Have my parents been scammed by Princess Promotions?

[LRCruzr]

Princess Promotions Package....A Good Deal...IF you use all the given discounts.We got the package $7499.00

We are doing a 16 day Transatlantic and PreCruise 2 Days. Our Total Cost also included One Way Premium Economy for 2 and we Booked a Deluxe Premium Cabin and ALL Premium Packages.

No.1 All your Cruise Credits will be credited to your CRUISE.For us $6281.00 credited towards your Cruise Price.  Leaving us

$6000 + to finish paying. SO..$7499 + $6000+$900 Insurance+$128 Transfers + $230 Fees We got $950 On Board Credit. This was ALL Credited towards Excursions. We used the PreCruise Voucher Credits to Stay at the Heathrow Hilton Cost..

$135.00..Would be $430.92 Savings $305.00.

Now you have Hotel Credits and 7 day hotel Voucher. BUT the 7 Days is NOT Free..Just Discounted !!So we will use it to go to Pigeon Forge..Dollywood.7 Day stay in 1 BR Condo..Cost $1232.

Savings $107.00. Theoretically I still have a Post Cruise Voucher,

Realistic Value $300 and Hotel Credits Value again Realistically $200.Promotions counts on you NOT using all Benefits. The 7 Day Hotel Premiere Package is how you save. But the Choices are Limited.Mexico, Hawaii, Some USA Choices.

When I worked out ALL Benefits used..You would be on the PLUS Side of $1100. All in all would we DO IT AGAIN??? NO !!!

Hope this Helps!!!

 

[TRLD]

9 hours ago, PastryPal said:

My dad called Princess Promotions again today. The woman said that she could see that he had already called on Monday and that no one had returned his call. As the first rep had said earlier in the week, she said that their service standard (if that's the right word?) is 48 hours. 🤨 She said that she would check if there was a manager available to speak to him right away and put him on hold. Well, surprise, surprise, there was no one available. My dad told her that he was going to keep calling back until it was resolved. 

 

I'll post an update if he ever manages to speak to someone in a position of authority. They're closed on weekends so, if he doesn't hear from them tomorrow, then we're looking at next week. As someone earlier in this thread said, I won't hold my breath.

 

If anyone is reading this thread in the future and is considering one of Princess Promotions' packages, just know that this is the service that you'll receive once they've hoodwinked you out of your money. 

Something else to try. In addition to contacting through Princess, might try contacting Open Network Exchange directly. Might bypass some of the road blocks. Email describing the circumstances sent to both Princess and ONE senior management with list of carbon copy recipients might get a response.

[Georgeny]

So sad to see that these corporation owned cruise lines continue down the path of being the consumers. The old FCC system by Princess was great. Pay $100 each now get that back in OBC have low deposit etc. If not used in two years automatically refunded. Also bough this on a Princess cruise. Now just another scam that Princess uses vendor BS to claim innocence.

 

Reminds me of hospitals now. Last page of discharge instructions told me nearly that NO ONE, not Doctors, Nurses, technicians were an employee of the hospital. Bury everyone in a ton of loopholes.

 

Went to Bookstore that had a Starbucks in it. Tried to use a Starbucks gift card. Sorry we are not really Starbucks just a Starbucks entity so can't use gift card.

 

Again sad that cruise lines are resorting more to this BS. Yes many functions on ship have always been vendor, spa, jewelry, casino, and now apparently cruise sales. Personally we have cut back our cruising to one a year down from 4 or 5. Cruising becomes less " enchanting " every day. Next cruise is 14 day re-position Brooklyn to FLL on Enchantment in November. Our first return to Princess, perhaps our last we shall see.

 

George in NY - former cruisaholic

[memoak]

1 hour ago, Georgeny said:

So sad to see that these corporation owned cruise lines continue down the path of being the consumers. The old FCC system by Princess was great. Pay $100 each now get that back in OBC have low deposit etc. If not used in two years automatically refunded. Also bough this on a Princess cruise. Now just another scam that Princess uses vendor BS to claim innocence.

