Beware of Sharks that feed off Holiday Makers

[lordia]

Beware of Sharks that feed off Holiday Makers
WE WERE CONNED IN FLORIDA BY

Camera Express Inc
7544 West Irlo Bronson Hwy 192, Kissimmee
FL 34747 Ph 407-421-6680.





Our family from Dublin Ireland arrived in Orlando Florida for a dream holiday for 2 weeks on 16th Feb. 2004. Everyone in Orlando was friendly and welcoming but this all changed when we purchased a camera from Camera Express Inc.



The salesman and assistants lied about the camera and accessories (we have a 2 page fax of details to our credit card company – see separate page). More seriously they also blatantly OVER charged sales tax of $300 on a supposed $900 purchase (the camera and accessories were only worth half that around $450 - we were overcharged by double on the equipment as well!!) having us sign a credit card docket for $1200. In Ireland we are used to 21% VAT Value Added Tax in Ireland and we did not query the Sales Tax at point of sale as we were told we would get $175 tax back at the airport!! (A lie!) We were not given an itemized sales docket with tax added but just a total figure saying tax incl. In fact the merchant had added a whopping 30% and we discovered later that Sales Tax in Florida is only one third what it is in Ireland
I put all the detail on a website
http://homepage.eircom.net/~finamco...0web%20site.htm (http://homepage.eircom.net/~finamco/Publisher%20Orlando%20web%20site.htm)

[Scottes]

Please list this story at http://www.reselleratings.com

[tommykjensen]

Sorry to hear that. Sure will look out when I go there. If I buy something over there it will only be items I have researched price on in advance.

[jkderby]

Might contact the Attorney Generals office in Florida.

[lordia]

Thanks all
Will try and publicise the scam - at least get it off my chest.
Just want others to know and not fall into the same trap.
regards

[Belmondo]

lordia:

I'm really sorry you had such a bad experience during your visit. Hopefully you will draw enough attention to these people that someone will bring some pressure to bear.

I moved your thread into Talk About Photography in hopes that more people will see it.

Best of luck to you.


Tom

[mbze430]

Wow I just read through your website. sorry to hear that. I don't know if Florida has any law regarding returns, but in California, its illegal not to refund a merchandise when one is requested.

Best of luck.

[Monito]

Florida values its reputation for treating tourists well and showing them a good time, so I think the Government of Florida would be interested to hear from you. Definitely contact the Attorney General for the State of Florida. (Google is your friend.) This camera store probably thinks they are smart and probably have done that many times. Your complaint alone might be sufficient to get action against them or it might be the one that tips the balance. Overcharging tax is very illegal.

[johnnybfan]

As an american citizen I can't imagine someone doing this to you. I apologise for this happening in my country. I hope that the Florida Attorney General's office comes through for you. I am sure that if I went on vacation anywhere in the world that something like this would ruin my vacation. It's a shame
that it happened. Please don't hold it against us. For every one person like these will tarnish the reputation of all of us. Go Jeb Bush - hang these idiots their by their "nads" 'til they repay you

[jimsolt]

Beware of Sharks that feed off Holiday Makers
WE WERE CONNED IN FLORIDA BY. . .

From the Florida Government Web site:

"The Florida Attorney General’s hotline helps victims of any type of fraud or unfair trade practices get the assistance they need; toll-Free 1-866-966-7226."

Good luck
Jim

[Clark]

If they over charged for the taxes also, I'm sure the states Revenue service will be interested in this, as I'm sure they didn't report that extra tax money to them.

[Pyromaniac]

I'm sure that they probably didn't report any of the over charges to any one but they're pocket. I'd agree with everyone else, write letters of complaint to the store and attorney general.