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Recently my wife and I become a victims of carefully planned and orchestrated scam by Sunshine promotions, Gold Crown Resorts. We attended on March 26, 2010 the presentation by Sunshine promotion at their location at 901 31st NW Washington, DC
During presentation we were told a lot of wonderful and promising things about the company and were offered to become a member of Gold Crown Resorts .
We sing all application forms and use our credit card for total amount of 5, 593.00.
However, when we come home and search the internet we found out that we were totally mislead and misinformed about the company and the services that they promise to provide.
For example, during the presentation we were told that the company is a member of BBB and that there is no complains or class actions law suit against them. We were also assured that we would save a lot of money on booking air fares and lodging.
All these turns out to be a false statements that were not true. The company is not a member of BBB, there are a lot of complains about their services and moreover, they are under FBI investigation .
We also found out that we could save more if we called and booked either through internet services like Orbits, Expedia etc or booked directly.
In other words, most of the assurances about the company and money saving that we were promised and which were the decisive reasons for us to join Gold Crown Resorts turns out to be false misrepresentation by these con artists.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
FIVE telephone calls with the same corny comments. Continued even after requested to take off call list. Last call I played along to obtain as much info as possible and became outraged when asked for my credit card number to secure a 90 minutes "presentation"
We received two telephone calls stating that we had won one of 4 prizes. These were flights & travel, a $500 gift card, a car or the other I can't remember. They told us there would be no presentation to sit through we just turned up to collect the prize. All we needed to bring was out licsense and credit cards. Being completely cynical about his but curious and willing to have an arguement we arrived at 901 31st St NW Washington DC. Up arrival they asked for our promotion code number and credit card. We said before we give that we want more details. They said that after we sit through a presentation we get a scratch card from which we may win one of the above prizes. That made it open season as far as I was concerned. I begun to walk out but turned back and explained that I don't appreciate being lied to by a bunch of lying c*%ts and how dare they get us here under false pretenses. I said I would be reporting them to Better Business Bureau. The look on the woman's face was fantastic. She just stared in surprise and tried to talk but I kept cutting her off.
Be wary of these people.
Did you get your money back ? Did you try to book any trips or find deals from their website ?
In response to the posting titled: scam by sunshine promotions (May 27, 2010)
Sunshine Promotions is always disappointed to read such complaints as this one, particularly when we have spent considerable time working with the author, mab7690, over the last several months.
Mab7690 attended a sales presentation on March 26, 2010, with the promise of a promotional gift in exchange for their time. At the conclusion of the presentation, mab7690 made the decision to join as a Gold Crown travel club member, affording them a variety of ways to travel at discounted rates via condominiums for a lifetime. The purchased membership is a wonderful opportunity for not just mab7690, but it is also an opportunity for their friends and family members to travel through the program.
At the time of the purchase, mab7690 underwent a verification process, where they agreed to and signed their membership documents and were told that the membership fee is non-refundable. Mab7690 agreed to and signed the Gold Crown Membership Agreement, Terms and Conditions and the Sunshine Promotions Acknowledgement. At that time, mab7690 were advised that they were entering a legally binding agreement, for which there is no rescission nor cancellation. The verification process is recorded and great care is given to ensure that the Member fully understands the travel program that they are entering into, and understand our sales policy.
It is further explained that the heart of the Gold Crown program are the condominium savings, and while the Gold Crown program does offer auxillary services such as hotel, airfare and ground transportation, we cannot specify the level of savings. These services are an added dimension to the Gold Crown program simply offering a web search feature that would aid a member in completing their entire travel needs under one web service, a one-stop shop if you will. Sunshine Promotions make no claims as to the amount of discounts, etc to be had through these auxillary services.
Further, Sunshine Promotions, LLC nor Gold Crown Resort are members of the Better Business Bureau at this time. Gold Crown Resort does however have a B rating from the BBB of Central Florida, while Sunshine Promotions is currently undergoing the process of review. It is our sincere desire to maintain an A or B rating through the BBB of the Washington Metro Area, and it is our long term goal to become an accredited member. Sunshine Promotions, LLC has been working through this process in earnest for a little over a year, and in the last six months have really stepped up our efforts and we are very close to learning our new rating.
Additionally, Sunshine Promotions, LLC has never been nor are we currently under any state or federal investigation, to include that of the FBI. In fact, the posting on the Complaint Board site is erroneous and we are in the process of investigating further to determine the author and what legal recourse we have to have the posting removed. In the interim, Sunshine Promotions posted a response to the anonymous Complaint Board post, on August 5th.
