Industry Complaints Paradise Blue - Tickets on the Rock/Pacific Dreams, Maui ripped me off!!!!
Featuring:
Paradise Blue has opened another office in Maui. Paradise Blue has changed its name to Pacific Dream s on Maui. It has opened in Old Lahaina Center, a Harry and Jannette Weinberg Foundadtion property.
Any questions or problems concerning getting out of your contract with Destination paradise Hawaii (Paradise Blue and Pacific Dreams) please contact:
Mr. Jeff D'Amato- Sales Manager in Maui 210-542- XXXX
Mike Balicki- Sales Manager in Honolulu 808. 222. XXXX
Seyi Faodu - Sales Manager in Honolulu 6 12.310. XXXX
Chuck Roubalard - Owner of the produc t and Leader of the entire scam. 763.772. XXXX
I'v e done a lot of research on both Destination Paradise Hawaii (DPH) and Global Escapes in Texas and these are the same people. Once they got shut down by the Attorney General in Texas, they came to Hawaii. These companies exist to scam unwitting tourists. The owners and employees left San Antonio and started working in Hawaii. I'd like to see them s hut down as a service to past, current and future victims. Here are links to the steps the Texas Attorney General took to shut them down. Just like they keep changing their name in Hawaii (Destination Paradise, paradise blue and now Paradise Dreams a ll within 18 months!), they used many names in Tex as also: Escapes Austin, Global Escapes, Blue water, Escapes Midwest, Sun Tree Escapes, Escapes Midwest. Etc...
IT IS THE EXACT SAME SCAM JUST A DIFFERENT DESTINATION - INSTEAD OF RIPPING OFF PEOPLE IN TEXAS THEY ARE RIPPING OFF PEOPLE IN HAWAII
Please, please, please read the injuctions websites below:
INJUNCTION: http://www.oag.state.tx. us/newspubs/releases/2009/040109globalescapes_pop. pdf
BANK ACCOUNT SEIZURE: http://www.oag.state .tx.us/newspubs/releases/2009/040109globalescapes_ tro.pdf
Here is what an article in a Texas news paper said about them:
A family of Florida-base d travel companies doing business in Austin and San Antonio are facing charges of deceptive trade practices and other business and commerce code violations from the Texas Attorney General’s office.
The defendants, Escapes Austin LLC and Escapes Midwest LLC, which do business under the names Global Escapes, Blue Water, Sun Tree and others, are accused of using false gift giveaways to entice cust omers to attend sales seminars that marketed worth less travel-related software programs, according t o a news release from the attorney general’s office.
Attorney General Greg Abbott said his office is seeking restitution for some 5, 000 Texas consumers who may have been deceived into purchasing t he software. In response to the attorney general’s actions, the 73rd District Court of Bexar County issued an order freezing the defendants’ assets.
Court documents filed by the state also name chief executive officer James Carey III and managing member Gwendolyn Carey. According to the state’s lawsuit, the defendants used direct mail and telemarketing calls to inform potential customers that t hey “won” free cruises, hotel stays, vehicles, flights or expensive watches. However, recipients were told that they must set up an appointment to attend a sales presentation in order to receive their prize.
Those chosen also were told they only needed to pay taxes due on the gifts. Recipients we re not informed about restrictions, hidden costs, the prizes’ overall value or the prizes’ limited availability. According to state investigators, prizes were difficult to redeem, expensive to redeem, or unavailable during certain dates.
During the mandatory sales seminars, the defendants touted their “proprietary software search engine technology, ” which they claimed would allow purchasers to locate and reserve bargain travel deals online. “ The defendants then used high-pressure sales tactics to convince customers that their ‘software license’ opportunity surpassed all others in the industry, ” the release states. “The defendants’ sales representatives often purported to ‘negotiate down ’ from the software’s $12, 000 retail price to $7, 000, $4, 000, or to a ‘one-time price reduction’ of $2, 200.”
Customers who could not afford the purchase price were offered financing. Rather than retain the purchaser’s outstanding debt, the defendants frequently sold it to third-party debt collection or finance companies.
