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CB Travel and Vacations Review of Suntasia Marketing
Suntasia Marketing

Suntasia Marketing review: Gas and travel vouchers are bu****ap! 1

L
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12:00 am EST
Resolved
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The following information is on Suntasia marketing and its promotions. The address where ALL the telemarketing calls originate from is:

Suntasia Marketing
8751 Ulmerton Road
Largo, FL 33771
Tel#: [protected] or 1-800-NEW-TEAM

Website: http://suntasia.com/

Live calls to your house start with the numbers 727-471-#### or 727-683-####. There are 8 rooms which hold 24 agents in each plus a customer service area. You can actually see what Suntasia looks like on the inside by copying and pasting their website address above to your address bar.

The programs and the companies they currently promote are:

Travel Agents Go Direct (may have changed names again)
Distinct Advantage
Freedom Gold
FloridaWay
Prism Communications

Here is a list of programs they use to promote:

Agents Travel Network
Capitol Vacations
Florida Passport
Travel Agency Network
Teliflex Communications
VersaTalk

ALL the companies listed above have an “unsatisfactory” rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Suntasia Marketing's own Better business report has also FINALLY come out and of course it is no surprise they have an "unsatisfactory" rating.

The Florida Attorney General is currently investigating them for unfair and deceptive business practices along with illegal debiting of checking accounts for the second time in 6 years. All you have to do is go to myfloridalegal.com and type in the letters “FTN” in the search box to see the report. They have even hired an outside law firm to help them with this mess. That in itself is saying something.

You can also go to google.com and type “Suntasia Marketing” in the search box to see ALL the sites out there that expose these crooks. There are steps you can take to get your money back but it’s up to you to do it and always be persistent.

The first step you need to take is immediately talk to your bank b/c by law you have sixty days to dispute a charge. Banks are very well aware of these scam artists and can help or work with you to recover the money but you can’t stay sitting at home waiting. The more time that passes the less rights you have to recover any money owed.

TELL THEM IMMEDIATELY BEFORE ANYMORE CHARGES ARE DEBITED. YOUR BANK WILL CLOSE YOUR ACCOUNT AND OPEN UP A NEW ONE.

Many people were charge for months and the bank was able to refund the last few charges that were made by “SCAM-TASIA”. Don’t go by what the recording said b/c there is no SPECIFIC date when your so called “free” trial starts or ends. Let your bank know this or give them a link to this site so they can see for themselves.

Next, write Suntasia a “certified” CEASE and DESIST letter to their lawyer Donald Booth if you don’t care to receive any more solicitations from them. Their corporate address is:

Suntasia Marketing
8751 Ulmerton Road,
Largo, FL 33771

Telephone: [protected]

Let him know that you either didn’t get the package or it arrived late and you want a FULL refund b/c you never had a chance for the “free” trial. Also that you are NOT interested in anything else they have to offer other than a refund b/c of the fact that the agents mis-represented themselves totally.

Also notify him that if he doesn’t comply with your request for the FULL refund you will seek legal action against his company as well as contacting your local media. Trust me they’ve been exposed a lot lately on TV and this is the last thing he needs to hear. If you also contact the Better Business Bureau and file a complaint with them it at least assures you that Suntasia will have to respond. This is another thing they don’t like to do. It forces them to give a response to the BBB and thus give back the money owed.

Third, whether you do or don’t get a response contact your local TV news station anyway. Most news channels in your area have a consumer complaint tip hotline. Go on the net and log on to their site. I know this would be a “juicy” story for them especially during the months of November, February and May b/c of the ratings period. They need uniques stories to get their audiences attention.

Finally, I suggest you file a complaint with your state attorney generals office and in Florida as well letting them know the situation. The more people get involved the better off we will ALL be.

I hope this information helps you.

Update by Look at Yourself
Nov 29, 2006 3:57 pm EST

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA WARNS IT’S STUDENTS ABOUT DISTINCT ADVANTAGE AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROMOTED BY SUNTASIA MARKETING!

The following alert is from the University of Virginia website.

Scams from new sources:

11/15/06 - Be aware of a phone scam. The caller is claiming that the person has won a gift from their financial institution for being a member or customer in good standing.

We know of these calls being placed from the “727? area code. In the past, this group has used the business names of Distinct Advantage, Freedom Gold, and Capital Vacations. Do NOT give your account number, social security number, bank name or any other personal or financial information in response to any unsolicited phone call.

End of Alert.

