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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by nozkcb
Myself and a group of people got together in 08 and got the local news to do a story on us. After it aired, the dirtbags stopped threatening us. I guess all you need is a news story to be shown that exposes the dirtbags crooks for what they are to a couple of million people,and viola! they back off.
We also retained an attorney in Canada (where they're based) and was ready to file a lawsuit. Thankfully, it didn't come to that.
I say, don't pay and let them try to take you to court. If they don't back down, hire an attorney. I would not however give them a dime.
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May 21 '10
11:38 am PDT
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helping others make a buying decision (Reply to this comment)
by luciyahelan
I appreciate the concern which is been rose. The things need to be sorted out because it is about the individual but it can be with everyone.
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[url="http://www.discountcampertrailers.com.au"]camping tents[/url]
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Apr 29 '10
3:30 am PDT
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by smarter369
Your lawyer is right about the process. That is what we have done - wrote a letter to the collection agency (which is no longer the one that is connected to VB, as far as we know) In fact, I think two collection agencies have been involved. The letter just says exactly what your lawyer said for you to write. We went into a bit more detail and they know that there is a whole huge bunch of us. When we wrote to the Better Business Bureau in Canada, VB even had the nerve to charge us for the letters they had to write to the BBB to defend their actions, which were all lame. The gal at BBB hadn't heard of such behavior from a company and told VB so. VB took the charges off. something like $100.00 a letter, what a joke. After the BBB said they couldn't do anything more, VB put additional charges on the next statement. We haven't heard from VB again - they sent it all to an outside collection agency, which we ignored after sending them a letter about VB's practices. We haven't heard from collection agency's in writing for ages. Sometimes we receive calls from whoever, they don't identify themselves - and state that it is from an account such and such and to please call a certain number, but we don't. It is a recording ....... So this too shall pass. my email address -
bonnie406@myfamily.com
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Feb 13 '10
2:19 pm PST
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by berta1066
I spoke again to my lawyer yesterday and was told to simply tell the collection agency that I am disputing the account and then draft them a letter stating as such. The collections agency said that you need the lawyer to do that, but they are full of it. My lawyer said that you can do it yourself, so I will. They have to leave you alone after that. I am seeing my lawyer soon ( I am off of work on a medical issue and cannot do it now) and am bringing in all of the correspondance they have sent me. She says that the interest rates are criminal and an indictable offence in Canada, and I may just take them to court over all of the crap they have put me through over the years. Give me your email address if you want to and I will give you all of the details when I get a chance to go. I would post it but you never know who is reading this and I don't want them to have the heads up yet. I'll keep you posted.
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Feb 12 '10
3:21 am PST
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by smarter369
Don't offer them any amount of money. That is like saying they are right. They should not receive a penny. Just ignore them. Most of are doing just that and that is that and it is what it is. They are what they are, looking for fish in the pond that will pay to get rid of them, but that doesn't work. The gal at VB said they will never go away. Paying them is no guarantee they will disappear and leave you alone. Just wait for the lawyer to tell you. TV a few years back interviewed a bunch of us. No collection agency has ventured to collect after that. Outside collection agencies who know who VB is, are sick of them........
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Feb 11 '10
5:53 am PST
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by berta1066
Well aren't you living up to your name!!!! Thanks, I never would have thought to go through these to see if that was a real person. I just did and I can't find a posting from them before anywhere. It's good that VB is monitoring this so they know that we hate them for what they are doing to us. how can anyone work for a company that does nothing but scam people? I have been looking through this and other sites on the internet about companies that have ripped people off through timeshares and I wonder how these kind of companies can operate. The government regulates companies for so many things- competition, interest rates etc. but no-one seems to really regulate these kinds of companies to ensure that we are getting what we paid for. As members, do we not deserve to have financials? How can they not disclose to us the state of the business when we are all "owners"? If they are going to be increasing fees for maintenance on the units we own, then why do I not get a business report outlining what they are charging us for? Why do the companies buy more properties without our consent? If they buy more, we end up with increased maintenance fees for their upkeep. Has anyone checked into the boards that these people might have to answer to? Travel & tourism? I am interested to find out if they can actually change contracts and impose fines and fees as they see fit....my lawyer will be calling today and that is exactly what I am going to find out. I have no intention of paying anymore to these people and simply want out. I have no idea what the outstanding amount they have charged me is for....but I can say for sure that it is not for anything I contracted to pay for. The collection agent was a joke- I asked her if she knew what I was being charged for and she said no- I said to her that they could tell her that it was for $15000 and she wouldn't know if it was real or not, and she said yes. Vacation brokers has now been outed on another site and I amhoping to find more victims there- I have never found even one person who would back them up as being a legitimate operator. If vacation broker's is watching this- I'll give you $1000 to leave me alone for the rest of my life-I think that is fair since you have gouged me for 20 years for your crappy properties on top of the $5000 I spent to become a victim of your fraud ( interest of course) and I hope that you would be willing to offer anyone else here a fair deal to leave them alone as well....must really suck to be such a leech and have people wish that they had never heard of you...the internet is not a good thing for you and your dealings. The internet has not been good for timeshare companies on the whole, because now everyone can be made aware of the way these people operate and we can be unified. let's find a way to shut these people down....