According to the documents, after purchasing the product, many customers were unable to log on to the Web site for at least two weeks. “When the defendants finally provided the necessary user IDs and passwords, many customers encountered technical problems. Customers who were able to fully access the system discover ed that the bargain travel deals they were promise d did not actually exist.”
During the sales negotiations, customers were told they could return t he product for a refund if they were dissatisfied with their purchase. However, when customers attempted to cancel their contracts, the defendants claimed the sales contract was binding. Concerned that the debt collection agencies could ruin their credit ratings, many customers also paid annual support “software upgrade” fees, even when they could not or did not use the system.
Under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the defendants face civil penalties of up to $20, 000 per violation, as well as a $250, 000 penalty if the conduct was designed to harm a person aged 65 or older.
______________________________________
Complaint s To The Dcca Of Hawaii - HERE IS FURTHER PROOF THE SHEER NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO BEEN SCAMMED BY DESTINATION PARADISE LLC IN HAWAII. LISTED ARE COMPLAINTS, TO THE DCCA OF HAWAII, THAT HAVE GONE UNRESOLVED.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1213N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1197N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP - 2009- 1196N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1195N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A P ENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1194N
OUTCOME : THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 118 4N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: O CP- 2009- 1173N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1164N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1143N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1 134N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1096N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1085N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1077N
OUT COME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1060N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint N o: OCP- 2009- 1044N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1028N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1018N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER IN FORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 200 9- 1017N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1001N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 1000N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION I S AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0974N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2 009- 0947N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT . NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0919N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE .
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0918N
OUTCOME: T HIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0878N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0845N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0815N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0809N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0732 N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OC P- 2009- 0730N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Com plaint No: OCP- 2009- 0568N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAIL ABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0565N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 04 89N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0470N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COM PLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0468N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0458N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2009- 0345N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No : OCP- 2008- 1243N
OUTCOME: THIS IS A PENDING COMPLAINT. NO FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE.
Complaint No: OCP- 2008- 1212N
Here is the Better Business Bureau Rating iof this company:
Base d on BBB files, this business has a BBB Rating of F on a scale from A+ to F.
Reasons for this rating include:
• 73 complaints filed against business
• Failure to respond to 14 complaints filed aga inst business.
• 13 complaints filed against business that was not resolved.
• BBB Accreditation w as revoked because business failed to comply with agreed BBB standards.
• Business has failed to re solve underlying cause(s) of a pattern of complain ts.
Here is the company Business Contact and Profile:
Business Contact and Profile
Name: Destination Paradise LLC
Phone: (808) 685- XXXX
Fax: (8 08) 931- XXXX
Address: 2250 Kalakaua Ave Ste 301
Honolulu, HI 96815-2545
Website: http://www.destinationparadisehawaii.com
New Owner Date: March 2008
Principal: Mr. Michael A. Balicki, Manager
Customer Contact: Mr. Michael A. Balicki, Manager - (808) 685- XXXX
Entity: Limited Liability Company
Incorporated: March 2008, HI
Type of Business: Travel Clubs
BBB Accreditation: This company is not a BBB Accredited business. Paradise Blue is opening another office in Maui. Paradise Blue has changed to Pacific Dreams on Maui.
Any questions or problems concerning getting out of your contract with Destination paradise Hawaii(Paradise Blue and Pacific Dreams) please contact:
Mr. Jeff D'Amato - Sales Manager in Maui 210-542- XXXX
Mike Balicki - Sales Manager in Honolulu 808.222. XXXX
Seyi Fao du - Sales Manager in Honolulu 612.310. XXXX
Chuck Roubalard - Owner of the product and Leader of the entire scam. 763.772. XXXX
___________________ _____________________
This Company is not a B BB Accredited business.
