Have my parents been scammed by Princess Promotions?

[Ombud]

On 5/6/2024 at 9:46 AM, memoak said:

On 5/6/2024 at 9:19 AM, CalTexCruiser said:

FWIW, 

 

My former CVP attempted the hard sale of this on me a few months ago.  He is no longer my CVP.

 

So watch out for this even from your CVPs.

Expand  

My CVP laughs when the conversation goes to “promotions”. Most think it was a bad idea

I just got a call from the CVP line & someone telling me to contact them before booking my next cruise instead of my CVP. And she knew my cruise history + the pending 4 cruises + my unused 2 FCDs. 1st call went to voice mail so I emailed my CVP asking if she was going ...  kinda weird since she just cleared up an issue with my next cruise. 2nd call from "P***" where she ID'd herself as Princess Promotions. Doesn't fit my need as I have no issue getting reasonable-to-me accommodations. But a little irritated with the call. 

 

So if someone isn't on cruise critic they might erroneously think Princess Promotion employees are Princess not O.N.E. employees because they use the CVP main phone number + their extension #

 

Sounds like a timeshare. 

 

 

Edited May 7 by Ombud

[JimDee363636]

My guess is @lstone19is a lawyer (or, like me, a retired lawyer) because as soon as I started reading this thread I thought of the same legal term "apparent agency" (sometimes called "implied agency") that he did. I handled a fair number of consumer protection cases in Massachusetts---a state with a strong "unfair and deceptive business practices" statute---and I guarantee you that the conduct of Princess and O.N.E. would make them highly vulnerable to lawsuits brought by the O.P.'s father and other similarly-victimized customers. If this isn't unfair and deceptive, I don't know what is.

 

Jim

[lstone19]

3 minutes ago, JimDee363636 said:

My guess is @lstone19is a lawyer (or, like me, a retired lawyer)

 

I'm not (maybe I should have been) but I did take a class in Purchasing Law. While the class dealt with commercial purchasing (I was attached to my employer's purchasing department although I was not a buyer), one of my key takeaways from that class was the problem when either a buyer or a salesperson give the other party the assumption that they can bind their employer (or apparent employer in the Princess case) when they can't and the other party relies on that assumption.

[lahlah57]

On 5/5/2024 at 9:39 AM, walkingsoon said:

It meets my definition of a scam, though I imagine they've kept it on the legal side of the line.

 

Certainly it's exploitative and it presents a bad look for Princess.

 

I try to be polite in dealing with strangers, but salesmen pushing a bad product that they know are rarely in the best interests of the customer deserve harsh feedback. Didn't strangle them. That's pretty polite, right?

 

 

I shut down and run when someone pulls high pressure sales tactics.

My ears start to bleed just listening to their blather!

[PastryPal]

No update to give.

 

Based upon the timeframe they themselves set, Princess Promotions has about 12 hours to call my dad back . . . and, for most of that time, it will be the middle of the night in our time zone.

[ontheweb]

13 hours ago, memoak said:

I think that anyone who has cruised even a few times know that things like casinos and spas are contractors and have been for a long time 

But can you say the same for the employees of the Cruise Next desk?

[ontheweb]

6 hours ago, PastryPal said:

No update to give.

 

Based upon the timeframe they themselves set, Princess Promotions has about 12 hours to call my dad back . . . and, for most of that time, it will be the middle of the night in our time zone.

I would not hold my breath waiting for that call. But have your parents document all of this, the calls and the broken promises to call back for their credit card dispute.

[ChutChut]

9 hours ago, PastryPal said:

No update to give.

 

Based upon the timeframe they themselves set, Princess Promotions has about 12 hours to call my dad back . . . and, for most of that time, it will be the middle of the night in our time zone.

I really wouldn't hold my breath. I would escalate to someone with decision making authority at Princess. I also would craft a detailed email (or other type of communication) and have it at the ready. I would ask my parents if the consultant thoroughly explained to them the consequences of giving their credit card to him, etc. I would put these details in the email/letter, etc.

[ChutChut]

Bottom line is when we're on a cruise, staff/crew/consultants, etc. are acting on apparent authority from Princess (unless expressly indicated otherwise) and will/should be treated as such if anything happens. 

[memoak]

2 hours ago, ChutChut said:

Bottom line is when we're on a cruise, staff/crew/consultants, etc. are acting on apparent authority from Princess (unless expressly indicated otherwise) and will/should be treated as such if anything happens. 

Oh we finally got things fixed from the Future cruises folks mess but it took hours and time out of our vacation. Never again

[kywildcatfanone]

3 hours ago, ChutChut said:

Bottom line is when we're on a cruise, staff/crew/consultants, etc. are acting on apparent authority from Princess (unless expressly indicated otherwise) and will/should be treated as such if anything happens. 

Yep, and while most are contractors,  they operate as employees of the cruise line in their duties.

[doghog]

29 minutes ago, memoak said:

Oh we finally got things fixed from the Future cruises folks mess but it took hours and time out of our vacation. Never again

I annotated on our PCSs about our "one" bad experience with them and that's exactly why we didn't book (had a cruise, itinerary, cabin, PBP, ect.) while onboard.  Booked the cruise when we got home. From our "one" negative experience we'll never book a future cruise (Princess) while onboard. 

Edited May 8 by doghog

[MacMadame]

21 hours ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

Stewards, waiters, cooks, bartenders, etc. are crew, not staff. Entertainment team (and others) are staff.  

But these people have a contract with Princess for a certain number of months. Therefore, technically, they are not employees of Princess but are contractors. The difference is that their contract is directly with Princess while the Princess Promotions people work for O.N.E which has the contract with Princess.

 

It's a very fine distinction IMO that I don't think the customers should have to care about.

