Don't let this happen to you!

[Papa Bear]

The saga continues! I ask you is this any way to treat the traveling public? So here is her last attempt to explain why she charged our friends after they left! It is so poor!:

Dear Mr. Reed,

Some things need to be clarified. When your trip was quoted to Mr. Wiley it was in USD. We published our rates as being valid for travel for anywhere from 18-24 months. These rates include consideration for currency exchange rate fluctuations. The rates that have been published, not just by KVD but by the many wholesalers who use our product, have been valid when the exchange rate was .699. When your trip was being organized the rate dramatically dropped but not stable. We do not run out and franticly change our published rates until the exchange rates are stable for many months.

What we did for your trip was recalculate the rates. At the time your credit cards were processed the rate had change again. When someone compares the rates you were charged in USD to WBR web site it will never exactly match due to exchange rate fluctuations. Then it depends on the web site you use to get the current exchange rate which is not even what the bank charges.

The above is standard in the travel industry and no impropriety has occurred.

KVD had also raised dive rates last fall to reflect fuel increases and the rates on WBR web site does not reflect this.

Below please find the breakdown for the Bowers account. At the time that transactions occurred we were exchanging USD into FJD. For simplicity I will keep it all in FJD based on WBR web site in an attempt to remedy this issue.

7 night all inclusive without diving $1,381 pp x 2 = $2,762

They paid $3,175.43 on their credit card

A diffidence of $413 due to exchange rate variance at the time the credit card was processed by the bank.

Below is the diving that was provided to the Bowers:

2 x 5 days of 2tank dive @ $197pp/day = $1,970.00

Cynthia- 2Extra 3rd tanks @ $75.00 pp/day = $150.00

Doug 3extra 3rd tank @$75pp/day =$225.00

Total Bill for them $2,345.00 based on our current shop and published rates

After reviewing this account it appears as though the Fiji office had taken the total, thinking it was for 1 diver and doubled it. The actual balance that is owed by the Bowers is $2,345 FJD. I do apologize for this error.

To review then:

WBR rates on their web site for 7/5 dive package is $2,421 pp based on dbl occupancy x 2 = $4,842

$4,842 - $3,175 pd = $1,667 owing.

There is a difference of $678 FJD that takes into consideration the $413 variance from the exchange rate, leaving $265 that remains for the difference in dive rate on WBR web site for packages.

You have yet to address the issue of you being a single and what is clearly stated on both our published rates as well as Wananavu’s web site that all package rates are based on double occupancy.

Both parties had been provided confirmation that clearly stated that the rates presented were for the land portion.

I would also like clarify that I never stated that I have been in Fiji 12 years. I stated that I moved to Fiji in 1998.

Regards

Julie

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

BTW I have been Emailing her that I am posting all these on the Boards and to come here and defend herself! I will post my response to this garbage! Please someone please help me try to understand if I am not getting ripped off?

[Papa Bear]

It is so funny to me that she keeps saying "I don't address the single in a double room" and how many times do I have to say that the manager of WBR told me there wasn't unless I ask for a private room! Which I did not ask for and the resort was only 1/3 full! I have shard or double racked many times before on Boats and resorts! For an all inclusive does that mean I pay for two meals as well? All just BS, Smoke, and Mirrors! She just can't rip us like she thought and might be doing to others!

Your Feed back on this would be nice since you're the ultimate judge in this! The Diving public!

[downline77]

Julie..........you picked the wrong bear to hassle.

Thanks for the heads up, PB.

[shinek]

Papa and Julie,

In the interests of harmony for all and as a neutral observer, I have read the previous posts with interest and also been to the relevant web sites to see what is posted there and here's what I see. This may just be a miscommunication regarding the difference between a "room and dive package" and a room package + diving. Hopefully my observations will help you coem to some mutually agreeable solution.

7 night/10 dive package quoted on the site at F$2060 (excl. taxes)
Includes room, breakfast, lunch, dinner, dive guide, tanks, weights and weight belt. Prices based on the Garden View Bure and on twin share basis.
I could not find specific pricing on the web site for additional dives or days and so I assume the figures given previously are correct.
2 extra tanks at F$75 each = F$150
1 extra day's diving = F$197

Adding those elements, total cost = F$2407
Taxes total 17.5% = F$421.23

Grand Total = F$2828.23

Today's exchange rate means US$ 1538.08

I realise that exchange rates may vary significantly and have done so over the last few months, but you get the picture. If the charges were taken locally in Fiji, in FJD then I would expect any exchange rate to be applied by the banks and finance people and not by the local entity. However, if they quoted charges in US$ then they may have some argument, provided that they made that clear at the time.

Finally, the twin share basis. Difficult to separate the room and board from the diving as part of a package, but here goes.

Room package for 7 nights was quoted at $1175 per person, so the dive package was $885. ($2060 - $1175) Based on daily rates of $197, full price for one individual for 5 days (10 tanks) would have been $985. I.E. F$100 difference, + tax F$117.50 which equals US$ 63.90.

Papa, if you paid the F$2060 (+ taxes etc.) for the package and that's all so far, then I think there is the additional to pay for the extra diving and, potentially, a small bump for the "single" charge. Single surcharge was waived by the resort, but that's at their discretion.

Julie, if this makes sense to you then you have the choice of charging or waiving the additional F$117.50 for the single charge as that is purely my number based on the logic.

As for the others involved, it sounds like the same question, was it charged as a dive package or was it charged as a room package + diving. I believe the intent was the full dive package, in which case the split between Kai Viti Divers and the Wananavu Resort is between them.

Hope this makes sense, I will forward my invoice for arbitration, usual rates apply!

[Papa Bear]

To you and I, it does, but she keeps telling us the Diving is extra and wants me to pay 1300 FD for the Diving! BTW the 12.5% Hotel tax is only on the Hotel Portion! And the Web site does not indicate a single premium at all and the manager told us it only applies if you request a private room! I admit that I didn't pay what she wanted before I left! I paid 2452.00 FD for the package and 2 extra tanks and one extra dive day! She wants 197.00 FD for a two tank boat dive 20 minutes from the dock! I think it is pretty clear, but she called Tony today asking for payment of the balance for all the Diving! It is not going to happen! The exchange rate is meaningless, when in Rome!