Divine Getaways

Hi Ken, I created a facebook page for comments, can you add them there?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Divine-Getaways-Devine-Getaways/144691262272929

Thanks Ken, Valerie

valeriec124 wrote:

Hi Ken, I created a facebook page for comments, can you add them there?

Sorry, but no....

Call me "old fashioned", but I NEVER view (or in any other way participate in) Facebook. I also don't "tweet", "toot", "text" or "IM".

I understand what the person is sayin about slander and libel but please, who is gonna pay for the legal fees in that nightmare? I say if anyone can't fight for what's wrong and what's right in a cival manner, then, yes... Hold your tounge!

Anywho... I gave these rip off artists til June 10th to send me my arrangements that I paid 85.00 for. I had a group of 10 other people waiting on my decision. Can you believe I got it in the mail on June 11th! I already knew at that time I was scammed and went ahead and made my travel arrangments ON THE 10th

This outfit wanted an extra $50 in the mail before I got anything! Shame on you the first time ... Shame on Me the second. They did email me back and said "send our package back and we'll mail your money" I sent the package certified so I could get a signature. It's 7/8/2011.... and still no money!!!! I keep emailing them, asking "where is my money, you stole money from me and I want it back"

I think I have high blood pressure over this! The principle of it that is.... How can people do this????

I'll keep y'all posted

Hahahah no tweets and no facebook huh? I think Facebook is one large SPY!!! I may sign up for this cause ... These people need to be stopped!!! If this message is screwed up looking it's because I'm typing on a iPhone and I'm not use to it yet ... Sorry

Franci

Hi Francis, I actually spoke to the CEO of Eagles Choice today and he's going to push thru the cruise and eliminate the fees that I would have had to pay to all the 3 different companies to get the cruise. I still think it's a scan until I have the cruise tickets in my hand. I started a Facebook page under "Divine Getaways" and told the CEO, Curtis that I would continue to slander their name until I get my refund or my cruise documents. I refuse to pay these activation fees and jump thru hoops for anyone. Please post your comments to:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Divine-Getaways-aka-Paradise-Escape-Celebrity-Productions/144691262272929

That site won't get deleted until they refund the money due to others and myself included.

Thank you, Valerie Facebook creator for Divine Getaways. SF Calif

Ken. Please stop posting things here if you won't voice your scam with this company.....go toot yourself !

valeriec124 wrote:

Please stop posting things here if you won't voice your scam with this company.....go toot yourself !

VOLUNTEERING to be scammed does NOT make you a "victim". On the contrary, it was a CHOICE you made (albeit a very poor choice), and it's one which again reinforces an earlier stated observation --- you clearly just aren't too bright to begin with!

Ok now... That'll be enough! I see both points of view! I'm just wound up that scam artists still try to make a living by doing this. It's stealing and they should go to jail! period! This group is very manipulative and convincing .. It's a art! I, of all people, know a scam when I smell one. This scam was Oder free and I'm still pissed I fell for it!!!

Valerie, if I decide to open a Facebook account I will sign up to your page you have listed. Did you ref. this website/forum? There's 6 pages of conversation going in here that could be useful to the next victim!

Thank you

The only way to legally see that the scam artists are put out of business is to file a complaint with the attorney general in the state the scammers are located. You can all ban together with individual complaints that will certainly catch the eye of the attorney general of that state.

I think we should all call ' 7 on your side ' the television station that investigates big time rip off con artists like this.. we are too little individually to do anything... so report this to your local TV station...

meanwhile they are breeding in different states , and ripping off more and more people... gosh don't any of you smell a rat ?

i figured this out when i went to the presentation when they presented their paperwork with no letter heads, no signs, no coffee, no water, very unprofessional attitudes.. and when you call them they answer 'HELLO' ?...lol too funny

Discount travel clubs Usually a bad idea. If your travel club is asking for more than a few dollars for membership, they are probably scamming you. They will offer a discounted menu of trips (of course it is discounted — they said so didn’t they?), only available to members. For this membership, you get the privilege of booking the trip, probably a substandard product and a newsletter. They get your money plus the commission paid by the travel supplier. It’s a great asset to anyone’s cash flow. Travel clubs should be geared towards social engagement and any dues or membership paid should be reasonable and cover only the true costs.

FIRST HAND KNOW ITS A SCAM

My husband and I purchased this "Dive Getaways deal" in Gettysburg, PA on March 9, 2011. I just attempted to go online to "mydivinegetaways.com to reserve something for a vacation we are taking early Otcober. The website is NOT exsisting!!! They have messed with the wrong person! I will be going to the US Banking Industry and through my credit card company for my $$$ back. I will send the binder back as I should have known it was all too good to be true!! Now our son in law just got a timeshare direct with one of the major companies they "LIST" as being their "partners" and he is very happy. They have used it twice this Summer. I can not even get on a website to book anything!!! RIP OFF in the first degree. And they say Guana is bad!!! This is in the great USA!

loisb96 wrote:

...purchased this "Divine Getaways deal" in Gettysburg, PA on March 9, 2011..... I will be going to the US Banking Industry and through my credit card company for my $$$ back....