[keldaria]

3 hours ago, MacMadame said:

But these people have a contract with Princess for a certain number of months. Therefore, technically, they are not employees of Princess but are contractors. The difference is that their contract is directly with Princess while the Princess Promotions people work for O.N.E which has the contract with Princess.

 

It's a very fine distinction IMO that I don't think the customers should have to care about.

The only distinction that should matter is did Princess contract with someone that resulted directly or indirectly with a person being employed in that function. 
 

Princess has a choice in who they contract with and for what purposes. They are directly associated with any actions taken in the name of that contract. They are in effect endorsing princess promotions underhanded nature of misrepresentation if they are not ending the contract or demanding changes to conduct by people operating under that contract. 
 

A 7 day refund window when many cruises last that long especially when considering travel time is red flag territory. They’ve basically made a product that under normal circumstances most people buying will never have a chance to review and refund before it’s no longer an option. The fact that it’s part of an FAQ on princesses own website seems to endorse this behavior as acceptable.

[Kay S]

Question:  I used to fill out a form while on board to buy a FCD (deposit).  The card on file was charged and that was the end of it.  Is it now the case that you MUST go to these ONE people to buy a FCD in person (and be subjected to the hard sell)?  I've been gone from Princess for a good while.

[dickinson]

13 minutes ago, Kay S said:

Question:  I used to fill out a form while on board to buy a FCD (deposit).  The card on file was charged and that was the end of it.  Is it now the case that you MUST go to these ONE people to buy a FCD in person (and be subjected to the hard sell)?  I've been gone from Princess for a good while.

You don't have to see anyone.  I don't know if they still have the forms but you can purchase the FCD on the app.

[Dunchues]

On 5/5/2024 at 3:50 AM, PastryPal said:

 

I know my parents and they would have definitely walked away if they thought someone was trying to sign them up for some sort of vacation club. 

 

We are also Canadian. It seems like they have the smallest package based upon the amount charged to their credit card (which, of course, was over $4000 once it was converted to Canadian $$.) From what I've read, most of the $3499 is FCC so, worst case scenario, they can put it towards the European cruise that they just booked? They didn't even know that the amount included FCC until we googled it.

 

I wasn't there so I don't know what was said, but I also don't know how both of them could have completely misunderstood what was going on. My mom is also the kind of person who comes home with printed versions of the Princess Patter so, if they received any paperwork from the future cruise desk that explained how it all worked, she would still have it. It's a mystery.

 

 

You call it a mystery. When I was younger it was called the three card trick. I'm really not cynical or a gambler at all, but I'd bet my money that operator was on commission, and he made a tidy sum off your parents. I'd be incensed. 

 

[Ombud]

@Kay S I bought 3 on app the first day of my cruise (4/6/24). When I tried to refare my January cruise (lower price + 200 extra OBC if booked onboard in addition to the FCD OBC) O.N.E. did ask for my cc but I declined and used the new FCD instead. Not too much push back. 

 

@PastryPal did Princess Promotions call back? 

[PastryPal]

@Ombud Nope, Princess Promotions did not call back. Probably too busy cold-calling other members of this forum.  My dad is going to call them again tomorrow. I figure, if they won't even talk to him, it just makes his case better when he is disputing the charge with his credit card company.

 

@Kay S When I asked my parents if they had seen any brochures/pamphlets etc. that explained the different Princess Promotions packages, they said that the only papers on the table were the FCD forms - so the forms were still available as of 2 weeks ago. 

[cr8tiv1]

15 minutes ago, PastryPal said:

When I asked my parents if they had seen any brochures/pamphlets etc. that explained the different Princess Promotions packages, they said that the only papers on the table were the FCD forms - so the forms were still available as of 2 weeks ago. 

 

The Future Cruise DESK/office is very tricky.  They do not have brochures nor handouts to give to passengers.  You may "look" at what they have, sometimes they let you take a photo, but will not hand you anything in writing for a promotion/sale.

[TRLD]

I believe that the use of the term contractor is being used a bit loosely here and confusing thungs a bit.

 

There are two different types uses of contractor here.

 

Most shipboard employees work under contract. However they are under contract directly with Princess. They are direct Princess employess.

 

The second type which includes the future cruise department, Spa, Casino, retail sales. These positions are filled by workers that are employed by other companies. Those companies have a contract relationship  with Princess for those companies to provide specific services.

 

In this stream people seem to be mixing the two.

 

So yes pretty much all ship board employees are under contract, however two totally different types.

[lstone19]

7 hours ago, TRLD said:

I believe that the use of the term contractor is being used a bit loosely here and confusing thungs a bit.

 

There are two different types uses of contractor here.

 

Most shipboard employees work under contract. However they are under contract directly with Princess. They are direct Princess employess.

 

The second type which includes the future cruise department, Spa, Casino, retail sales. These positions are filled by workers that are employed by other companies. Those companies have a contract relationship  with Princess for those companies to provide specific services.

 

In this stream people seem to be mixing the two.

 

So yes pretty much all ship board employees are under contract, however two totally different types.

 

Yep. I had the same thoughts. That you work under a contract does not make you a contractor. Lots of people have employment contracts and every union worker works under the contract between the union and employer. 

[PastryPal]

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. 

[sfaaa]

On 5/8/2024 at 2:29 PM, dickinson said:

You don't have to see anyone.  I don't know if they still have the forms but you can purchase the FCD on the app.

Yes they still have FCD forms. You can fill one out and hand it to future cruise person on duty or  deposit it in the drop off box to be processed.

[Lady Arwen]

7 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. 

Thank you for the update.  I completely understand your frustration with this entire debacle.  I sincerely hope your dad can finally get a resolution and a refund.  Please keep us in the loop!