 

Reminds me of hospitals now. Last page of discharge instructions told me nearly that NO ONE, not Doctors, Nurses, technicians were an employee of the hospital. Bury everyone in a ton of loopholes.

 

Went to Bookstore that had a Starbucks in it. Tried to use a Starbucks gift card. Sorry we are not really Starbucks just a Starbucks entity so can't use gift card.

 

Again sad that cruise lines are resorting more to this BS. Yes many functions on ship have always been vendor, spa, jewelry, casino, and now apparently cruise sales. Personally we have cut back our cruising to one a year down from 4 or 5. Cruising becomes less " enchanting " every day. Next cruise is 14 day re-position Brooklyn to FLL on Enchantment in November. Our first return to Princess, perhaps our last we shall see.

 

George in NY - former cruisaholic

What you are referring to is FCD. Future Cruise Deposit. You don’t need to get them from Future cruise your CVP can handle them. $100 takes care of your deposit and you get OBC based on length of cruise. They are good for 1year now after purchase or if not used you get your money back. Still a great program 

[MacMadame]

3 hours ago, Georgeny said:

Went to Bookstore that had a Starbucks in it. Tried to use a Starbucks gift card. Sorry we are not really Starbucks just a Starbucks entity so can't use gift card.

That happens at airports and hotels too. I hate it.

[ontheweb]

52 minutes ago, MacMadame said:

That happens at airports and hotels too. I hate it.

Not only Starbucks, I remember going to a Subway in a gas station and they would not accept Subway coupons.

[JF - retired RRT]

2 hours ago, memoak said:

What you are referring to is FCD. Future Cruise Deposit. You don’t need to get them from Future cruise your CVP can handle them. $100 takes care of your deposit and you get OBC based on length of cruise. They are good for 1year now after purchase or if not used you get your money back. Still a great program 

It would be a lot easier to use the app to order FCDs than to contact your CVP and hope he/she reads your email or voicemail before your cruise ends.

[memoak]

13 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said:

It would be a lot easier to use the app to order FCDs than to contact your CVP and hope he/she reads your email or voicemail before your cruise ends.

My CVP always gets back to me in 24 hours during working days

[Ombud]

2 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

It would be a lot easier to use the app to order FCDs than to contact your CVP and hope he/she reads your email or voicemail before your cruise ends.

And I still check online to make sure the purchase went through 

[TheMichael]

On 5/11/2024 at 7:28 AM, Georgeny said:

Went to Bookstore that had a Starbucks in it. Tried to use a Starbucks gift card. Sorry we are not really Starbucks just a Starbucks entity so can't use gift card.

 

Starbucks in specific has actually worked to change that (one of the positive things they've done - don't get me started on how they kneecapped their loyalty program). It used to be that I couldn't use a Starbucks card at an airport or grocery store or Vegas casino, but now they all take it and can even redeem rewards. 

 

And as said, the Princess FCD program is still great. Last cruise, we bought ours on the TV in our stateroom. 😀

[ontheweb]

@PastryPal it is now past the weekend, have your parents been contacted by Princess Promotions?

[Shelly97060]

@PastryPal   thank you for taking the time to tell about your parent’s experience. It could keep someone else from having to deal with the same issue.

[PastryPal]

An update! 

 

My dad called again yesterday (Monday), spoke to a rep, got the same story about the issue being escalated etc., etc. But, lo and behold, later in the day, he was able to speak to someone higher up the food chain! The man was very nice, very sympathetic, wanted to know exactly what happened. My dad spoke to him for nearly an hour. My dad explained that he never saw any paperwork or anything that detailed the various packages, and that, to this day, he's not sure what he allegedly purchased, etc., etc. The man said that he had never heard of anything like this happening before. He said that, as has been mentioned here, there was generally a 7 day cancellation period, but a situation like this would override that. I guess that he isn't able to authorize refunds himself because he said something like "we have to resolve this for you", but that he would call back today.

