I hope this doesn't count as a "squeee" post, if so I'll delete.  I wrote here http://community.livejournal.com/weddingplans/19235729.html

a couple weeks ago about getting scammed by our photographers.  At the advice of many wise people here, I contacted my credit card company, and while it's not said and done yet, it does sound as though we'll get our money back :)  I feel so relieved, it was actually my dad's money and I felt awful about losing his money and then asking him to pay more for a new photographer, which he did with no problem (awesome dad btw). 

So I highly recommend using credit cards for wedding stuff (and other big ticket items).  The charge needs to be within 60 days of purchase (other card's policies may vary) but in our case they went by the date of service since they understand for a wedding you pay for it long before you get the services.  It's good to have as much information as possible such as the company's phone number that doesn't work, news articles stating that they have vacated the office, dates in which you tried contacting them etc.  Hopefully this information will help someone in the future, and I wanted to say thanks to all who gave advice or support, it was definitely a stressful event.

I just got off the phone with someone from Simplicity Gourmet about their Pink Apron Preview. Supposedly by going to this, my FH and I get a 3 night, 2 day stay in either Cancun, Costa Rica, or the Dominician Republic. I just want to know if this is too good to be true or if we actually just won a honeymoon. The deal is we have to go to some thing on Sunday and bring photo ID along with the registration number they provided. Supposedly we don't have to buy anything and they'll feed us. Anybody have experience with this particular company?

ETA: Thanks for the quick responses. :) I did a bit more googling. (I had looked them up with the BBB and they're accredited. I also saw that they had a high pressured sales pitch but figured if we really got a free honeymoon that it was worth it.) After reading a few stories apparently you do get the voucher but you have to send it in with 50 bucks to get the package as well as paying airfare, "hotel taxes, and resort fees" (that last part taken straight from their website which they failed to mention to me). So looks like we didn't win a free honeymoon. :(

My mom just got a call in the United States from something called Chef World saying that I was registered somewhere in Okemos, or that I'd gone somewhere in Okemos that was related to weddings (I am assuming David's Bridal), and that my name was drawn to win a prize. When my mom asked what it was, and specifically, if it was a scam (because my mom is super-skeptical like that), the woman said that, NOOO, it wasn't a scam at all, just that my fiance and I have to attend some presentation at the Okemos Holiday Inn to collect our prize, and that we had to bring photo ID.

Okay, so that's an issue as my FH and I live in Panama, the country, so going to Okemos, MI isn't exactly feasible. When my mother told her that, the woman just said that it was no problem, that I should call her back when we are in Michigan again to be able to collect our prize.

This sounds like a scam to me. Can anyone tell me if they've had any experience with Chef World, what it's about, etc. etc.? Am I reasonable to be cynical, or did I actually win something that I don't want to give up (because if someone wants to give me, say, $40,000, I want to know about it, damnit!)?

Got a phonecall tonight from "Royal Prestige Health Spectrum", which is basically a Simplicity Bridal-esque cookware company. They told me I have one a 3-day 2-night honeymoon to the Bahamas or Mexico (so what I can get a sunburn and come right back again? lmao no thanks). Has anyone else had this one? Apparently all you do is attend a seminar for your trip.

A link: http://rphealthspectrum.com/

ETA: Lol sorry, hit enter too soon, now it's tagged as sand ceremonies too :(

I just wanted to share my experiences with you all...

( Buying flowers online )
( Decorations online )
( Personalized Guestbook )
( eBay finds (clothing/accessories) )

I saw this on the news. If you click on the link, there is also a video:

http://www.kcra.com/news/16169845/detail.html

NAPA, Calif. -- Sitting through a sales pitch in return for a $100 trip to Hawaii sounds like an easy deal.

The company behind a mailer sells vacation club memberships. To get the free trip -- including airfare and accommodations for two -- you have to sit through a 90-minute sales pitch.

At a business park in Napa, KCRA 3 listened to the presentation, declined the vacation club offer, but then asked for the free trip.
The travel club company delivered, and KCRA 3 walked away with a VIP Hawaiian Holiday certificate, good for two round-trip coach tickets and two nights in economy accommodations.

The certificate had to be completed and mailed in within 45 days or it would be void.

Next came a letter requesting travel dates -- Tuesdays through Thursdays only -- plus an airline and hotel tax deposit of $100.

Mike and Sandy Carson, of Novato, went through a similar process and opted to pay more to extend their trip.

"We put in certain dates, but if you look on the card, there's a lot of dates blacked out," Mike Carson said.

KCRA 3 chose two sets of dates, but the redemption company said neither was available.

A third and fourth set of dates were also declined, as were the fifth and sixth sets of dates in March and April 2008 -- even though KCRA 3 received its travel certificate in August 2007, and the redemption company cashed the deposit check a month later.

After rejecting all six travel dates, KCRA 3 called the redemption company, Holiday Travel of America, to complain.

Customer service said it could confirm Sept. 9 to 11, but that those dates had to be booked right then and there -- and KCRA 3 had to fax back a confirmation letter with a credit card number. The company would charge $75 to $150 if the reservation was cancelled or if no one showed up.

The Better Business Bureau of San Diego said other people have had trouble, too: Holiday Travel of America has an unsatisfactory record because of a pattern of complaints.

People said they can't get valid travel dates, and when they give up and try to get their deposit back, refunds are delayed.

Holiday Travel of America's owner said over the phone that the company handles 30,000 to 40,000 transactions each year and has thousands of happy travelers. Customers have to read terms and conditions and disclosures and understand that promotional travel is all on space available.

He said his company makes mistakes but tries to fix them.

The company did confirm the travel dates in September, but no one could give a specific airlne or hotel.

