Great Time Vacations has a long history w/ the Better Business Bureau. They may also be listed under different names, as they've had at least THREE names in the past 4yrs since I've known them: Wholesale Connection Company in 2004, Absolute Reservations in 2006, and now Great Time Vacations since 2008. After my shady dealings w/ them and reading about other people's complaints, it's no surprise to me why the company would have to change their name so regularly.
My experience with them is that that they lack professionalism, and will only accept responsibility for service/refund issues after being threatened w/ legal action or a report of their behavior to the Better Business Bureau.
When I first booked w/ them, I redeemed a "Disney" vacation w/ them that included a resort located 2miles away from Disneyworld in FL. I got written confirmation for my hotel stay. However, I took a plane from NJ to my "pre-selected" FL hotel to learn that the hotel was FULL and that someone failed to reserve a room for me! It was a holiday wkend and every other hotel I called in the area was booked, so I was momentarily stranded in essence. I was lucky to find one nearby (unlisted) hotel w/ an available room; wound up paying out of pocket for my stay (an expense that was supposed to be covered from my initial payments to Great Time Vacations, then known as Absolute Reservations). During this process, all of the managers I corresponded with in person at the hotel and at Great Time Vacations tried their best to avoid me and refused to accept responsibility for the incident and my due refund. I eventually located and wrote the president of the company, threatening legal action and a report of their behavior to the BBB before I received my due refund w/ a letter of apology, a process that took about 6 months.
If you feel strongly about your experiences w/ Great Time Vacations, it would be wise to look them up on and report them to the BBB (visit: bbb.com). The BBB site will list their corporate headquarters, so you don't have to deal w/ their every-changing staff or their tendencies to pass the buck (meaning give you endless referrals to the "next person") on you.
Here's a direct link to their profile under BBB:
http://centralflorida.bbb.org/codbrep.html?wlcl=y&id=222411824
If that doesn't work, try looking them up under: Great Time Vacations, zip code 32752.
OR
Look under one of their previous names: Wholesale Connection Company or Absolute Reservations. You'll find their history and corporate contact information as well.
From what I've seen, they have a high number of complaints, w/ the majority of them unresolved.
Below is an informative note of advice regarding from The Better Business Bureau regarding Great Time Vacations and similar "solicitors" for vacation packages.
"Vacation certificates offer a trip to one or more popular vacation sites at very low prices, which usually include accommodations but not transportation. The certificate may be good for a maximum of 18 months under Florida law.
Companies offering vacation certificates do so through various means. The company might contact you directly by mail or telephone. You might be persuaded by newspaper advertisements, internet pop-ups or a notice received in the mail to initiate the contact by calling the company.
In many cases, when the company contacts you, it will tell you that you've been "selected to receive" a vacation. However, you will be required to pay taxes and/or port charges. Certain "black out" days may not be available and a registration fee may also be required. The company may not disclose this information to you initially.
The company will want you to charge the fee to your credit card immediately, or will ask you for your checking account number so they can debit your account. Typically, the business will request payment at the point of sale. The BBB advises consumers to be wary of any seller of travel who tells you that you must make up you mind about purchasing during the call.
Once you agree to the "purchase, " you will have a period of time to use the vacation, subject to availability. Sometimes though, when you call to arrange your trip, the dates you desire will not be available, and the company will offer to �upgrade� you to a more expensive vacation that is available.
In some cases, travelers have found the accommodations and facilities provided through these certificates to be below standard and unacceptable.
30-day Cancellation Period - Vacation Certificates ONLY
Florida law gives the consumer some protection in the matter of cancellations, by providing that a contract for a vacation certificate may be canceled in writing within 30 days of purchase or receipt of the vacation certificate. The consumer may also cancel if the accommodations and facilities are not available as provided in the contract.
(It a travel package is not a vacation certificate the consumer is required to choose a date for travel, at the time of purchase and the consumer must be informed that it is non-refundable before making any payment or signing a contract. This type of travel package is considered �date certain, � therefore, is not subject to the 30-day (vacation certificate) cancellation policy and is generally non-refundable.
Keep in mind with regard to cancellations: the entire amount involved is refundable. Unethical sellers of travel may offer to refund all but a certain amount, but they are required to refund the full amount paid to the seller of travel, if the consumer cancels the vacation package, in writing and returns the vacation package, within 30 days of purchase or receipt of the vacation package.
If you decide to keep the certificate and take the trip, don't leave home without confirming all your hotel accomodations personally.
As a matter of policy, the BBB does not endorse any product, service or business.
BBB Reliability Reports are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. Information in this BBB Reliability Report is believed reliable, but not guaranteed as to accuracy.
BBB Reliability Reports generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Reliability Reports are subject to change at any time.
If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted the BBB for a BBB Reliability Report.
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Report as of: 8/12/2009 7:32 PM
© 2009 BBB of Central Florida, Inc."