Hi Lois B, If you need some contact phone numbers, I can provide them but I don't want to put them out there just yet. Email me @ VLC1031@GMAIL.COM and I'll provide them and the guys name who I spoke to. Thanks Valerie

loisb96 wrote:

My husband and I purchased this "Dive Getaways deal" in Gettysburg, PA on March 9, 2011. I just attempted to go online to "mydivinegetaways.com to reserve something for a vacation we are taking early Otcober. The website is NOT exsisting!!! They have messed with the wrong person! I will be going to the US Banking Industry and through my credit card company for my $$$ back. I will send the binder back as I should have known it was all too good to be true!! Now our son in law just got a timeshare direct with one of the major companies they "LIST" as being their "partners" and he is very happy. They have used it twice this Summer. I can not even get on a website to book anything!!! RIP OFF in the first degree. And they say Guana is bad!!! This is in the great USA!

DIVINE GETAWAYS - they are also associated with EAGLES CHOICE and FUN TIME VACATIONS. They say you get a "free" cruise, but then they ask for money for activation fees and then send you vouchers and request more fees. They don't return calls at all and are unprofessional and rude. Contact the BBB to file a complaint. Do research with their names and you'll find same info for all!

Update on my posting. I just found out this news clip. Check it out: http://www.wbaltv.com/r/28009988/detail.html. Its about Divine Getaways "free" cruise offer. Exactly the same post card I got in the mail! It's definitely a S C A M !

My husband and I were stupid enough to do one of these seminars on Wed night in Bethlehem PA at the Best Western. Same deal, package for $8995. Totally scam.... I knew it as soon as I met these guys. Why do these hotels even let them book space for these presentations? I knew the cruise and airfare would be a ripoff. they must be traveling the country.

Hi suzannel101, I also went to their SCAM seminar....the big tall fat man named "Grady" I have a nic-name for him..."Shady Grady". I finally got my money back after calling them and being persistant and telling them I'm calling the local police...If you feel you've been taken advantage of, call the BBB and your local Police station, if we all do this, that will put them out of business and they'll have to pay hefty fines. If none of us turned them in, we'd be letting them walk all over us...don't let this happen to any of us....Post this information to your tweeter or facebook page so that others won't be scammed either.

On August 5, 2011, I file formal complaints with the Attorney Generals of the States of California, Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia and the U.S. Postal Service Investigations-Fraud unit against Divine Getaways, Reservations Services International, Celebrity Productions LLC, Passport To Travel, Fun Time Vacations, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Carnival Cruise Corporation.

The formal investigation were sought to identify what appears to be a joint conspiracy and fraud perpetrated by these entities with regards to the business practices of conducting vacation membership clubs and which appear to be a scam. I alleged that each of these entities played a specific role in the perpetration of the scam which has resulted in tens of thousands of purchasers paying tens of millions of dollars for services and products which these entities after signing agreements have failed to fulfill. I sought an investigation for the purpose of having the States take specific actions resulting in injunctions against these entities from conducting such business practices and to further pursue legal complaints against these entities as individuals and companies, as applicable.

In March 2011, I received a complimentary promotion card sent to me in a mass mailing through the U.S. Mail in Southern California. It invited me to a promotion presentation of Divine Getaways, a vacation membership club business. Apparently, they had set up a permanent office in one of the local hotel banquet rooms and were using a private drop-off post office box as the business address.

The promotional card provided that the entities sending the card were Carnival Cruise Corporation and US Airways. It provided that a “Complimentary 8-Day/7-Night Cruise for 2 with an outside cabin, leaving from any major port in the U.S.” had been awarded to me as a complimentary gift by simply calling a toll free telephone number and attending a presentation whether or not I purchased the vacation membership club package. The card also indicated “This is not a timeshare or land sale offer”. The promotional card had the official logo of Carnival Cruise Corporation and US Airways imprinted on it and a picture of a Carnival ship.

I returned a telephone call and was advised that this required me to participate in a 90-minute presentation conducted by Divine Getaways. Before attended the presentation, I investigated as to whether or not this company was a reputable vacation membership club business and travel seller authorized to transaction business in the State of California. I contacted the State of California Office of the Attorney General and was advised that Divine Getaways was registered with the State (Registration #2104377) and that the registration expired March 14, 2012.

I recently called the 800 number on the promotional card and was advised that the same program had relocated from its original location and was now being offered under the name “Package Vacation” at a different hotel.

