I was transferred to Caribbean Cruise Lines as a special "Thank You" gift from another company. I was not given a direct phone number.
They offered me a FREE cruise to the Bahamas as an advertising promotion. I was told that all I had to pay was $118 port tax for 2 people. I asked repeatedly if that was ALL I was responsible for, other than gratuities, drinks, etc on the cruise. I was told that there were no other fees. I game them my DEBIT card number, after being given ID #'s and customer service numbers.
I was then transferred to another representative He started pushing and adding more options and promised that in addition to the 3 day, 2 night cruise, I could have 2 night stay in Ft. Lauderdale at a Ramada Resort, 3 day, 2 night stay in the Bahama's at their resort "Our Lucaya", a free rental car, or $100 gas, if using my own car.
He also added $50 free voucher for the cruise casino, free food at both resorts, 3 days, 2 nights at Universal/Disney resort, a separate vacation to Mexico for 4 days, 3 nights and Las Vegas for 3 days, 2 nights. All this could be used anytime within 18 months for only $798.00 now and the $118 later. He even said he would add another cabin on the cruise, so I could invite family.
I don't normally buy into these kinds of things; but he was soooo persistant and gave me ID #'s and phone numbers for Customer Service that I agreed to the package if I could use my credit card. He took my number and after a period of time he said the charge was declined. I told him, I would have to decline; because I could not afford to use the DEBIT card (except for the $118.00)
He kept talking and talking and would not stop. I was trying to be polite and told him I could not pay in cash, but and if the charge did not go through, I would have to forget the whole thing.
Then he suddenly said, Oh, wait, it went through. I thought he was talking about the charge card, so I said ok. He transferred me to "verification" where another representative went through the whole "package". When she came to the part about paying, she said the $798.00 was being taken from my DEBIT card. I said NO NO NO, that is not right, I cannot do that. I told "James" that I could NOT pay cash.
She got him back on the line and he began to argue with me telling me I had ok'ed the charge. I told him AGAIN, I could charge on a credit card; but I COULD NOT pay cash. I finally had to get rude with him, before he would cancel. He kept arguing even after he said he would cancel, until I hung up on him.
I immediately called back the customer service number and they were rude before I ever told them my story. They had "luckily" given me a reference number; but the "specialists" said that it was canceled and I would have to wait 5-7 days for them to release my funds.
I called my bank and they said that a hold had been put on those funds and nothing could be done until they release the hold or took the funds. My bank said that if they would fax a release, the bank would make my money accessible overnight.
I called Caribbean Cruise Line back again, hoping to get a different person. Each time I had asked for a supervisor and each time, they had refused to transfer me. I got another "specialist" who told me the same thing. She said I would have to go back to my promotional department; but she would not tell me who they were or what the phone number was. She likewise was rude and said I would have to wait for 5-7 days before my money would be released.
I realize that I did a very careless thing, giving my Debit card number. I thought as long as I was clear that I did NOT want to use it for the $798.00 that it was against the law for them to hold my money.
Apparently I was wrong. I was foolish to think that I could get what was promised and be able to put it on a charge card and not be at risk.
The problem is that I am UNEMPLOYED and 62 years old. My husband is also UNEMPLOYED. I desperately need that money to pay my bills. I do not know if they will release the money at all.
I want other people to know about this and how dangerous it is to give information over the phone. I thought they were legitimate because I was transferred to them, by a company that I had done business with before. They were very pushy and painted a wonderful picture of a very reasonably priced vacation.
But they have control over my cash for an undetermined amount of time. They should be controlled or STOPPED. It is also very hard to locate them. The website is not very clear and there are no phone numbers easily given and we are unable to find an address. It seems that Florida should really go after these people for preying on seniors.
Thank you for allow me to voice my complaint.
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