Business Management
Additional company management personnel include:
Mr. Harold (Sunny) Lewis - Marketing Manager 808-222-1 XXXX. This is the guy that heads up all of the people on the street in Honolulu to get you to go to t he presentation
Mr. Moa Mahe
Ms. Pearl Helsham - Office Manager
Mr. William M Campbell, IV
Mr. Kenneth D Stafford
Mr. Oluseyi Famodu - Sales Manager in Honolulu 612.310. XXXX
Mr. Chuck Robillard - Mastermind and OWNER of this scam!!! 763.772. XXXX
Mr. Mike Balicki 808.222.4085
Mr. Jeff D'Amato - Sales Manager in Maui 210-542- XXXX
They have opened on Maui as of Dec. 1st 2009 and they are using a marketing company called Tickets on the Rock owned and operated by Mr. Pete Carroll. They have Activity booths all over Maui, Mainly on Front Street, Maui. This is the company that gives you dis counts on your activities to attend the presentation on Maui.
If you see any of these locations o n Maui or Honolulu:
Destination Paradise Showroom
Pacific Dreams Showroom
Paradise Blue Showroom
Preview Center Showroom
Activity Store Kiosks
Valued Guests Kiosks
Tickets on the Rock Kiosks
PLEASE DON'T BUY A THING----YOU WILL JUST GET RIPPED OFF!!!
Click Here To Post Your Own Complaint
Disagree with this complaint ? Post your response on-line.
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Comments
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Roger-
LA, CALI
ED and Shannon
Atlanta-
Alex and Jessica from Portland
Pacific Dreams as low as $499 per week!
Is Paradise Blue recommending the clients to defend them in the forums?
Is it a really big coincidence that by accident all three of them (because they are different families right?)posted hours apart from each other?
Could it possibly be that they actually work for Paradise Blue?
The world would never know....my guess is that this story will continue....
I figured the guys thats started these blog would reply to my comment. I am willing to bet you do not own with Pacific Dreams.
The reason you are probably seeing post from ACTUALLY customers is because Pacific Dreams sent out a mass email to all customer that have booked a vacation to feel free to share their experince. Get a life (and a real job) timeshare is a ripoff not Pacific Dreams!
Funny how you replied right after like a troll watching anything and everything about Pacific Dreams. You must be the guy from Windham
That was a great reply, but the aggression and the name calling is just not necessary. I´ll try to address your points of concern (and mine as well, that is the best part of being sarcastic).
-You don´t have to bet if I own with them, just ask me. The answer is not, I do not own with them.
-Let me see if I get it now, the company “sent out a mass email to all customer that have booked a vacation to feel free to share their experience” and three of them show up at this review, hours apart to defend the company? OK,( I already established that I am not an owner with this company and as a matter of fact I have no idea what kind of program/timeshare/point system they are selling, and I don´t care to know) As a general visitor it seems to me that it either; these are the best owners in the world or is just the company doing some damage control. That´s it, people can decide whatever they want to think, I already decided....
I don´t need to get a life I already have one, thank you very much (did you think you were talking to a spirit? …… LOL I just had to say it) and I don´t need a job, I already have a very good and honest one (thank you for caring about my financial situation by the way)
To resume I will honestly say that; I am not an owner with this company, I am not a “troll” (whatever that is), I am not with Wyndham in any way, I am not the person who posted this review. I am just a visitor that notice something funny on the comments, that´s all.
And since you give me your opinion on who you think I am, I will give you my opinion on who I think you are: EMPLOYES OF THE COMPANY, that´s all.
Have a nice day and I hope you have a job too (a good and honest one).
Please for your own good anyone reading stay away from these places!
My name is Robert Bluh and I am a competitor of Tickets on the Rock Activity Company here on Maui. I would like to set the record straight about Tickets on the Rock. They are a reputable activity company that sells discounted activity tickets to Visitors here on Maui. Whatever Tickets on the Rock promises you, you will receive. Rest assured that Tickets on the Rock is a good and reputable company that will deliver to you whatever is promised.
I hope this clears up any misunderstanding between these blogs, the public and Tickets on the Rock
Thank You
Robert Bluh
We went for the "free gift" and the "30" mintue program that lasted over 2 hours.
