Resolved
Tej Rkm
map-marker Florida, United States

Resolved: Scam Holiday Win!

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Updated by user Mar 29, 2016

Following on from the advice of the Sydney 'pissed consumer' (Apr 27, 2015 review), I registered letters to Summer Bay Resort, with copies to the Florida Attorney General and Consumer Affairs. You have 28 days from date of the booking to apply for your refund, under the...

Updated by user Mar 22, 2016

It all started with Readers Digest website in New Zealand which advised Margaret that she had won a travel prize and put us through to Summer Bay Orlando without us knowing. The selling technique is very strong and intimidating. Refunds are out of the question although...

Original review Mar 21, 2016
We were referred to Summer Bay by Readers Digest (NZ), who had advised us that we had 'won' a $3000 holiday (no mention of US$).. The local call in NZ was actually answered in the US by an agent for Summer Bay (unbeknown to us).

We were led on with the fact that the package price was originally $3900 odd (again not quoted as US), so we would only have to pay $898.00 for which we would receive 7 days/six nights at Premium Hotel Orlando Summer Bay Resort, 3 days/2 nights Bahamas Cruise, 4 days/3 nights East Coast Central Florida Beach, 1 week Economy rental car and 5 days/4 nights Costa Rica (Bonus). No mention was made of the extras on top of the $898, i.e. transfers, port charges and taxes for the cruise of U$199 a person; tax, insurance and other charges for the car hire, and that the bonus Costa Rica stay was extra U$250 person. The first credit card my partner used was rejected as the issuing bank had treated it as a fraudulent action, the second one was accepted.

When we received the documents via e-mail, it clearly states that the promotional holidays are only for married or co-habiting couples 25 - 75. Not once was this mentioned nor our ages asked during the 85 minute phone call. My partner is 86 so is outside this criteria! We called the resort and spoke with the billing manager, GENE PARISSON - he said this was a time share promotion and was clearly marked in the documents.

We have not found this reference anywhere in the papers we received. 30 minutes later he still adamantly refused a refund.
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Loss:
$898
Reason of review:
Not as described/ advertised

Preferred solution: Full refund

Lathen Zje
map-marker Orlando, Florida

Have over 20,000 dollars invested and they want more

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I really have not been disappointed until now. Not only do they want to keep my money invested, but to sell it would cost an additional 2 thousand dollars. This is not what I thought it would be. I am now in the silver program with them and not really any extras given. Each time I try to go in to see what I get, I am unable to get into the site. Anyone interested, I will sell my time shares for a thousand under what I bought them for. During my stays, I get what I ask for. Only one time I lost 3 days of a 7 day stay to get things repaired. I was not even given a week back for the time spent, waiting for repairs.
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Loss:
$22000
Cons:
  • For trying to resale without loosing money
Reason of review:
Not as described/ advertised

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

1 comment
Betsaida Ssm

They are big scam.

Anonymous
map-marker Largo, Florida

Ms lang

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I book with bookvip.com. My vacation was ok but I made the best of it. So I check in at my hotel then I went down to summer bay welcome center they tell me I not quiefied to take the tour I call bookvip cuostmer service who is a third party I didn't know that so they tell me I cant stay at the hotel only for one night which I had my family there for 3 nights so I didn't understand that I will not book with them again inconvience meet to find another hotel. I wanted know can they do that?...........................,(,((((((((((((......,,,,,,,,,,,
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Cons:
  • Worst experience ever
  • Cancellation policy
Reason of review:
Bad quality

Preferred solution: Price reduction

Anonymous
map-marker Auburndale, Florida

Other Product Review

Summer Bay Resorts - Simple Review #1453826857
Miguel Gil clona targetas de credito y Es el manager de marketing increible
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Anonymous
map-marker Davenport, Florida

Summer Bay Resorts Vacation Review from Davenport, Florida

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I had just arrived me my husband and two children get to the resort was only two beds. OK so I thought they would fix it no chance. Had to pay extra to fix the situation only to find the resort charges a cleaning fee more money spent talk to the reservations department thinking they would take care of the problem instead to receive more ruddness. Worse experience ever never will we use summer bay Clermont fl.
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
Anonymous
map-marker Bellevue, Washington