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Feb 11 '10
3:09 am PST
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by smarter369
I read back through some of the messages, and we wonder, if the one that says they paid the 1,500.00 and suggests that everyone just bites the bullet and pays, is in fact a person from VB. Anyone can write on this site. Well, I am here to tell ya that all that we feel about these crooks should be taken seriously. Follow your hearts and keep your hard earned money in your pocket. So far, we haven't heard of anyone being taken to court. This whole thing is idiotic. I don't think the collection agency who got in touch with us was from VB, but I do know that they are fed up with VB as much as we are. Keep your money to yourselves..............
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Feb 10 '10
7:41 am PST
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by berta1066
Hey Maddie;
Did you receive a letter from the credit bureau before you cancelled your memembership? I have been told that the contract that they have been interpreting their way is not valid, at least not in the way that they are choosing to interpret it, and that I shouldn't pay until they agree to come to an understanding regarding my fees and my liability. Every time I try to talk to Vacation brokers I am hit with the same stone wall, so I stopped paying. They will not stop applying charge after charge on the balance that I do not really owe, and now the balance of the account is over $3000. I told the credit bureau that I am not going to pay.... is this another branch of their own collections... bullying you into paying. They have done this to me for years and I am fed up with paying them. I told the woman that they are going to have to take me to court. Have they ever taken anyone before? From what I gather from the correspondance listed, no one has. The whole contract is bull sh** and they know it. I am thinking that I am going to take the same course of action as you....how did you get them to agree? How much was your balance? What do you think guys? Pay and get rid of them for good, or put up with their annual rants and collections?
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Feb 09 '10
2:34 pm PST
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by eileen10101
Pretty well said..!!!!!
Eileen..
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Dec 23 '09
10:21 pm PST
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by maddy11
Cancelled, I talked to Mary at vacation brokers and agreed on a $1500 cdn payment and cancelled my contract. I just received receipt of the cancellation notice. It might not be what everyone wants to do. When you consider the shape of the buildings,the special assessments that are bound to be assessed due to the economy and the number of people not paying. I think it would be wise to bite the bullet and be done once and for all. Chaulk it up to an expensive lesson never to be repeated again.
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Dec 23 '09
2:52 pm PST
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by triscole
I would like to know what is going on with Kymbo. I have been stuck paying them since 2003. I want to stop payment. I've never used it. I had a lawyer look at it during my divorce but she didn't know what to do with it. All I have is the book of resorts and every year they send me maintenance fee forms. I'm interested in any legal action going on with them. I just want out. They dodge me everytime I ask about selling it. At this point I'd give it away just to get out!!
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Dec 07 '09
10:18 am PST
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sick of being scammed (Reply to this comment)
by triscole
I too was scammed by Kymbo and vacation brokers in 2003. I've never used it I have payed money to Ridings Financial and yet the money I supposedly owe them is three times the amt I started out with. I have looked into selling options but always get a run around . I want out but not sure what to do. should I stop paying is this truley a scam that I've poured all my hard earned money into. This wasn't even my idea. My ex wanted to get involved NOW I'm stuck with it. PLEASE help any ifo would be great. They continue to take money out every month.