We had to hand over our cell phones so someone could personally turn them off. We were told that we would not be allow to use the restroom, so please go before the program started. THAT IN ITSELF SHOULD OF THREW UP RED FLAGS...But get the
gift and leave. Right? Wrong!!! The program LOOKS Great! To Good to be True! And your
on Vacation..You want to go back on Vacation.
So the Program starts at $9, 000 - Drops to $7, 000 by the time it was over we will give it to you for $4, 000 with a FREE Vacation (air fair not included) plus $183 or so a year. GIVE US YOU CREDIT CARD NUMBER!!!
But IF you change your mind you have 3 DAYS TO CANCEL NO QUESTIONS ASK!
YEAH RIGHT!!!
Just Dreams will not let you walk out of the building by yourself if you buy the program. They put your binder with all your information in a brown paper bag and escort you into elevator, into a waiting van that takes you back to your hotel??? (Whats that all about?)
As soon as I got back to the room I check the internet, find how many times Paradise-Blue had changed their name, all the bad reviews, BBB RATES THEM AN "F". I had to check the BBB in Flordia, because they are really listed in Flordia??? with an Hawaii address??
We go back to Just Dreams and TRY TO CANCEL WITHIN (1 HOUR!!) Just get our money OFF the Credit Card. Which at that point had not even been post to our account!!
NO WAY - They WON'T DO IT. Just Dreams dropped the price to $2000 then to $1, 000 plus the free vacation & the yearly fee. Paradise-Blue just would NOT take No for an answer! After we made a scene & we refuse to go in the back office people were starting to leave.
They then signed the cancellation papers. BUT they still did not take the charges off our Credit card! PLUS they CHARGED a $250.00 PROCESSING FEE!!! $4250.00
SO We went Back the next day when all the "New couples" were coming in (I told as many as I chould that it was a scam & I was there to get my money back - check the BBB & internet before they buy) most of the couples thanked me & walked out. Just Dreams did not like that, I reminded them of "Free Speech" and I would continue to do that until I got my money back.
I just wanted the $4, 225.00 off my credit card (4) days & talking numerous times to Credit Card Company POLICE THATS WHAT IT TOOK! ITS A SCAM!!
Anyone know the name of the Company dream something. hm.
For our time and an opportunity to sell to us, we got $260 zip line tickets for $60 for Tickets on the Rock.
www.just-dreams.com/about
www.paradise-blue.net/.../
That shows they keep changing names to avoid being caught.
Bottomline - if anyone approaches you offering freebies, attend the presentation, DO NOT SIGN UP, take your freebies/tickets and LEAVE !
thanks
Hello Friends,
Its a shame on humanity that how people leave fake reviews against a good reputated firm. "Just-Dreams-Scam" is a fake user, he registered with different usernames on different sites and post the same comment..here i show some examples of him..just check these links..i know after see these links, admin of this site throw out this user from this site..just see this:
tugbbs.com/.../...
ripoffreport.com/.../...
scaminformer.com/.../...
complaintsboard.com/.../...
please friends beware of these kind of peoples who destroy the reputation of any good firm..i think he is a competitor of Just Dreams
We are totally agree with merinda!!
We saw all links which she mentioned above
Really its shame on that person who did all these shameless activities against Just Dreams
HE IS A SPAMMER
Assuming no one here who has had actual experience as an owner to the program is lying, I have a theory on what is going on. It’s quite possible that by buying into the program, you can find great deals that you might not be able to find easily elsewhere. But as with all great deals, they are scarce. So only some people who happened to look at the right time got the advertised great deal, while everyone else never got lucky enough.
One thing that was completely misrepresented during the presentation was how these great deals came to be. During my presentation, we were told that these deals came from special negotiation with the resorts themselves, but it became clear after some research that the deals do just come from a software that crawls the internet for information. For me, this is a huge difference. If the deals came from negotiations, Pacific Dreams would know how many of them would be available per year and can either stop selling these packages if their membership far exceeded the number of deals, or try to negotiate for more deals. Since the deals come from the internet and Pacific Dreams has no control over how many of them there are compared to how many active member they have, there is no way they can guarantee everyone who has paid the membership fee (which is around $10k) will get what they pay for. Again, I didn’t buy, so I’m not technically an “owner”, but this doesn’t sound like a business model that can work in the long-run.