Sunshine Promotions, LLC stands by our claims that through the Gold Crown Resort program, the savings to be had through the week long condominium stays are hugely significant versus retail. Also, the service provided by both the customer service staff of Sunshine Promotions, LLC and Gold Crown Resorts continues to work hard daily to ensure years of enjoyment through the travel program for all of our members.
We can only encourage mab7690 to book a trip through the program and experience a truly special opportunity!
We welcome the opportunity to address the concerns of not only our members but all those that attend our sales presentation. Our offices are open Wednesday thru Friday evenings from 5pm to 10pm and Saturdays 9am - 6pm. You may reach a member of our customer service staff at [protected] or via email at sunshinepromotions@verizon.net.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Turk
Customer Relations Manager
Sunshine Promotions, LLC
Stephanie:
I have the same problem. I came in April of 2010, sat through the 90 minute presentation, got a certificate for a cruise, filled out the forms correctly, mailed off my $498, requested departure date of 10/24. Have e-mailed and called 877 number...no response at all.
I'd love to have you look into this for me. Please respond to stephaniekchapman@yahoo.com. I will post back if I actually get a call from someone.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT SUNSHINE PROMOTIONS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROMO GIFTS...THE MEMBERSHIP THAT THEY PRESENT TO YOU IS GREAT, GOLD CROWN RESORTS HAS PUT MY FAMILY IN SOME OF THE BEST PLACES I HAVE EVER SEEN. EVERYTHING THEY PROMISED US WAS EXACTLY WHAT WE RECEIVED. ALOT OF THESE COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE READ ON HERE ARE AIMED AT THE WRONG COMPANY.
Hi there me, my husband and his niece and nephew just returned from hanging out in italy for 2 weeks on the gold crown resorts membership, it was great and major affordable!...i read some of the complaints and thought i should post...BYE!
Sunshine Promotions is a distibutor of gold crown resorts. I must say the gift for listening to the presentation is restricted but the membership has worked so far for me and my hunny. We just returned from a carribean crusie and spent only 425.00$. We sure cant complain.
I sincerly disagree.
The promo "gifts" did not come from other companies. The "gifts" were promised by Sunshine Promotions, LLC in exchange for sitting through a sales presentation. Sunshine Promotions, LLC should be responsible for ensuring that the consumer receives the product/services promised whether they are provided through another entity or not.
This is no different, in essence, then going to retailer and exchanging money for a promoted sale item, and instead of providing the sale item provide a coupon for some other vendor to provide the item. After this, informing the constomer that they are not liable to provide the item, and the other company is.
If you or I is lured into a sales presentation with an offer, once the sales presentation has been made, then the advertising company has received what they wanted. Promising that someone else will make good on their advertisement and "washing the hands" is not right, ethical, and (I suspect) ultimately legal.
hi there i just wanted to say i am sorry i said negative stuff on here about sunshine promotions...i bought and was upset from word of mouth, but was out of right to recission. Since i owned it now i decided to try to use it...Ends up being AWESOME CHEAP TRAVEL!
After attending a presentaion at sunshine promotions..I spoke with my friend that owns a timeshare. He told me not to do it. But after talking to him I discovered he gets one week per year and pays 1200 in annual fees, well with GCR you have no annuals with TWO weeks of resort usage. I think I might be sold!
were are any postings of actual winners of these prizes we are only reading bad things about this companty and its bull that u recive a car or cash prize show us the facts that there are actual reward to this and then maybe people will beleave you and why are you giving away prizes but asking people to put money on time shares and why only can husband or wife go why cant an attorney come along
yea short and sweet we need facts anyways i already contacted the fbi
THERE IS AN FBI INVESTIGATION INTO THIS COMPANY - YOU NUT JOB! Nothing is right about this company & I've only read on here about one person that was satisfied THE NUTJOB! she probably actually works for Sunshine Promotions!
Stephanie,
We are gathering to go after Sunshine Promotion with a Class Action Suit. We would like to have you join us. I had the same experience with them also. There has been a suit brought against them in Washington, DC. You may email me. We want everyone who has been scammed by them on this.
Gigi
gina.kayoumy@lnf.com
I 100% agree with Michael. Sunshine Promotions, LLC should be responsible for ensuring that the consumer receives the product/services promised whether they are provided through another entity or not. I am still waiting for my promised trip and I even bought a membership with goldcrown! Worst investment of my life and I will tell everyone this! How is it fair to promise a trip, that is not free ($500) and not make sure it is followed up on! Such a crazy scam!
Gigi! I want in on this lawsuit! This needs to be stopped!
I agree I have had some frustrations with SUnshine Promotions in the past with the promotional gift that they offered me but after many phone calls and emails i truely believe that they do their best to keep us satisfied as gold crown members.
To all that have been mislead by Sunshine Promotions, go to these links below and read them all.
