UTO Vacations review: Fraudulent travel offering and cancellation with no refund of deposit 1

Feeling SCAMMED on our 40th Wedding Anniversary

We were supposed to travel for the first time in March 2020. Rescheduled many times due to Covid - not UTO's fault, I understand. Finally, rescheduled this past Nov 22 to go in Nov 23. Called today as wanted to pay off remaining balance and was told that our participation in the trip was cancelled as we did not respond to a Feb 16, 2023 email. They even showed me a fake report on the screen that said the email had been sent to 3,400+ emails and I had opened the email showing my email address — interesting as they had asked me my email when we started the chat). For a trip with a max of 20 travelers seems odd email went to 3,400+. Well no email here and I did a general search of all folders, including SPAM and DELETED). But I do have an email on 1/16 promoting new available trips and another on 2/22 asking me to join a Club. I even received one today with the transcript from my chat.

When I went to pay today it would take my money which is odd since my trip was supposedly already cancelled, even though the screen had nothing to support that statement — I did not pay. Now I have been waiting 5 hours for a 'supervisor' to call me. This was our 40th wedding anniversary trip. It is sad but I think UTO is a SCAM and I am out my $600 deposit. Thankfully, I did not pay the other $900 today. We are experienced travelers and this would have been our 32 country as we travel about 6 weeks each year. Not a novice but I guess goes to show anyone can be SCAMMED.