 

Another phone call from him today. . . He apologized, said it never should have happened and that my dad would see a refund on his credit card within 7 days!

 

Very relieved. I thought they were going to be difficult about it - say that my parents must have realized that they were purchasing something when they handed over their credit card etc. My dad said that it was quite the opposite.

 

The only other thing that I might have expected is some sort of explanation of what they think happened. It was a busy night at the FCD, another couple before or after parents had purchased the package and the paperwork was mixed up? Whatever. Something.   

 

So that's, hopefully, it all now resolved, but I think my parents will be staying away from the FCD for a while. 😬

 

(To be clear, the phone calls were to/with Princess Promotions (aka O.N.E.) not Princess itself!)

Edited May 15 by PastryPal

[lorri111]

On 5/6/2024 at 9:14 AM, SCX22 said:

If you ever go to Future Cruise, you should always preface you conversation with "I'm not interested in the Princess Promotions Packages."  These packages are now a hard sell by the ONE staff because if they don't make their quotas, they don't get paid.  The old blood didn't realize this when they accepted this position and many are trying to leave.  The newbies are ruthless. 

 

Wish the US's consumer laws were as strong as Australia's and New Zealand's because Princess Promotions are banned from selling these packages to residents of these countries and these packages aren't even offered on cruises in these regions.

 

O.N.E. staff are looking for their next victim.  Future Cruise still has a short list of some pretty good deals if you can make them work into you schedule.  Other than that, the only thing worth your time is purchasing FCDs and even that can be done through the App, bypassing Future Cruise all together.

Yes, have never come across this on cruise here in Australia.

[cr8tiv1]

@PastryPal Thank you so much for returning to your thread with updates.  I am so relieved to hear that your parents will be refunded.  Now waiting for you to tell us that this nightmare is over and that credit card has been refunded.  Once you/they “see” the credit…

…be sure to print or screen shot

…then call credit card to dispute charge so that your parents don’t have to pay the balance if the credit falls after the closing date.

 

This was an excellent thread to warn passengers of the “dangers” of Princess Promotions.  I do realize some may find this a fantastic deal.  

[ontheweb]

6 hours ago, PastryPal said:

An update! 

 

My dad called again yesterday (Monday), spoke to a rep, got the same story about the issue being escalated etc., etc. But, lo and behold, later in the day, he was able to speak to someone higher up the food chain! The man was very nice, very sympathetic, wanted to know exactly what happened. My dad spoke to him for nearly an hour. My dad explained that he never saw any paperwork or anything that detailed the various packages, and that, to this day, he's not sure what he allegedly purchased, etc., etc. The man said that he had never heard of anything like this happening before. He said that, as has been mentioned here, there was generally a 7 day cancellation period, but a situation like this would override that. I guess that he isn't able to authorize refunds himself because he said something like "we have to resolve this for you", but that he would call back today.

 

Another phone call from him today. . . He apologized, said it never should have happened and that my dad would see a refund on his credit card within 7 days!

 

Very relieved. I thought they were going to be difficult about it - say that my parents must have realized that they were purchasing something when they handed over their credit card etc. My dad said that it was quite the opposite.

 

The only other thing that I might have expected is some sort of explanation of what they think happened. It was a busy night at the FCD, another couple before or after parents had purchased the package and the paperwork was mixed up? Whatever. Something.   

 

So that's, hopefully, it all now resolved, but I think my parents will be staying away from the FCD for a while. 😬

 

(To be clear, the phone calls were to/with Princess Promotions (aka O.N.E.) not Princess itself!)

Thank you for letting us all know how this finally ended. Glad it worked out, though it never shold have happened in the first place.

[puppycanducruise]

Thanks for the update, I'm glad it worked out.

It's a great warning for others.