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Dec 07 '09
10:05 am PST
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by phoenix8585
I have recently recieved the same information regarding collections and credit bureau. I have lost so much interet in this company and just refuse to pay them that I have forgotten WHY i am not paying them in the first place. This has been an ongoing issue for the last 4 years. They stopped sending me correspondences well over a year ago, now they are looking for payment ... screw that! So the collection agency's are not backing there claims? What is this letter that everyone is talkig about? can someone send it to me? chadmadill@hotmail.com, I moved and they havn't found my new address yet and I have recieved nothing. I am IN on any action against these scam artists.
Mary Chandler is the one that is in charge of collections and becoming a pain in my a**. These guys dont have a hope in hell of getting any money out of me. Good Luck with the collections! Ridiculous that companies like this are allowed to operate. I will check back soon.
Cheers
Chad
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Oct 11 '09
7:47 am PDT
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by va241262
We are located in Toronto. VB breached our original contract unilaterally and we stopped paying them advising we'll resume when they start honouring the contract again. The fee-over-fee charges and interest are illegal, the collection agencies are reluctant to collect on their behalf. Keep us posted, we'll join any legal action you undertake.
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Aug 09 '09
10:32 am PDT
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by smarter369
wow, We paid our $1,700.00 for the trial membership - were told we would "never" have maintenance fees. Paid $600.oo or maybe a bit less for admin fees to begin with and was told there would "never" be more and that we were paid up since we were only trial members. We used the services (went to Orlando area) once and it was not convenient to Disney so that was a waste. And then went to Ontario once, but that was due to having a dieing relative and wanted to take that person on a trip, and it was fine - but after that there was no where that V.B. had to offer us that interested us. They said we would be able to go on cruises pay for one and the other go free but that was a lie. Anyway, you have more invested and more to loose.
Plus yes, the interest charges are insane. We went to BBB and V.B charged us on their statement to us for letters they had to write BBB. Unbelieveable, and BBB never heard of such a practice so slapped them on the hand and told them to delete the charges, but next statement there were more. Yeah, I think whatever you feel best for you to do, do it! Keep us posted. There are a slew of us connected now.
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Aug 08 '09
8:26 am PDT
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by berta1066
What about being able to use the services that we paid for? I don't know about you, but I have paid $5,000 plus tons of wasted interest over the years and now, with my account in arrears, I can't even use the services anymore. If I continue to fight them though, even if I win, could I ever trust them to send me somewhere again?Probably would be to my demise anyway....The places we can go for the amounts that they are charging me vs. the places that they send me for the amounts I end up paying.... no comparison. It's too bad to lose all of that money. You may be right but I intend to look into the legal alternative to see if I could perhaps get the ball rolling for the rest. I will keep you updated since I already have things in motion.As I said, the interest that they are charging on the accounts is actually a crime....I'd like to stop that for myself and everyone else. I also have a good credit rating...the credit bureaus do listen and I am sure they have heard lots about these scam companies.
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Aug 07 '09
4:54 am PDT
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by smarter369
For us, this is the third collection agency trying to collect. Each agency seems to get fed up with V.B. and then we don't hear again till the account is sent to another agency and then another. Meanwhile our credit rating, which is way up there as great, hasn't been affected at all. Paying a lawyer to fight something that shouldn't have been created by V.B. in the first place is a waste of money since US lawyers don't know canadian law or since V.B. is interpreting the contract the way they want. No one is paying V.B. that I know of and I am not sure what one of the commenters meant when they said that V.B. is its own collection agency. hmmmmmmm
but they are sending the accounts to agencies. We have gotten telephone messages lately and now it will turn into a letter I am sure. Wasting their time. Let them pay fees to take us to court. I am not sure that they can get us over the border. Our Attorney General is so fed up with them. Amazingly, idiotic. Takes all kinds to make up society. Paying them a penny just acknowledges that they are in the right.
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Aug 06 '09
2:53 pm PDT
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by va241262
Vacation Brokers gave my file to a collection agency without any warning. All fee-over-fee charges are illegal, especially when they have breached the contract with us and we are not using their services because of this. I explained everything to the agency and backed up my case with all the correspondence with VB. The agency is currently reviewing VB, will get back to me with next steps.