On March 16, 2011, I attended the 90-minute presentation. During the presentation it was represented that Divine Getaways was the legal representative and affiliated with Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Corporation, and Reservation Services International. The vacation membership club was offered at a one-time $8,995.00 membership fee and an annual fee of $149.00, and contained certain terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions. Based on the presentation, representations and negotiations of the terms and conditions, I purchased the membership package for $2,995.00 and paid the first year’s annual fee of $149.00. After signing all of the documents, I was provided with the “certificate” that would allow me to receive the complimentary and “free” cruise.

In order to receive the free cruise, I was required to mail in a “cruise certification card” to Celebrity Productions LLC in Woodbridge Virginia with a fee of $98.00 payable to Celebrity Productions LLC as the “Vacation Activation” fee. The certificate provided “Upon receipt a reservation forms would be provided within 15-days. The certificate also stated “When you receive your reservation form, you will be responsible to pay your taxes, all services charges, fuel charges, additional security fees due to 911, which will range from $179 to 259 per person, depending on the destination”. The signed certificate and $98.00 was mailed on March 19, 2011 to Celebrity Production LLC. The certificate indicated that the cruise would be on a major cruise line such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Norwegian Cruises.

In addition, a second certificate for two round trip airfares was sent to Celebrity Production LLC with a required fee of $70.00. This certificate also had a provision that stated “When you travel you will be responsible to pay your taxes, all service charges, fuel surcharges, additional security and surcharges due to 911 which may range between $50.00 to $65.00 per person”.

I then received from another company, Fun Time Vacation located in Clarksburg Maryland, a "vacation voucher” card which set forth the “Cruise Vacation Details”. In addition, to the card stating the details of the vacations and cruises, it had the logos of Carnival Cruise Corporation, Royal Caribbean, Caribbean Cruise Line and Discover Cruise Lines printed on the card. It was represented that Fun Time Vacation was a legal arm of these companies. Further, the card indicated that in order to register for the free cruise, the vacation voucher had to be registered and that “Travelers are responsible for $29.00 registration fee, government taxes, and cruise fees starting at $59.00 and up depending on length of the vacation. A small fuel charge may apply during peak season”. It also stated "There is a $50.00 per person processing fee require by Carnival/Royal Caribbean cruises only”. Finally, the voucher stated “Celebrity Productions LLC (stamped on the voucher) is not responsible for the fulfillment of these reservations. Fulfillment is the sole responsibility of Fun Time Vacation”.

In order to receive the reservation, on March 13, 2011 a credit card charge of $58.00 and on March 19, 2011 a credit card charge of $100 was processed by Fun Time Vacation in order to receive the reservation.

On or about April 22, 2011, I received a U.S. Mail certified envelop that contained the “Registration Validation Form” as a brochure from Passport To Travel located in Tamp, Florida, now a third company in the process as I was trying to secure the free trip. It provided that the Registration Validation Form be completed and mailed to Passport To Travel with a fee of $75.00 as the “cruise deposit”, and that the participating sponsor was Fun Time Vacation. The Registration Validation Form was issued on April 26, 2011.

At this point, it appeared that in addition to Divine Getaways receiving the initial vacation membership club fees, that three separate and distinct companies, Celebrity Productions LLC, Fun Time Vacations, and Passport To Travel had intervened and had sought and received fees for the processing of three different documents to simply get to the point of being able to make a reservation. I had already spent $326.00 ($98.00 to Celebrity Productions, $70.00 to Celebrity Productions, $100.00 to Fun Tim Vacation and $58.00 to Fun Time Vacation). I chose to pay no further fees to Passport To Travel. After considerable chaos, emails going back and forth, and the threat of litigation, I requested refunds of the prior amounts. On April 13, 2011, I received a refund from Fun Time Vacations in the amount of $58.00. On April 22, 2011, I revived a refund from Fun Time Vacation in the amount of $100.00. On May 13, 2011, I received a refund from Celebrity Productions LLC in the amount of $98.00 and then $70.00. I never received a refund from Divine Getaways or any of the services which were provided for in the Vacation Club Membership I purchased.

Throughout this ordeal that began in March 2011, a Ms. Leslie Lenel, Director of Administration for Divine Getaways had consistently represented in emails and telephone calls that she would resolve this matter and arrange for the cruise reservation. She failed to follow through on any of her commitments.

I now understand that there is a parent entity by the name of Global Holidays, Inc. also involved. Additionally, I have determined that there are other entities involved in this matter including LifeSource Foundation, Inc. and God's Luv International Ministries Church. I have also determined that the lead person involved in the religious and vacation club membership entities is a Pastor Pierre Bennett. Pastor Bennett is the President and founder of LifeSource Foundation, Inc. and is the creator of God’s Luv International Ministry, both of which are non-profit religious institutions that are promoted to be philanthropic and faith based.