[Lady Arwen]

So happy and relieved for you and your family!  Persistence pays off and your dad did remarkably well.  Congratulations!

[JordanF]

I'm glad it worked out (assuming the credit comes through).  The cynic in me wonders if this is the way they handle it after someone has persisted the way your dad did, after all of the less persistent have given up?  But either way--way to go!

[PastryPal]

Celebrated too soon . . . 

 

My dad noticed that the $6000 in FCC had disappeared from his Princess account so he thought everything had been processed and that he would see a refund on his credit card.   

 

Still no refund and, today, they were charged a further $250 USD! And, for the first time, they received an email from Princess Promotions. It was to thank them for their monthly installment. 

 

My dad called Princess Promotions again. He says the rep who answers the phone there now knows him because he keeps calling. The rep confirmed that the plan/package was cancelled two days ago (the day after my dad last spoke to them.) However, for some reason, the payment for the monthly installment still went through. The nice guy who was able to help my dad earlier in the week is now on vacation, of course. The rep is going to send that guy an email and it's not clear if there's someone else there who can fix it or my dad has to wait for this guy to get back from his vacation. 

 

Even if the refund for the first charge ($3000) does come through in the next couple of days - they said that it would take up to 7 days - my dad is going to have chase after them for a refund of the $250.

 

Persistence is going to be the key.

 

[hamrag]

6 hours ago, PastryPal said:

Celebrated too soon . . . 

 

My dad noticed that the $6000 in FCC had disappeared from his Princess account so he thought everything had been processed and that he would see a refund on his credit card.   

 

Still no refund and, today, they were charged a further $250 USD! 

 

With regard to the refund, you said he was advised 3 days ago that it would be credited to his card within 7 (work) days, no surprise it hasn't yet hit!

 

Re the further charge, these payments are set up for processing days in advance. With the timeline you provided, it would have been impossible to cancel and therefore no surprise this charge has been taken.

 

Don't misunderstand my post, I have huge sympathy for the predicament your parents find themselves and it's outrageous. Just trying to be factual with regards to how refunding and monthly payments play out! 😉

Edited May 18 by hamrag

[ontheweb]

8 hours ago, PastryPal said:

Celebrated too soon . . . 

 

My dad noticed that the $6000 in FCC had disappeared from his Princess account so he thought everything had been processed and that he would see a refund on his credit card.   

 

Still no refund and, today, they were charged a further $250 USD! And, for the first time, they received an email from Princess Promotions. It was to thank them for their monthly installment. 

 

My dad called Princess Promotions again. He says the rep who answers the phone there now knows him because he keeps calling. The rep confirmed that the plan/package was cancelled two days ago (the day after my dad last spoke to them.) However, for some reason, the payment for the monthly installment still went through. The nice guy who was able to help my dad earlier in the week is now on vacation, of course. The rep is going to send that guy an email and it's not clear if there's someone else there who can fix it or my dad has to wait for this guy to get back from his vacation. 

 

Even if the refund for the first charge ($3000) does come through in the next couple of days - they said that it would take up to 7 days - my dad is going to have chase after them for a refund of the $250.

 

Persistence is going to be the key.

 

Have them inform their credit card company not to accept any charges from Princess Promotions.

[DCThunder]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

Have them inform their credit card company not to accept any charges from Princess Promotions.

Couldn't they also tell the credit card company the card had been "compromised" and have a new one issued with a new number/CVV code.

[Crown Cruiser]

I keep reading posts about purchasing FCCs on the app.  Just to confirm:  we do still need to be onboard in order to do this?  I checked the app at home but can't find anyway to purchase.

[DCThunder]

5 minutes ago, Crown Cruiser said:

I keep reading posts about purchasing FCCs on the app.  Just to confirm:  we do still need to be onboard in order to do this?  I checked the app at home but can't find anyway to purchase.

Future Cruise Deposits are only sold on the ships.