Fake hotel scam

[londonbarry]

I booked a holiday for 9 nights at a resort on the Isla Mujeres, Mexico from 21/5 through to the 29/5 on the website www.inndulgecancun.com. I paid over $2000 to the company via Paypal on 21/2. I had various emails confirming my reservation and arranging to collect us from Cancun airport. I also spoke to a guy called Oscar on the phone. Just before we went I discovered that the company's website was down. I telephoned the number he gave me in the emails. I spoke to a guy called Charles. He said that the website had been hacked into and that my reservation was still confirmed and that everything was ok. When we arrived in Cancun on the 21/5 there was no one to meet us at the airport. I phoned the number again but this time there was no response. We then made our own way to the address he gave me in the emails. We disovered that there was no such resort on the island. We went to a local hotel in the same street and they had never heard of the resort. We then had to then find alternative accomodation. I have made a complaint to Paypal, but they say they cannot do anything as I made the payment more that 45 days ago, despite the fact that I have only just got back from Mexico. Please be warned that you are not protected by paypal in the case of paying for travel that is more that 45 days in advance, as it will then be outside of the complaint limit policy. Does anyone know what I can do to try to get my money back or get compensation?

[Oneeyedvic]

I suspect that Paypal should be liable. If they are not being helpful, try going to the FSA (Financial Services Authority) who are the regulators involved.

Did you also use a credit card using paypal? If so, they may be laible. Bit murky I'm afraid.

[annacwood]

Hopefully the telephone numbers you used to contact them can be traced back to the scamsters.  If this is a wider fraud (if more people are effected) Trading Standards or even the police may get involved and may even be able to trace an address by finding out where the emails are picked up.  I suggest you contact the police (most constabularies have a "non-emergency" contact number) and and find out where to go from there.  Or you could start with the Citizens' Advice Bureau.  You may not get your money back ever, but there would be the satisfaction of nailing the horrid little thieves and also of saving other people from the same problem.  (Hardly a comfort now, I know, but if you don't do something, you'll never know if you COULD have recovered SOME money!)  Good luck!

[GucciGal]

Sorry I haven't got any advice for you but wanted to say what a complete bunch of bas*rads those people were. I sincerely hope they get what's coming to them.

[londonbarry]

Thanks everyone for your words of support. I'm not very hopeful of getting anything back, but I have reported it to the trading standards, who have advised me that I should go back to paypal and find out exactly what my rights are as I only spoke to a customer service employee who may not know my full rights under these circumstances. He said he wasn't saying that they were wrong, but I need to make sure. Also, the website now has a banner that advises to contact the Washington State dept. of consumer affairs, which he said to file a complaint with. Other than that, I suppose I'll just have to put it down to experience. Anyway, thanks again,

[annacwood]

Sorry to hear that it doesn't sound like you'll have much joy.  I hope they get sued from here to Kingdom Come.  I also hope that your next holiday will be far more enjoyable and stress free!  Sounds like you deserve a good break! :-)

[julieb23]

Surely there is a clear breach of contract here?  They have advertised a holiday, you have offered a payment and they have accepted it.  There is due consideration given and a clear intention to create legal realtions = legally binding contract?  They should be liable to pay damages surely.