Thursday, January 8, 2009
Telephone solicitation
I recieved a call offering 4 days/3nights Orlando vacation by W.C.C.
I received a Customer Receipt & Activation form that I am asked to
sign and FAX to 407-660-9974. The Customer Service number listed is
800-430-8353. When I placed these numbers in a Google search, I got
no information whereas most telephone numbers will give one some
information. If I sign and FAX the document, my credit card will be
charged for $356.00. I do not want to sign the document until I know
what W.C.C. stands for and what business I am dealing with.Hello nmnative
After one or two failed searches, I found the phone and fax numbers
you gave in the database of the Central Florida Better Business
Bureau.
They give the name of the company with these numbers as "International
Marketing & Research" but say it has "an unsatisfactory record".
There are at least two addresses for them:
International Marketing & Research
2700 Westhall Lane Suite 110
Maitland, FL 32751
(407) 660-9974
International Marketing & Research
5098 Neptune Rd
St Cloud, FL 34769
(407) 660-9974
Of customer experience with this company they say:
"Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with
the Bureau due to unanswered complaint(s). The file contains a pattern
of consumer complaints concerning the company's failure to advise
consumers of the additional charges and all complaints request a
refund of monies paid."
Apparently, they offer a 4 day/3 night vacation package for $149 but
do not include "travel to and from your destination, hotel the night
before and after the cruise, taxes, port fees, food and other normal
expenses associated with a vacation."
This is the contact the BBB gives for the company:
Principal: John Repede, President
Local Phone Number: (407) 660-9330
Fax Number: (407) 540-9577
But they have at least another six telephone numbers including the
800-430-8353 number they gave you:
http://www.orlando.bbb.org/nis/newsearch2.asp?ID=1&strBCode=07330000&ComID=0733000024000393&ComName=International+Marketing+%26+Research
If by any chance that link does not work, you can repeat the search I
made by starting at:
http://www.orlando.bbb.org/nis/default.asp?strTheForm=2&strBCode=07330000&strOldURL=/SearchRep.asp
Click on the button next to "phone number" and enter the 407 fax
number you have, then click on "search". When you see the listings for
International Marketing & Research, clicking on the company name will
take you to the page where I found the information above.
The BBB also says:
"In a recent review of the Florida Department of State, Corporation
Division, the Bureau developed that [...] International Marketing and
Research, Inc. corporation status has been revoked due to the
company's failure to file an annual report as required by State
law.[...] the Bureau suggest you ascertain the exact name of the
company offering you the vacation and check that company out before
accepting the offer or giving any money. "
Although there are several names given for companies associated with
International Marketing & Research, W.C.C. is not recognized either by
the Orlando Better Business Bureau or the national BBB.
On the Ripoff Report website I found comments on one of the other
company names the BBB gives in connection with the International
Marketing & Research people:
Corporate Travel
http://www.ripoffreport.com/view.asp?id=51360
In 2001 International Marketing & Research of Maitland, FL were in
legal trouble in connection with violating the Telephone Consumer
Protection Act:
http://www.junkfax.org/fax/reference/other_cases/covington.doc
I'm glad you didn't send them your card number without finding out
more and I hope this information will be helpful.
Please don't hesitate to ask if I can clarify anything, or if you have
any queries about the links included in the answer.
Regards - Leli
Searches:
Like you, I found the phone numbers didn't appear even in a reverse
phone number search, so I checked the location of the 407 area code
and went to the relevant Better Business Bureau:
Orlando Better Business Bureau home page:
http://www.orlando.bbb.org/
Also checked the National BBB, the Ripoff Reports site and google,
including google groups, for WCC - but this does not seem to be known
(yet?).Thank-you very much, nmnative. Your feedback and tip are much appreciated.
I'm so glad you found the answer helpful.
LeliThis is EXACTLY the information for which I was searching!#If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.# |
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Posted by cfz |