LekiaHall
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2006
- Messages
- 388
I thought I'd post my experience with VS that left a bad taste in my mouth. While I feel it's important to recognize everyone can have a different experience with a company, it's always nice to know the good with the "bad" when making your vacation plans.
-I booked a stay with VS in Dec 2011 (for a Dec 2012 trip).
-In late August, I cancelled the reservation (with future plans to book with them for another trip to use my deposit).
-In Dec 2012, I requested a quote for a trip in July 2013.
-I got the canned quote response with the price.
-The same day,I expressed my interest and asked to move my deposit to this trip.
-When no response 7 days later, I emailed again and also gave them the payment transaction info from their booking confirmation email.
-That day, I received an email asking when I'd made my cancellation.
-Two days later (on vacation), I responded that I didn't know the exact date, but told them earlier in the year. I asked if there was a problem with the transfer.
-The same day, I was told that there was no problem, the transfer would be moved and I would receive my confirmation.
-After 4 days of no confirmation, I emailed asking about the status.
-After 10 more days of no response, I emailed again.
-Today, I emailed and mentioned Disboards and what do you know..I got a response.
The lady called. Don't know her name, but she talks super fast. Bottom line: the dates are no longer available. And any other dates would cut into another planned trip or result in higher fees that were no less than a $200 increase.
When I inquired about a refund, I was initially told no. When I referenced the email about the transfer being no problem, receiving a confirmation, etc, I was told date availability changes (I agree) and they couldn't refund. While this makes sense on the surface, one would imagine that you would not tell a customer that the booking was no problem if, in fact, it is a problem.
Then the woman proceeds to say that most folks who pay a deposit actually plan to go on their trip and my cancellation indicates that maybe I was a bit "flaky" about the past trip and the upcoming one. Needless to say, I was insulted. When I voiced my complaint, she did apologize and say she would send me my refund so that I wouldn't go away not feeling good about their company.
So, while I am being refunded, I honestly believe if I weren't a member of Disboards (where they hold their reputation sacred), I would be SOL and/or would be forced to book a trip I didn't want just to use the deposit. The woman claims they called me "many times" to straighten this out, but I have no voicemails from their company and one would think if you couldn't get ahold of someone by phone, send them an email. Especially if they keep sending you emails.
Bottom line: I won't ever use them again. And if you do, make sure you don't have to cancel because transferring the deposit is not as easy as it seems. If they had not taken so long to confirm my cancellation and/or had simply held the dates until they could confirm the switch, I would not have missed out on my dates. I also find it kind of hard to believe that their availability is so limited for a trip that doesn't happen for another 7 months and the only units open would cost me more than my original trip (with them not offering to take the hit for the "miscommunication").
-I booked a stay with VS in Dec 2011 (for a Dec 2012 trip).
-In late August, I cancelled the reservation (with future plans to book with them for another trip to use my deposit).
-In Dec 2012, I requested a quote for a trip in July 2013.
-I got the canned quote response with the price.
-The same day,I expressed my interest and asked to move my deposit to this trip.
-When no response 7 days later, I emailed again and also gave them the payment transaction info from their booking confirmation email.
-That day, I received an email asking when I'd made my cancellation.
-Two days later (on vacation), I responded that I didn't know the exact date, but told them earlier in the year. I asked if there was a problem with the transfer.
-The same day, I was told that there was no problem, the transfer would be moved and I would receive my confirmation.
-After 4 days of no confirmation, I emailed asking about the status.
-After 10 more days of no response, I emailed again.
-Today, I emailed and mentioned Disboards and what do you know..I got a response.
The lady called. Don't know her name, but she talks super fast. Bottom line: the dates are no longer available. And any other dates would cut into another planned trip or result in higher fees that were no less than a $200 increase.
When I inquired about a refund, I was initially told no. When I referenced the email about the transfer being no problem, receiving a confirmation, etc, I was told date availability changes (I agree) and they couldn't refund. While this makes sense on the surface, one would imagine that you would not tell a customer that the booking was no problem if, in fact, it is a problem.
Then the woman proceeds to say that most folks who pay a deposit actually plan to go on their trip and my cancellation indicates that maybe I was a bit "flaky" about the past trip and the upcoming one. Needless to say, I was insulted. When I voiced my complaint, she did apologize and say she would send me my refund so that I wouldn't go away not feeling good about their company.
So, while I am being refunded, I honestly believe if I weren't a member of Disboards (where they hold their reputation sacred), I would be SOL and/or would be forced to book a trip I didn't want just to use the deposit. The woman claims they called me "many times" to straighten this out, but I have no voicemails from their company and one would think if you couldn't get ahold of someone by phone, send them an email. Especially if they keep sending you emails.
Bottom line: I won't ever use them again. And if you do, make sure you don't have to cancel because transferring the deposit is not as easy as it seems. If they had not taken so long to confirm my cancellation and/or had simply held the dates until they could confirm the switch, I would not have missed out on my dates. I also find it kind of hard to believe that their availability is so limited for a trip that doesn't happen for another 7 months and the only units open would cost me more than my original trip (with them not offering to take the hit for the "miscommunication").