Summer Bay Resorts Vacation Review

This is a big scam.I paid for a package which included a4days3nights cruise after attending a90minutes presentation.THAT'S ALL THEY WANT YOU TO PAY AND ATTEND THEIR PRESENTATION. After which they DO NOT GIVE YOU.WHAT WAS PROMISED Instead they give you the royal run around from one number to another until you are frustrated to the point of giving up. After trying for2weeks to get what i paid for without success I called again 12-29 and Spoke with customer rep.Adi maris who was of no help.I asked for their corporate office number. she said they don't have one.I asked for her supervisor and after going back and forth4 times each time putting me on. hold.Her supervisor Tanya came on and gave me a number which when u call no one ever picks up.888852****and one to celebration cruise line that if i want to go on a cruise call them.I asked for the corporate office number she said they will not help me even out she gives me the number.This is ONE *** OF A SCAM RUN BY TRAINED SCAMMERS. BEWARE DON'T GET SCAMMED BY SUMMER BAY VACATIONS OR ONE OF THEIR VENDORS VACATION RESORTS. MY PROMISE IS THAT LIKE ME YOU WILL LOSE YOUR MONEY AND MOST IMPORTANT TIME. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE FRUSTRATION THEY POT THOU THROUGH.
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
1 comment
Guest

I have gone through the same thing. I am disputing the charge with my credit card company and Summer Bay is sending in bogus documentation.

Anonymous
map-marker Orlando, Florida

WORST EVER

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The resort is horrible and the customer service & experience is worst. DO NOT SPEND your money here! The resort sends you to another location out of the US on a horrific boat and cuns you into buying something overseas. Once you return and cancel within the 10 days, they remove money from your account for charges that were preciously paid. There is no way to fight it unless you have additional money laying around to fight the mess. In the US, Orlando they talk you into the every other year while knowing they have taken money from you from overseas and here.
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Loss:
$15000
Cons:
  • Awful
  • Falsified sales pitch
Reason of review:
Bad quality

Preferred solution: Cancel my loan service

Anonymous
map-marker Chicago, Illinois

Summer Bay Resorts Voucher Review from Chicago, Illinois

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Horrible !!! Was promised hotel voluchers and recieved expired ones !! Can not get customer service to call me back
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
1 comment
Guest

Good luck

I been calling for days and can't get anyone to call me back. Worst resort ever for customer service.

The sales people will flat out lie to you. And the lady that does the contracts in gatlinburg office is one of the rudest people I have ever met and very unethical.

Anonymous
map-marker Longwood, Florida

Summer Bay Resorts - Summer Bay Resort Hotel Review from Longwood, Florida

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This is my families 1st stay at summer bay and most likely our last stay. The resort needs a desperate deep cleaning. Our tube had to be clean before I could bath our daughter there was mold around the jets. The carpet had so much dust and food and hair on the baseboards it was gross. We called front desk asked if someone could come spray since we had Ants in the bedroom. This is far from what they are calling luxury. I would stay far away if I was you.
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Reason of review:
Bad quality
Anonymous
map-marker Melbourne, Victoria

A successful outcome in a dispute with Summer Bay Sales and Marketing

On 17/03/15 my wife was informed on her computer that she had won a huge discount on a number of holidays in and around Florida. She was given a local phone number in Sydney where she spoke to a number of people who assured her of the legitimate nature of her good fortune and offering her 7D/6N at Summer Bay resort plus 3D/2N Bahamas Cruise plus 4D/3N East coast Florida accommodation plus 1 week car hire plus a bonus 5D/4N Costa Rica Holiday ALL for the total price of US$1400. When I started to look closely at this unbelievable offer I came upon this webpage and became very very concerned. I reviewed a number of horror stories from dissatisfied customers from all over the world including one from an American in 2004 who described how they had obtained a refund from these people. The most useful information was that under Florida law if the "vacation" did not have a date specified then it was considered a "vacation certificate " and as such there was a 30 day cooling off period. Acting on this advice I did the following which I commend to others in the same situation as we were. 1.Phone your credit card company and attempt to stop the payment , BLOCK your account and notify them of your intention to dispute the payment as you believe the company is fraudulent. Freezing your account is important as I will explain later. 2.Well within 30 days send to Summer Bay Resort Cancellations of 25 Towne Centre Blvd Suite C. CLERMONT FLORIDA 34714 a registered letter formally requesting a refund and noting that you have sent copies of this letter to your credit card co, the Florida Attorney General and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer affairs. 3.Log on to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and print out their Complaint Form, complete it and send off with a copy of letter 1. 4. Log on to the Office of the Florida Attorney General and print out their Complaint Form , complete it and sent it off with a copy of letter 1. In our case we were not contacted by the company despite them claiming to have done so but they did refund the US$1400 to our credit card company. HOWEVER on 18/03/15 the day after my wife made our card payment to Summer Bay someone ( actually "manganocollebeato@***p-mail.it) attempted to remove A$15,198.79 from the fortunately now frozen credit card. Now this may be just a coincidence but I for one am very suspicious of coincidences. Hence the need to freeze the credit card. hoping this story may help others John and Kay . Australia.
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Reason of review:
Order processing issue
2 comments
Guest

My Uncle has just been scammed they offered a second option and hes waiting on new paperwork I have investigated this and found that Summer Bay Vacations is in fact in the court system and have scammed money out of willing people my uncle paid $898 Aus we have spoken to them on the phone very scripted information the lady Natasha Harris gave us. But was very blunt in how she spoke.

