Don't let this happen to you!

[Papa Bear]

Next chapter:

Bula Cynthia,
So Sorry to hear about this on-going saga but thank you for keeping us informed.
Yes I did receive both emails and I will pass them onto to anyone pertinent.
Just fyi the Dive shop is closed this week so I am presuming the transaction was attempted in the States.
Is there anything we can do at this end to assist?
Take care,
Ben & Rachel
Ben Plummer
General Manager
wananavu beach resort
PO Box 305, Rakiraki, Fiji Islands
T: +679 6694 433
F: +679 6694 499
E: wananavuben@connect.com.fj
W: Wananavu Beach Resort Accommodation Fiji

This confirms to me that Julie, now living in California is behind this plot to fraudulently take money from us, it seems to me that maybe we are expected to pay for her boat repairs! This is no way to do business here or in Fiji! Really Julie do you think this is the way to treat your customers? Is this the way to get the word out about KaiViti Divers? In many cases I don't even pay let alone get charged extra to review and photograph resorts and dive operations! Maybe I should send you a bill for all my work and posting my photos on our web site? Remember this in no way reflects on the great job the Dive Boys did! They deserve a better boss!

[Papa Bear]

This was the email I found sent CC to me when I got home!

It is apparent that Mr. Reed is confused. I never quoted him in FJD at the show and in fact the rates quoted for this trip is less than the show rates. He is confused in FJD with USD. Please provide him with an invoice. If he refuses to pay then we have no other recourse than to call the police

Julie Trussell
Kai Viti Divers
PO Box 953
Raki Raki
Fiji Islands
+679 669-3600 phone
+679 669-3547 fax

BTW, the show rates were supposed to give me an hour message and one free three tank dive day! None of which we received! I am sorry now that the Police weren't called, but the Manager knew better! In the US I would expect rates to be quoted in US dollars! I have a conversion function on my web site and was not confused what so ever! Come on Julie, you can do better than this!

[Papa Bear]

Also received this at the same time:

OK Anu,

The nightly rate for a GVB is $270 FJD x 7 nts = $1,890
Meals Package: $71/nt = $497
Round Trip Transfers: $144
$2,531

The difference would just be the exchange rate and whatever bank charges he may have had.\

He has not been charged for diving.

The rates he is showing from the WBR web site is for Ra Divers not KVD.

I had provided a full disclosure of the cost and provided it to the group leader. If there were any issues it should have been discussed prior.

Julie Trussell
Kai Viti Divers
PO Box 953
Raki Raki
Fiji Islands
+679 669-3600 phone
+679 669-3547 fax

First I don't care what there Rate is! We booked a package and expected to receive one like she quoted at DEMA or at least as good as the one on the Web site! Why would we pay the daily rate after booking a package? Please the turnip truck already left! Next the transfer rate is not per person, but as the web site says, the first person plus an additional charge per person! This is not my first Rodeo Julie, but are you sure you have been involved in this industry for 12 years? What about the 50% sure charge you had your manager quote me as a single? You pulled that one from somewhere I don't want to go! You sound desperate and confused and maybe you owe all of us an explanation and an apology! If anyone here is an "Ugly American" it is you doing a poor job representing the Dive industry!

If anyone else has had similar problems please post or PM me!

[h2odragon1]

Kaiviti Divers ;
A dive operation to avoid!
If they are going to be represented at a dive show, they should honor any contract entered into at that show, even if the prices have gone up.
The contract was entered into in the US, and is enforceable only in the US.
If the dive operation has any beef, they can take it to a US court through their representative. The courts can only enforce prices in US legal tender not Fijian dollars.
It would be better to avoid them altogether.

Thanks for the warning!

[Papa Bear]

Remember it is Kaiviti Divers and not Wananavu Beach Resort! I think very highky of them and they have tried to help with this mess! The sad thing is the dive operation is top notch just not the ownership! Please don't confuse WBR with the Dive operation!

[Papa Bear]

As of yesterday I emailed Julie that this posting was here and to come on and defend herself, but no response here or by email! Her silence speaks volumes! Julie I am still waiting to hear from you why we should pay double for booking with you?!!!

[The Publisher]

Remember viewers, just because someone does not respond here, you should not draw conclusions on the basis of that anymore than if you exercise your right to remain silent, it does not confirm guilt. Also understand you are only hearing from one half.

Kai Viti has signed up here now and now as a member, we expect that any discussions by all parties shall now adhere to our requirements of a civil discourse between members.

We have found that most dive related businesses will bend over backwards to reasonably accommodate reasonable requests, and if they do over an issue here, we will in return do what we can so everyone sees that knows that they went out of their way to make a dive traveler satisfied and we'll give them credit for it.

Other times I have visited resorts and have heard horror stories from resort owners about demanding dive journalists and dive tour organzers, not that this has anything to do with this particular issue, but the moral is, keep an open mind and don't jump to conclusions.