I paid $4, 566 to join. I cancelled and they offered to reimburse $4, 461 but I got only $2, 000.
This company sells the "right" to go into a website that they claim it has the best vacation package deals of all, starting at $350 US per person per week.
They get contact information from people by asking them to enter a draw for free gas for a year (I don't know if this actually happens, I don't think so), and later on they call them and tell them they won a trip or maybe a plasma TV set (five different possible prices) and that you have to attend with your spouse (or partner) to a presentation, which is similar to what other companies do.
The problem here is that they say anything to get your money, like that they have brokers they guarantee will buy back your right to buy the vacation packages for 3 times the price you pay, and also (and this is the law) they say that if you cancel within 10 days they will give your money back entirely.
I got a "membership" in November 22 of 2006 and cancelled it in November 29, right after I had the chance to check the website to find out that it was no different to any other FREE vacation websites like expedia.com or selloffvacations.com. I had paid $4, 566.72 and when I cancelled they gave me a letter waiving their obligations and mine with each other and saying that they would return $4, 461.86 only within 15 business days. As of today I've been able to recover only $2, 000 by going there two or three times a week. I had a lawyer sent a letter to which they did not reply.
I spoke with a guy named Bill Popella. He promised to solve the problem and asked me to come by the end of the week (second week of April) I went there and what he said was that he had cancer and he had treatment during the week so he couldnt come in and solve the problem. He promised he would have my cheque the following week, but when I showed up someone told me he was not working there anymore.
The following week I spoke with Brian Head (he works for REMAX also, office # 905-456-1000) and told him that if they wanted my money there were some conditions. I gave him a letter (he signed it received) with the conditions of the (forced) loan even though I wouldnt lend them any money but I did not have a choice. Next time I went in they laughed at me for my request and I was told by Nehwish that it was ridiculous and that Fun For Life does not recognize any interests.
I have "saved" a few couples that I have met when I am there, but they changed the schedules for the presentations they do, so when I go in I don't always find new "customers".
Last Saturday June 16, I went in asking for the cheque Pamela Brown there had promised to have for me before the 15th, but they didn't have it. I said I wouldn't leave until they gave me my cheque. Cecil Hendrix was very upset and Joel King called the Police to take me out of the building. The police came and one the officers told me I didnt have much choice and that I would have to wait because I had accepted the first cheque of $1, 000. The incident did not go any further and I left. At least they couldn't have their presentation and around 15 couples didn't leave their money there.
I went back in on Saturday July 14 after I had called and left a message (they usually dont answer the phone) saying I would be picking up my cheque on Friday afternoon or Saturday. Of course the cheque was not there so I told the receptionist I would be outside talking to the people coming in. Cecil Hendrix, Joel King and Brian Head all showed up at the door to see what I was doing. First Brian approached me to tell me that I was not going to get anything this way and that it was easy for Cecil to just put down on the pile of people waiting for their reimbursement. It was worse if I hurt their business which was not very good lately. I told him that it was not only about the money and that I couldnt understand how they would prefer to lose what they make in a presentation (maybe $50, 000) than to give me back my 2, 500. We all would lose if they dont reimburse me.
Then, Joel approached us and started to tell me the many problems they have with the banks and how the Scotia Bank has cancelled their accounts and is holding their money; which was different to what Brian was saying. He showed me a letter from the bank talking about what he was saying, with a cancellation date of August 3. Things are getting more and more difficult for them and I think they will close and leave very soon. At the end they both promised me they would be in contact with me and that as soon as they got their money released from the bank they would give me my money. They never called.
Finally I went to American Express and asked for their help despite that more than 90 days had pass since the time of the transaction. They recovered the money left for me. I am very thankful with American Express. Fun For Life still owe me for the time, interest and aggravation, but I am OK since I was able to save some couples from falling into their trap.
Rodrigo
mississauga, Ontario
Canada
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