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Aug 06 '09
7:26 am PDT
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Re: Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by berta1066
So you got the letter too? I received a letter telling me that they are going to send my account to the credit bureau for collection if i don't make a payment soon. A payment for what? The bill is for over $1,000 and most of it is for a fee I don't owe them and a pile of interest on top of that. I am sick and tired of paying them just because they are threatening and bullying me. It has been years and enough is enough. I am seeing my lawyer soon and am going to fight it this time. The police (who I called about the interest charges they have imposed on my account-they are criminal, no pun intended) told me that I have to pursue it in civil court first, then they can begin to look into their interest charges. It's funny, the cop I spoke to actually owned a timeshare and told me he had never heard of a biennial client being charged every year for maintenance fees and thought it was ridiculous as well. He told me to fight it and I am going to. I will post what I can when I can. Maybe vacation brokers thinks that it's not worth it for me to fight $300 every other year. It is now. No more bullying. Anyone know of anyone wanting to buy a timeshare.....real cheap......
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Aug 05 '09
7:09 am PDT
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Re: Re: Any Problems as of late (Reply to this comment)
by smarter369
It has been over a year and a collection agency is now calling again. They will get the same letter we have been sending all the rest. Just a bunch of bull dust. Vacation Brokers should be taken to court once in for all. All of those vacation high pressure scam artists should be put out of business. People are better off doing their own thing. Our contractual responsibilities were taken care of when we paid in full and no additional fees were to be charged ever, since we were only trial members. So to interpret the contract the way they want to get extra money is what they did and they can interpret in whatever way they want. In this day of down economy - they all should be ashamed of themselves. What a bunch of jerks, and we don't have any money to throw away to them.
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Aug 04 '09
11:03 am PDT
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Re: Any Problems as of late? (Reply to this comment)
by foyutoo
John Teskey should be held accountable for unethical practices as Vacation Brokers is only a front for feeding business to his Ridings Financial and Kymbro collection agency interests. We’re also receiving letters from a Michigan-based collection outfit, and yes, it will not end until someone is able to teach Tesky a lesson. They are nothing short of border-runners using Canadian law to shield their dirty work. REMEMBER – John Teskey is not VB… HE IS THE COLLECTION AGENCY!
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Jul 29 '09
11:19 am PDT
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Any Problems as of late? (Reply to this comment)
by angry2
Anything happening with Vacation Brokers lately? Seems Tesky is laying low for a while eh?
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Jan 05 '09
5:39 am PST
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What about trendsetters? (Reply to this comment)
by berta1066
WOW! for years I have been suffering alone. I am in the same sort of situation as you guys are, but not with Kymbo, with a membership that was "tranferred" from trendsetters int.I bought my timeshare 20 years ago, then it was bought out by vacation brokers. I have been fighting them for years about firstly, the promissory note, then the maintenance fees. I "own" a biennial, every other year, and was to pay maintenance fees every other year. Vacation brokers came along and started billing me every year, that's double the payments, then began increasing the amounts every year. I was young and stupid, and after a small resistance each and every year, and with an annual call to the company reminding them that I was only to pay every other year, I would receive an annual invoice for fees. I have been sent to a collection agency last year, and even though I have used the services (only 4 times in 20 years) none of the harassment has ever ceased. They have never produced any document that states that I am required to pay every year-they just say that I have to. When I told them that I was only to pay every other year under the trendsetters arrangement they stated that was why they went out of business.???When they finally received nothing from me but nasty e-mails and no payment, they sent me my original contract with them, wherein it states that i am only obligated to pay "anually or as required". I was only required every other year. Apparently, they read the contract differently than I.It is not only the US citizens that have problems and I have contacted the better business bureau as well.We all fell victim to a fast sales pitch. No doubt about that. There are laws and we must fight using whatever we have available to us. I have never seen a lawyer because the fee exceeded the amount that I actually owed VBII. They have recently taken to adding a new fee for late payments on to the already generous charges that they have-2% per month- which is 24% per annum, and their 5% outstanding per month, which is 60% per annum, then $25 per month is now levied as well. That is illegal.ALL ON MONEY i DON'T REALLY OWE THEM. How about that. Trying to sell now, but that is dangerous too. Lots of ripoffs out there with that too. Everybody go to the BBB to revoke their accreditation. They'll have to do something with us then. I have to go and see a lawyer now. I am not going to give up until they refund every cent of late payment charges. i will pay EVERY OTHER YEAR. I am an honest person and will pay what I agreeed to. They should try it, less headaches in the long run for them.