Copy the link and read it all. You can file your complaint to the Attorney General online & fax them.
Phone number for the Attorney General's office is : [protected] - You can get help there.
http://oag.dc.gov/DC/OAG/About+OAG/News+Room/Press+Releases/District+Settles+with+Travel+Club
This is the story below on the website of the District & Attorney General
August 06, 2010
District Settles with Travel Club
“The court order will put a stop to these tricky promotions, ” Attorney General Nickles said.
Attorney General Peter Nickles today announced the District’s consumer protection settlement with Sunshine Promotions, LLC, a Nevada-based company that sells memberships in the Gold Crown Resorts travel club. Under the settlement, Sunshine Promotions has agreed to a court order that will restrict its use of terms like “free, ” “complimentary, ” “gift” or “winner” in promotional mailings to consumers and prohibit it from making false representations about price reductions. The company has also agreed to pay $90, 000 into the District’s Consumer Protection Fund.
In a complaint filed in DC Superior Court, the District alleged that Sunshine Promotions misled consumers by representing that they have been awarded free travel, while failing to disclose that they must first attend sales presentations and failing to disclose travel restrictions that prevent many consumers from using their awards.
The District has also alleged that, at sales presentations held at DC-area hotels and at the company’s office in Northwest DC, Sunshine Promotions misrepresented to consumers that they were being offered travel club memberships at special “one time offer” prices not available to others.
“The court order will put a stop to these tricky promotions, ” Attorney General Nickles said.
Sunshine Promotions agreed to the settlement without any admission of liability. The settlement is in the form of a Consent Judgment that will become effective only if approved by the Court.
This is the actual court orders and Consent to Judgement - Read it and learn from it.
http://oag.dc.gov/DC/OAG/About+OAG/News+Room/Sunshine+Promotions+Complaint+and+Consent+Judgmen
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Sunshine Promotions, not only was ordered to pay back monies lost by consumers, but they had to pay the attorney fees also. They were totally misleading consumers. There are still consumers going after them and yes, they are getting their money back from these crooks, through filing their complaints with the Attorney General. One of which, Margaret Porterfield, works for the Labor Dept. in DC and works at Sunshine Promotions part-time, Wednesday through Saturday taking your money. Have you thought about it? Why are you giving them thousands of dollars so that you can pay GCR again to take a trip that you can get on your own without giving Sunshine Promotions a large chunk of your hard earned money. Why are you giving them such large commissions and/or tips for telling you to work with Gold Crown, Resorts who also takes a commission from them. Fight back and protect yourself! Give thanks for the lesson you learn from this experience and get your money back.
Sunshine promotions is still at it from DC over the phone to other folks in MD. They really are interested in seeing your credit card!
Wake up folks. Tell as many others as you can, and quickly.
wow...well let me say that the "free cruise" is not free, you do have to pay taxes. But the sales presentation is pleasant. The program they tell you about is actually a really crediable membership.
just booked first trip through Gold Crown Resort membership which sunshine promotions sells...alaska cruise 449.00 pp. seems good!
Was anyone able to get back their money? I recently realized all this was happening, and I definitely want my money back from this company.
I am another victim of Sunshine Promotions (Goldcrown resorts) bogus giveaways that never pan out and promised discounts on 5 star resorts that are never available. Who do I contact to be part of this class action law suit?
My wife and i were scammed by Sunshine Promotions in Washington. DC, agent for Gold Crown Resort in 2009 for $7, 000.00 and tried everything possible to get our money back for total misrepresentation. The day after we signed the contract and used two credit cards to pay $7, 000.00 for nothing, we went to the ### artists that sold us this total scam. I tried to obtain attorneys that would not help for the measly sum of $7, 000.00. My wife and I were entering retirement and didn't realize these con artists could totally lie about their presentation and promises that were worthless, without recourse. We tried to book cruises, vacations, resorts, airfare and lodging through the Gold Crown Resorts and found we could do better with pricing and better everything our own in every category. So her we are at 70 years old and never ever used our Gold Crown contractual promotion to enjoy anything. We now have our remembrance of the lying SOB's. I still have all documentation to and from Stephanie and Ashley Bartle at Gold Crown Resorts. If anyone has a suggestion to get our money back, even after this many years, Please Please let me know.
I also was taken for just less than $7000. I have never traveled to the GCR properties since I purchased the "timeshare" in late 2010. The Gold Crown properties are simply inferior to what I can receive by going on-line and booking on my own. I spent nearly two years relying upon their service to book me in a good location near what me and my kids like to do on vacation. Its amazing that they can get away with charging me that much money upfront to receive below average to average property that somehow are called resorts. I also have documentation and would like to know how to pursue. I'd like to take action against this company (Sunshine) so that I can receive some recompense.