to 4 guests of which at least one guest must be at least 23 years of age and possess a major credit card. Income qualifications may vary by location; however, each guest confirms and agrees that their annual combined income at time of purchase is between 40,000 to 50,000 or greater. Please contact customer service for further details.
3. Your vacation consists of all of the above-mentioned destinations for a total of 4 guests.
4. Additional room nights are available at a special discounted rate to vacation certificate holders only, please contact your personal travel coordinator for availability.
5. Reservations must be submitted at least 30 days in advance, 45-60 days advance notice is suggested for holidays and peak seasons.
6. Universal Fun Pass is not to be held responsible for any acts of nature and/or any other irregular circumstances beyond the control of Universal Fun Pass causing a vacation destination or request to become unavailable. Under such circumstances we will offer a substitute destination based on availability.
7. Your vacation voucher is valid only for your hotel accommodations. Normal incidentals such as transportation, food, beverages, taxes, gratuities, port, docking and service charges are not included. Hotel taxes are not included in this package price and must be paid directly to your hotel.
8. This promotion is made available without restrictions pertaining to peak season travel with the requested advance notice of a minimum of 60 days. This promotional travel package is purchased on a non-refundable basis, if for some reason you can not travel within the first 12 months you may extend your vouchers annually until completed, or transfer destinations by contacting your travel coordinator at no charge.
9. All confirmed reservations are processed in writing or by contacting travel services. Every effort will be made to honor your travel request, with proper advance notice. This promotion is valid a year from the date issued unless otherwise extended.
10. A 90-minute tour of premier resorts is required at each destination. This will be scheduled at the Welcome Center at your time of Check-In. Couples must attend presentation together.

Privacy Policy
Any information provided to any representative of Universal Fun Pass is kept confidential. We do not sell, share, disclose or trade any of our client’s privileged information with any outside entity for any reason.

Customer Care Policy
We are highly confident in our promotional packages so we do provide you with a personal travel coordinator to guarantee personalized service during your travel experience.

@ljk777

Unless I misread, something I have been known to do, the way I read it was that Bright candle never agreed to anything, the contract posted was sent after money was removed from here account without her knowledge, perhaps I have missed something.

By posting the information here she may have just helped prevent others from losing money to these people.

Although I do respect you right to an opinion, if your opinion is to make fun of people who come here and share their stories, sometimes with the fear of being ridiculed, then I would ask that you keep it to yourself.

One of the reasons that scams are successful is that those who have been scammed are too ashamed to talk about it, thank you for enforcing that (incorrect) notion, continue to do as you have done here, help the scammers of this world to make money from unsuspecting people, I just hope one day it is not somebody you care for who is scammed

ljk777
Registered Member

Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:00 pm

by ljk777 on Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:12 pm

For someone that has been here 12 minutes, I'm so pleased your empathy and consideration for others is so evident.

We are not here to be holier than thou, our purpose with this website is to inform, advise and where possible prevent people being scammed.

Your sarcastic and cynical remarks are not nor will ever be part of the Scamwarners ethic

To Brightcandle, I hope you were able to resolve the issue with your CC Company. Please take care with CC and Bank information, never give it out to anyone over the phone or email.

to brightkandle1 per your comments.... by brightkandle1 on Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:13 pm
' You are not very bright if you have clearly provided documentation as you just posted all th company"s terms and conditions... an you still bought this company's products'

BrightKandle1 Response:
Just for clarification the information was emailed to me 2 days after the telephone call.

I know that I have been foolish and I posted my experience so that others are aware that this company are scamming people, ridiculing me for this may give you pleasure, however I don’t care as I know my post has helped others.

^^ It certainly will, thanks for doing so

Hi,

Just wanted to let you know that my cc company has credited my account.

Great news,

I am very happy to hear it

Thanks for letting us know and please come back if you need advice in the future

Just to let you know, i had the GREAT PLEASURE to received a call from the Scam team telling me my girlfriend won a trip..WOW....... But.... After an half an hour , the lady ask my gf to give her cc card number just to confirm.... she told her no and gave me phone.... I told her the same thing, we want something in writing., but no cc over the phone. She ask to speak back to my girlfried but told her it will be the same but insist since is my gf who ''won''. She ask her again for the cc number.... i took back the phone and told her to cancel anything.... I hung up .... Like everyone said, never give your cc number..... And if they dont want to send the info first by mail, hung up....... It seem that the scam went up north of the border in Quebec. Hope that someday this kind of scam will cease to exist...Until then , be alert and enjoy vacation that you choose and paid... not those that you supposely WON

Mark,

Glad to hear that you weren't taken in, and that you and your girlfriend were not manipulated or pressured into giving out her CC #. I'm sure you saw how high-pressure and manipulative tactics are used to push victims into giving up that information, and you can help others by continuing to get the word out about this type of operation.

I just got the call from these people and I know a scam when I hear it, I even mentioned my unenthusiasm due to a possible scam and the woman on the phone said she was flattered because this was 100% real. They knew some of my personal information and said how else would they know this, they said they needed 200 or more dollers for each person accompanying me. I asked for proof and they said they they would send a e-mail but I said to have it mailed to me. I gave them my credit card number but the jokes on them because I have a pre-paid card with no money on it. I thought this might be legit but apparently reading on it immediatley It's a scam. Never give out your CC # over the phone.

Unfortunetaly i was scammed by the EXACT SAME company i just had one question how did you get your credit card company to reverse the charge??