This is now the 8th alert sent out on this company by different sources in the last few months. Six alerts came from banking institutions while the other two came from the BBB and UVA.

If you want to read the UVA warning yourself, click below.

http://www.wise.virginia.edu/oit/security/scams.html

Update by Look at Yourself
Mar 21, 2007 6:20 am EDT

Natalie, READ my previous posts above. It will tell you exactly how to get your money back. All the info you need is there.

Update by Look at Yourself
Mar 21, 2007 6:22 am EDT

ATTENTION: ANOTHER BANK ALERT ON SUNTASIA MARKETING!

Like I have been saying all along, more and more alerts are being sent out by banks, tv new stations as well as the internet about these crooks.

The alert below was posted recently by Members Plus Credit Union warning it’s customers about Suntasia and it’s umbrella companies like Distinct Advantage, Freedom Gold as well as many others.

Telephone Scam - BEWARE!

Members Plus Credit Union has become aware of a fraud scheme which has targeted some of our members. In this scheme a member is called by a marketing firm and led to believe that MPCU hired this firm. They claim that the member will receive free gifts, but that they need to confirm a bank account number. The caller will read off the bank’s routing number, which is public knowledge, and ask the member to provide the account number. The account number can be used to withdraw funds from the victim’s account.

The calls are usually placed from the “727” area code. In the past, this group has used the business names of Distinct Advantage, Freedom Gold, Capital Vacations, and Suntasia Marketing. Members Plus Credit Union has not hired Distinct Advantage, Suntasia Marketing or any other marketing company to call our customers. You should be very cautious of any free offer made over the telephone. Never give out confidential information such as account numbers, social security numbers or other personal information.

End of Alert.

You can see the MPCU posting for yourself by visiting the site at:

http://www.memberspluscu.org/ASP/whatsnew.asp

Scroll to the bottom and you will see it.

Update by Look at Yourself
Jun 11, 2007 5:14 am EDT

CONSUMER ALERT!

ANOTHER BANK ISSUES A WARNING TO THEIR CUSTOMERS REGARDING SUNTASIA/STRATEGIA MARKETING'S "Travel Agents Direct"!

The following is from the Associated Credit Union website: Don't Take The Bait! Watch For E-mail & Phone Scams!

Current Scams:

A company called Travel Agents Direct calls members to inform them that they've won free hotel and travel vouchers. They know the credit union's routing number and ask for your checking account number to debit you for just enough to cover mailing you the vouchers!

The company gets information from those who may have purchased products from online marketing companies or infomercials, who pass on the personal information to Travel Agents Direct.

End of Alert.

Like I told you many times before, bank alerts are becoming common for Suntasia/Strategia marketing company. If you want to see the alert for yourself click the link below.

http://www.acuonline.org/home/accounts.accounts_alerts

Update by Look at Yourself
Jun 26, 2007 7:07 am EDT

The Florida Attorney Generals Office is conducting an investigation on Suntasia which is now known as "Strategia Marketing". The attorney generals office though is stating on their website that, "The case file cited below relates to a civil -- not a criminal -- investigation. The existence of an investigation does not constitute proof of any violation of law".

Here is the rest of it.

Case Number: L05-3-1172

Subject of investigation:
FTN Promotions, Inc.

Subject's address:
8751 Ulmerton Blvd., Largo, FL 33771

Subject's business:
Inbound/outbound telemarketing sales

Allegation or issue being investigated:

Unfair and deceptive trade practices regarding telemarketing sales and unauthorized debiting of consumer bank and credit accounts.

AG unit handling case:
Economic Crimes Division in Tampa, Florida

If you want to see the information for yourself, just go to the http://myfloridalegal.com and type the letters "FTN" in the search.

Update by Look at Yourself
Jul 18, 2007 4:59 am EDT

THIS IS A BBB NEWS RELEASE ON VARIETY!, A PROGRAM PROMOTED BY STRATEGIA MARKETING (FORMERLY KNOWN AS SUNTASIA) !

Variety's Telemarketing Tactics Deceptive And Questionable
Caller ID Displays [protected], Toll-Free [protected]

Spokane, WA- May 24, 2007 - Variety is targeting our region with telemarketing calls that are raising red flags which include the quoting of sensitive personal info BEFORE you even give it to them!

Variety has the following contact info:

13785 Walsingham Road, Suite 113 , Largo , FL, [protected], phone [protected] (plus a slew of other 800#s), web site: http://www.myvarietyclub.com/

This company has an unsatisfactory record with the West Florida BBB due to a pattern of complaints and has failed to correct the underlying reason for the complaints. Complaints mostly concern sales practice issues.