How can I start a legal process?
Or at least help to get them out of business?
Please help
My fiance and I travel quite a bit and have been known to go to time share presentations to get discounted stays or activities now and then. We are used to the high pressure sales and the rapidly decreasing price over time. When we sat in on a presentation by Pacific Dreams in Maui, we didn't realize that a company would outright lie just to get business.
We were warned by the sales person about somebody who had been posting fake scams and ignorantly we bought into it. Like many things it was a while before we had another opportunity to travel and when we went to do so we realized just how big of a SCAM this really is. By this time it was definitely to late to cancel so we're just hoping to help others to not make the same mistakes we did. Remember, for every person who complains there are tens if not hundreds of people who just chalk a mistake up to a bad decision or they don't want to admit to getting scammed. I'll admit it though, we bought it hook, line, and sinker.
We had a three major problems with the service which is why we had to warn others. The least of all is the software. It looks like it is written 15 years ago and it is as hard to navigate as anything i've seen here on the web. Worse is that you can't book trips to any place you would actually want to go. Thinking of a romantic trip to Paris? Not even an option. We weren't able to find any major city anywhere in the world that it allowed. The worst clincher though is even when you find a far off remote place and you are supposed to be getting some great deal, the prices where over twice what we found in a quick 5 second search of accommodations on the web. The one thing they say they are good at, getting great deals around the world and their prices don't even come close to what's competitive.
It is a waste of several thousand dollars for us from this scam. I hope others don't make same mistake!
Thanks for the information. My fiance and I just went to one of the presentations and were shocked by the customer service and how the price of the ownership went down drastically from 9,999 to 2,999 definitely made me think twice about the value of purchase.
Thanks again.
A.
Pacific Dreams has over 200,000 members across the United States, and is the largest distributor of wholesale condo weeks in Maui.
Like to see the actual website and the deals before we sign up. Would someone share that site with us before we purchase thank you
Some red flags:
1. The original person who offered us the presentation and tickets at the "free activities booth" specifically told us to lie and mark a higher pay range on the application at the sales pitch. Also, no mention of the company names "paradise blue" or "just dreams" were included by the activities booth.
2. Once arriving, they claim that they have a lease on the entire 6th floor of the Bank of Hawaii building (this isn't true though as there are vacant offices on that floor). Additionally, if you look at the buildings directory, as well as the plaques on the wall next to the office doors, you will see NO MENTION of the names "Paradise Blue" or "Just Dreams." Thus, there is no proof that they are there to "stay" so to speak, and they can up and leave any moment.
3. After arriving and filling out paperwork, we sat in the waiting room with a few other couples that were already there. It's very possible these couples could have been "dummies" and were planted there.
4. Upon arrival of our sales representative and being ushered into the presentation room, we were REQUIRED to turn off our cell phones IN THE PRESENCE OF the representative! HUGE red flag! We also could not use the restroom while in the presentation.
5. Our presentation was given by a gentlemen named "Seyi" who was very persuasive (I've seen his name mentioned in other complaints as well). He mentioned the price of $10,000 at the beginning of the presentation, claiming that was the final price and that there was no other hidden costs aside from the yearly renewal fee.
6. During the presentation, they mention that they help "subsidize" costs by paying part of the hotel/condo/cruise booking costs. They also showed slides that indicate the amount of savings one would receive. Each buyer is entitled to "X" amount of fictional vacation dollars to spend towards hotel/cruise/condo reservations ($3,000, for example). When you book a stay, they take money out of this fund, which is replenished yearly.
They DID NOT, however, specifically say HOW MUCH you can take out of this fund AT ANY GIVEN TIME. Seemed very evasive and vague, and I have seen complaints stating that you CANNOT USE THE FULL AMOUNT TOWARDS A SINGLE VACATION STAY. This makes the cost of the condo/hotel/cruise EXACTLY the same as it would be on orbitz, hotels.com, hotwire, etc.