Very disappointed my uncle was scammed by these low lifes!!!

Guest

Thank you for your comment. It helped us a lot.

We have paid for two "so called" great package @ $269.00 (US) each. We were also promised a car each 7days 6nights and the use of all facilities in the resort. This was in Sept 2014 and we were not able to use it because of non available of rooms when we want and other emergencies.With reviewing your comment in particular I am contemplating in just losing the money investing since they said this was cancel and not paying $99.00 (US) for extending it for 6mths. I realize I may lose more in the long run....

Thanks and please let me know your thoughts.

It will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Faeeda (Trinidad and Tobago)

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Anonymous
map-marker Forest Park, Georgia

Items stolen from our room .

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We checked in on Thursday and friday we realize my daughter's purse was missing from the room she was in we search the entire house no purse was found then we realize her hats, and other things were missing too but, through it all no one called and apologize yet. I called them and talk to a security person who said he would call back so far nothing we have stay in places all over the us and nothing like this has ever ever happen. no one seem to be concern at all about this incident we ask for corporate number no one would give it to us either.
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Loss:
$800
Pros:
  • I like the resort housing
Cons:
  • I did not like that they were so unconcern of our loss
Reason of review:
Poor customer service

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

Anonymous
map-marker Bay Lake, Florida

Summer Bay Resorts - Vacation Package Review from Bay Lake, Florida

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Terrible. This is a scam. Came all the way here with my 3 daughters for vacation package and took time off work but because my husband had an emergency come up and couldn't attend ( even though I make enough money to qualify on my own) they charged us $450.00 and gave us none of the incentives that were promised. This must be nothing but a very high pressure sales pitch and they obviously care nothing about the customers. I was treated terribly and put in a very difficult situation. Where I might have considered a timeshare now I would not consider ANYTHING from this company! Place is also quite small and there are extra charges for all the activities. Not that clean either! Stay away!!
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Reason of review:
Not as described/ advertised
Anonymous
map-marker Miami, Florida

Reservations is a disaster and a LIE

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They offer a package and when I paid , they chage the package and will not refund the money. I either take what they are offering me or loose my money. They are a scam. Do not get caught. It is an awful experience and they just wont give the money back. Nothing about changing reservations is on paper and is only verbal in their part. They said that the agent must to have told you about the changes when they never did, And they will stick to that lie. Do not buy or do bisiness with them Becareful. I will never do any buying with them.
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Loss:
$400
Cons:
  • Awful
  • Loose your money
Reason of review:
Did not receive what was offered

Preferred solution: Full refund

Anonymous

678-541-**** / High-pressure sales tactics + falsifying information + rude ending

A salesman called me about an "upscale resort" just 2.3 miles away from the closest Walt Disney World Resort (WDWR) entrance, one that provides free deluxe breakfast and free 5-minute shuttle ride to WDWR every 30 minutes. He was trying to rush me to book a sale with my credit card without taking the time to answer my basic questions. When I checked their location on Google maps, I found that they're 7.5 miles or 15-minute ride away from the WDWR. He kept denying my finding and revealing that the boundaries of the Summer Bay Resort and the WDWR are within 2.3 miles! Since most sane consumers go by the driving distance and drive time rather than linear distance between the boundaries of two large establishments, I thought the original pitch was misleading. Once I told him I did not find him trustworthy enough to give out my credit card information, he insulted me saying that I am "not their type" and don't deserve to stay at their so-called high-end resort and that I belong more to Motel 6 type properties instead. I would rather give my business any day to an honest and humble motel property than to an unscrupulous and rude resort property! I hope the readers would agree with me. Run away from Summer Bay Resort!
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Cons:
  • Their falsified sales pitch
Reason of review:
Poor customer service
Anonymous
map-marker Bay Lake, Florida

Staff Review

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Horrible, these are very dishonest people!!!! Scam!!!not even a very nice place !! Very small
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service