A regional consumer called to report that she received a call from Variety stating that she was on a "special list" and was "chosen" to receive a variety of coupons and other free offers, but they first required her social security number as well as her check numbers. The consumer refused to give this sensitive information to a cold caller.

The number that showed up on her Caller ID was: [protected].

When the BBB researched this number at: bbb.org we came up with a report for as well as a report for Travel Agents Go Direct with the following contact info:

11125 Park Blvd., Suite 104 - 364, Seminole , FL , [protected] , phone [protected], web site: http://www.travelagentsgodirect.com/

This company has an unsatisfactory record with the West Florida BBB due to failure to respond to one or more complaints and two or more unresolved complaints. However, the business has resolved most complaints presented by the BBB. As of the date of this release, this company has had 259 complaints in the last three-year reporting period. Complaints mostly concern billing, sales and refund issues.

The BBB did further research regarding this number by surfing online, and came up with a variety of blog sites that relayed such things about the [protected] number as:

1. "Called me today on my cell phone and said I am eligible for $100 in gas coupons. They asked to confirm my name and address, and then asked for my bank name and account number. The lady who talked to me called her supervisor, and her supervisor talked to me because I refused to give my bank info. I finally got tired of playing along, and hung up.

2. "I received an enormous amount of calls from Variety to my pre-paid cell phone. They wanted my personal information including my bank account numbers, home address and my SSN."

3. "Told me i earned 100$ in free gas vouchers for good banking account usage. Wanted the bank I used. Wouldn't give it to him. Tried to keep me on the phone and convince me he was trying to verify information. Didn't fall for it and hung up!"

4. "I recieved an obsessive amount of calls on my cell phone from Variety wanting personal information including my bank account numbers, home address and birth city. I urge you all to report this to the FCC at: fccinfo@fcc.gov."

TIPS

1. Gain as much information on the company you are speaking to as possible before you confirm or verify ANY personal info. If the caller hesitates or refuses to answer your questions, promptly end the call by telling them to take you off their list or you will report them to the FTC and hang up.

2. If the calls become harassment, then report them to the FCC, as well.

3. Whenever your personal information is quoted back to you by someone you don't know, hang up ASAP and contact the appropriate bank or credit card company(ies) and report that your personal info was quoted to you by a stranger. Request that no unauthorized charges go through without your permission. Then----

4. Check ALL bank and credit card statements regularly. In fact, make this a habit. If any questionable or unauthorized transactions are present, you can be pro- active ASAP.

5. Check the company out with the BBB FIRST before agreeing to anything via a cold call. If you have an unresolved issue concerning this or other companies, file formal complaints with your local BBB for resolve!

END OF ALERT !

If you want to see the warning for yourself then copy and paste below.

http://www.spokane.net/stay_connecte...aspx?prid=699

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

1 comments
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Natalie V
,
Dec 08, 2006 6:57 am EST

WARNING TO THE PUBLIC: Learn from my experience!

The phone call I received last month from "Florida Way" has made my life extremely complicated and frustrating in the past several days. When they called me, they already knew my account information. I told them I wasn't comfortable giving out that sort of information so instead of me telling them, they told me. Of course, I was skeptical of how they obtained this personal information. Later in the phone call, they transferred me to someone else who spoke very fast. I confirmed that I would not be charged with anything and he responded, "Yes, that is correct." I hung up and figured the telemarketer got her commission for the day by simply mailing me a package, and I was happy to have helped her out.

Less than 2 weeks after the phone call, $149 was withdrawn from my checking account. I knew instantly that it was this strange company that called me with all of my information. I was flabbergasted and upset when I got to the bank and they told me that the transaction was legitimate because they had a voice recording that went like this: "Can I verify your acct # is [protected] (or whatever the # was)?" I responded with an "uhhh"; this was the fourth time they had read out my account number.

I do not understand how it is legal to make a withdrawal from someone's account based on that conversation that they had recorded. Even if I did verify that that was my correct account number, how are they able to automatically withdraw whatever amount of money they desire? I am very confused and still working through this mess that I have been forced into. I guess the lesson I learned is don't stay on the phone with someone even if you are skeptical of how they have such personal information on you?

I am a college student who is already suffering from debt and struggling to get through the holidays with the money I have. This unexpected withdrawal that overdrew my account couldn't have come at a worse time. If anyone could give me any advice or hope on how to get my money back the fastest, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Natalie V