7. During the presentation, they used screenshot slides that were still shots of their website. They DID NOT use the Live Software to show ANYBODY any price on any given destination.
In my experience, any presentation that DOES NOT show live software is HIDING SOMETHING.. I know because I've seen it done in other companies that I've worked with in an entirely unrelated industry. They use the excuse that the presentation would drag on too long past the 60 minutes they had if they used the live software, since everybody would want to see their destination of choice.
8. At first, we were spoken to by our sales representative. When she quickly discovered that we were skeptical, a manager was almost immediately brought in to pressure us more.
We were brought into a private office in the back and after being further skeptics they brought in the "big guns" a.k.a. the presenter/VP manager of the office who gave the presentation. He further pressured us into purchasing the program.
9. The price plummeted. It was $10k originally, then went to $8k, and drastically dropped as low as $2,500 for a budget friendly package. Any product whose price drops this much should have it's legitimacy questioned immediately.
This is not only a shady marketing/sales tactic, but the manager blatantly told us that "nobody else got this same offer that you did..." Yeah right.. that's a blatant lie, as I've seen many other complaints online stating that they too received the exact same drastic price drops and offers, including the "free vacation voucher" that they toss in to try and sweeten the pot.
10. Speaking of private offices, the office we entered was very "sterile" and BARE! If this is in fact a legitimate business, and the resting place of this company, wouldn't there be personal effects in there? No pictures on the wall or on the desk, just a bare desk with a keyboard and monitor. I'm guessing this is so they can get out of there quickly if another DBA name change is needed.
Also, when we went back to cancel 2 days later, the return private office we spoke in was also bare and had no personal effects.
11. We decided to buy just to get out of there. After paying (with our credit card) and leaving, the anxiety and panic sunk in. We started thinking logically and wondered what disastrous thing we had done.
Sure enough, not a lot of legitimate complaints exist out there for Just Dreams yet. It seems that's the case because this name is fairly new, so not a lot of places exhibit legit complaints yet.
12. 7 day cancellation policy, but it's obvious you wont get your key code to access the software for AT LEAST 7 days. This is another HUGE red flag, and they will manipulate it and "talk" around it all day long, claiming that the filing process takes several days to activate your account and gather your keycode.
This is ridiculous. I sign up for programs online frequently, and there is no such process to go through to get an activated account. You can register online for any number of discount hotel/flight/car rental programs (hotwire, orbitz, etc.) and your account is activated almost IMMEDIATELY, giving you the right to utilize their services right away. This is the 21st century after all.
13. After deciding to cancel, we went in on Monday morning to the office to cancel. We were taken into another private office (which, as mentioned above, was also bare), and we were given a huge retention push. It was obvious that he was trying to retain us as a customer and get us to keep the program, but we were determined to cancel.
14. After trying to cancel, the manager continued to follow us outside and asked us questions about why we cancelled, etc. It seemed like he wanted to hear legitimate feedback, so I was inclined to give it to him.
Every time I mentioned one of these red flags, the guy simply evaded the real question at hand and gave us vague and manipulative answers. The manager would simply NOT give me a decent straight forward answer.
If this company was legitimate, wouldn't they gladly be receptive to positive critical feedback? Many, MANY other individuals have posted complaints and have mentioned MANY of the same red flags that I've mentioned above, yet he talked his way out of every single one of them.
15. When asked, the manager said he DID NOT HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS. Who in this day and age of business does NOT have a direct email address?
After that, I asked him for a business card. He handed me a card which was simply a generic business card for Just Dreams, and did not have a direct number for him or his name anywhere on it. Yet another red flag.
I argued for a good hour or so, after which we finally discovered it wasn't worth it to keep arguing and we left. The guy sure did try hard to make us feel bad about cancelling though, but in the end I'm incredibly glad it didn't work.
Avoid this place like the plague. Our 4-5 hours of wasted time on our Hawaii vacation wasn't anywhere worth the $160 or so in free gifts that we received. If I see credit card charges come across for this company I will go to war with them and do anything in my power to get it back.
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