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Sep 30 '08
8:33 am PDT
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Re: Re: Re: GROUP OF KYMBO HATERS (Reply to this comment)
by jms440809
I wrote several responses over 2 to 3 years ago when Citibank refunded every penny of my money to the tune of $5,900.00 review my previous responses at jms440809. Good luck, our original group contacted CH 7, never heard from anyone believe it was Ruth to the Rescue may have been CH 4 I was duped by Roark Vacation in Branson, MO has anyone had contact with these rip off artist I believe they may also be linked to Kymbo & all the others. They agreed only give me half of my $4,700, even though like Kymbo we never got the free trip or any other trip or any benefits. So I am still dealing with Sears & Citibank who are now in cahoots on all these scams. Good luck to all of you & God bless. Hope this was helpful. Oh I got my justice with Kymbo through the help of Planet Feedback.com a very good "free complaint" site. They also have free tel. #1-888-333-3222 8-5 est. Last time I called so ck this out. Again, good luck
jms440809
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Aug 23 '08
8:00 pm PDT
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Re: Re: Also scammed by Vacation Brokers / Kymbo (Reply to this comment)
by milo1gus
CHARKAR88 AND DRACR1124
Our group will be filing a lawsuit against Vacation Brokers and John Teskey. The more people that get involved the less it will cost each of us. Contact me for more information.
SSCIANDRA@HEIGHTSINC.COM
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Aug 22 '08
4:29 am PDT
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Re: Re: Also scammed by Vacation Brokers / Kymbo (Reply to this comment)
by milo1gus
for more information contact Sal at ssciandra@heightsinc.com. would like to talk to you
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Aug 21 '08
6:07 pm PDT
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Re: Also scammed by Vacation Brokers / Kymbo (Reply to this comment)
by charkar88
We were scammed too!
My husband and I were scammed by this company in 2001. We had no idea what we were getting into and have not received any service from the company. We tried to cancel quickly but were told that we could not because the transaction took place in Canada. At first, we tried to make payments to fulfill our obligation, but then, we began hearing about Kymbo, Vacation Brokers and lawsuits. We were even sent letters and told not to pay Vacation Brokers. Now it is 2008 and we are receiving collection notices from an agency in Michigan. Does anyone know where this will end? We have recently moved out of Michigan and missed the WXYZ report. What was the outcome of the investigation? We would love to know.
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Aug 11 '08
3:23 am PDT
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Also scammed by Vacation Brokers / Kymbo (Reply to this comment)
by dracr1124
I am also being hounded by Vacation Brokers after being scammed by Kymbo International into purchasing a "trial membership" that I was supposedly able to cancel anytime within the first year. Almost immediately, I began receiving accusatory letters from both VB and KI -- each saying that the other company was crooked. Since these letters were frightening and there had been news stories at that time about groups being stranded in foreign countries by vacation companies and about travel agents taking money and then disappearing, I decided to cut my losses and cancelled the TRIAL membership immediately. I even paid the first year's "dues" -- thinking they wouldn't be able to say I owed them anything. I NEVER went anywhere or used any of the vouchers for a free cruise or hotels, etc. Several years later, I began getting threatening notices that I owed Vacation Brokers dues for the years after I cancelled and now I have been contacted by a collection agency saying I owe thousands of dollars.
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Aug 07 '08
7:57 pm PDT
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Channel7/WXYZ wants to hear from you about Vacation Brokers (Reply to this comment)
by angiebru
My meeting with my lawyer went o.k.
She is writing a letter to the collection agency.
She said not to worry about it but I am still concerned. I'm kind of thinking a letter isn't going to clear it up just by the crazy things I've been hearing vacation brokers do. I'll definetly let you know what happens.
Good luck!
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Jul 28 '08
2:39 pm PDT
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Channel7/WXYZ wants to hear from you about Vacation Brokers (Reply to this comment)
by milo1gus
Angiebru: Contact me. I'm part of the group that helped to expose Vacation Brokers on TV-7 Detroit. There is something you can do about the collection agency without going to an attorney. In addtion, the VB contracts are based on Canadian law which makes a U.S. attorney useless unless he/she is licensed to pratice in Canada. We however have a Canadian attorney ready to file for us and the more the merrier as regards reducing the legal fee's we each have to pay. Can't say anymore without tipping our hand to "the enemy". Respond to
milo1gus@yahoo.com for more information
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Jul 25 '08
4:39 pm PDT
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