In addition to Pastor Pierre Bennett being affiliated with all of these entities, it is shown on the LifeSource Foundation website that Ms. Leslie Lenel is a member of the Board of Directors of LifeSource Foundation, Inc. and the direct contact person for Pastor Bennett and these entities as the Administrative Director of Divine Getaways and the other travel companies. In addition, her husband is a member of the Advisory Board of LifeSource Foundation, Inc.

There are tens of thousands of individuals in States throughout the nation which are victims of the vacation club membership scheme that is being implemented by Pastor Bennett and Ms. Lenel through either LifeSource Foundation, Inc., God’s Luv International Ministry, Global Holidays, Inc. and the various other affiliated entities.

Other companies related to Pastor Bennett include Paradise Escapes, Inc. also doing business as Divine Getaways, Packaged Vacations and Fantasy Vacations, and Package Vacations, LLC, and Global Holidays, Inc. As it becomes publically known what the schemes are that are being offered by these entities, they relocate to other geographic locations to re-establish business activity using the same tactics. They most often establish temporary business offices in hotel conference rooms to conduct their activities and implement their schemes. They avoid establishing permanent business locations where they are conducting their business.

In Johnson County, Olathe, Kansas, the District Attorney in August 2011 filed a temporary restraining order against the vacation companies Paradise Escapes, Inc., also doing business under the names Divine Getaways, Packaged Vacations and Fantasy Vacations. Similar actions are being initiated in other states, while some states have not pursued this due to not having received adequate complaints to date to begin an investigation and not having conducted the required investigations.

I have confirmed that Pastor Bennett is the founder and president of Global Holidays, Inc., a travel and marketing company which is stated to be based in Vienna, Virginia. Global Holidays, Inc. is a corporation formed in the State of Virginia (SCC ID: 06418552) July 22, 2005. Their address is 12020 Sunrise Valley Road, Suite 100, Reston, Virginia 20191.

I have also confirmed that Pastor Bennett is the President and Executive Director of LifeSource Foundation, Inc. which is stated to be based in the State of Virginia (SCC ID: 06310353) and formed February 4, 2005. In addition, God's Luv International Ministries, Inc. was formed by Pastor Bennett in the State of Virginia (SCC ID: 07312200) on December 15, 2010. The principal address of these entities is 2427 Cabots Point Land, Reston, Virginia 20191.

The website for LifeSource Foundation indicates that their contact information is LifeSource Foundation, Inc., 12138 Central Avenue 664, Mitchellville, MD 20721, 703-956-5066, info@lifesourcefoundation.org, Pierre@lifesourcefoundation.org, pierrebennett1@yahoo.com.

The website for God's Luv International Ministries Church indicates that their contact information is Lake Anne Village Center, 1609-A Washington Plaza N., Reston, Virginia 20190, 703-395-1430 godsluvinternationalministries@yahoo.com

Ms. Lenel’s and Divine Getaways contact information is Divine Getaways, 12020 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 100, Reston, Virginia 20191, 703-476-2286 (office), Traderbaby@yahoo.com

On October 3, 2011 I filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service to seek appropriate steps related to these entities seeking civil and criminal remedies.

The actions of these entities are clear evidence that these entities appear to have conspired and conducted fraud resulting in direct damages to me and other.

As one reviews the Internet, it appears that this scam is being conducted all over the United States and that there are hundreds, if not thousands of people that are being misled and taken advantage of. They are continuing to conduct business in California and in the States of Florida, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. without any enforcement of State and Federal laws, rules and regulations. Their conduct is continuing the perpetration of fraudulent business practices on others, thereby causing damages in the tens of millions of dollars.

Dear marshallk12, I received my refund from Divine Getaways, I bugged the heck out of this man until he sent me the refund check. I can't understand why these people are still in business, someone needs to shut them down. Here's the guy I email who sent back the money, Curtis curtislemley@comcast.net date Wed, Aug 24, 2011 at 9:16 AM Re: Eagles Choice Ck #103 183.00 Refund Received! Curtis 571-259-2853

valeriec124 wrote:

Dear marshallk12, I received my refund from Divine Getaways, I bugged the heck out of this man until he sent me the refund check. I can't understand why these people are still in business, someone needs to shut them down. Here's the guy I email who sent back the money, Curtis curtislemley@comcast.net date Wed, Aug 24, 2011 at 9:16 AM Re: Eagles Choice Ck #103 183.00 Refund Received! Curtis 571-259-2853

Kudos to you .... 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I recently ordered some garden plants from an online nursery. They sent the wrong plants. After several weeks of trying to get in touch with them by email and calling (there was never anyone around in customer service), I finally wrote to the owner with my grievance .... I then got a reply by email saying my credit card had been credited.

Go to the top if you have to .... many employees simply ignore complaints.