But the Carsons gave up on their trip and asked for a refund, which they got. But Sandy Carson said she thinks most people give up before getting their money back.

"You get $100 from everybody, and they don't pursue it -- probably 80 percent don't pursue it -- and they make a bundle," she said.

******

I saw the follow up story today where a couple told their story of how their trip went. They went on their trip after a year. They said the hotel room was super small, the beds were singles and very very small. They also said the bathroom was really compact. They travelled more than they spent time on the beach. So beware. If I can find the link for the follow up story with the hotel room pictures, etc. I'll post it.

Well, I got a little ring from Simplicity Bridal today. I had gotten a call from them about 5 months ago and went to their no-obligation-to-buy seminar, but never mailed in the vacation paper we got. After mailing it in, we were supposed to receive a 7 night/8 day hotel stay in maybe 12 different locations just for attending this seminar, and all we had to do was pay taxes on the location/hotel we chose (no food or anything else was included). I never sent the paper in because the fine print didn't make me feel so great, and I kept reading it over and over until I forgot all about it.

Today they called me up, and they now have a website. If you drill down enough you can finally find the gift information, including the now 3 vacation destinations you could choose from, for a 3 day/2 night stay, including food, drinks and entertainment. We can go tomorrow to pick up the prize, again, and be bored, again, with some cookware demonstration, but I'd like to know if they've been calling other folks up too, and if anyone has actually used the gift vacation. I asked her today: how did my name get drawn for this? She said oh, it was in the system, etc etc... I've heard of people in this community receiving calls from these types of people, but have you heard specifically about these folks?

Hi folks. I went to a bridal show today, and I entered to win a bunch of things. A few minutes ago I got a call saying I won a vacation for my fiancee and I, as long as we went to a cookware presentation. Me, being a bit suspicious, looked up the number online. A lot of people said it was a scam, because they just want to sell you stuff. Well, I am aware it is a sales presentation, but, my question is, has anyone ever been to one of these? I am totally willing to sit through a 1.5 hour presentation to get a free vacation. Thanks!

I just remembered something my JP told me that might be handy for CT brides but also for all you guys and girls:

Check with the state, of course, but in the state I'm getting married in (CT) the form you fill out for your marriage certificate asks for your SS#.

My JP told me this is not necessary to give your social. They will pressure you to, but you do not need to do so to be married in Connecticut.

The reason to not give your ss# is:


*marriage licensees are a matter of public record. Anyone can look at them.

* they have all your info: birthday, maiden name, mother's maiden name, birth city all the things used for security questions by credit agencies

Add your social in there and you are begging for identity theft.

Like I said about, check with your state (and really press for information) because it may not be necessary to put your ss# on public record with all your other info.

I know there have been a ton of posts concerning free honeymoon scams, but I just had to share my story because it made me laugh pretty hard.

I just got a phone call from Simplicity Bridal informing me I won a 3 days/2 nights all-inclusive package to either Mexico or the Bahamas. Apparently I won this by signing up at a booth last Sunday, even though I told the rep that I haven't been to a bridal show in a month. He ignored that as apparently inconsequential.

"Does all this sound good to you?" He asks.
"Sure." *smirk*
"Now I'm sure you're wondering what the catch is..."
"Oh? There's a catch?"
"Well we just ask that you attend a ninety-minute cooking program. Would you attend a ninety-minute cooking program for a free vacation?"
"No."

...and he hung up on me. ROFL.

I've seen a lot of posts like this lately, so I figured I'd direct people to the National Do Not Call Registry. This registry was created and is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission under United States law. If you register your phone number with this government service, then you will NOT get any soliciting phone calls from telemarketers. However, if you submit your phone number to David's Bridal, you have an "established business relationship" with them and they are allowed to call you for up to 18 months afterwards, "unless you ask the company not to call again." If you ask them not to call again and they still call you, they may be subject to a fine of up to $11,000.

The National Do Not Call Registry does NOT apply to charities, political solicitations, or phone surveys. But scammy cruise vacations, a promise of the best cookware of your life if you go to their sales pitch, or free time shares all fall under the category of telemarketing and they WILL get in trouble if they contact you because you're on the National Do Not Call Registry and you report them.

I highly encourage everyone to go to the website and register your home and cell phone numbers with this list. It will save you a LOT of headaches!

Alright ladies (and gents).

another prize question for you.

So the other day I posted about that obvious scam.

Well I just got a voicemail on my cell phone from Simplicity or something like that, about a wonderful package and I'm supposed to call them back, they're there until 9 pm.

well it's already better than that guy the other day, at least these people let you call them back.

So does anybody have information about this company and what you win/have to do to get your prize before I call them back after I get off work?

So I went to a wedding planner show last weekend, and signed up for the billion and one drawings that they had on it.

All week this random 718 area code phone number has been calling me, but they never leave a voicemail. Today I finally answer my phone to figure out who on earth it is.

I'm "Imperial Majesty" Or something like that. I supposedly won a 1st class 8 day vacation, 3 days, 2 nights cruising, and 4 days 3 nights in florida, or something like that. It supposedly includes all of our meals and entertainment, and also gives me a buy one get one free voucher for airfare.

Now this would be a fabulous thing. Except we have to pay $299 each, again, not a bad deal. But supposedly if I dont give them my credit card, right this second, I lose the deal.

I called my mom (a travel agent) and told her about what he was saying, and she said there is no way that's true. If you really won something like a cruise or something, they would mail you information before making you give them money.

I know she can be a bit paranoid, but it seemed very fishy to me (or vishy as I typed it the first time around).

Anybody else think that seems a bit off?

((( oh yeah, and I didnt give him the information, and did lose the deal, but I wasnt willing to risk my paid off-credit card just to get this deal )))

OK, there is an active scam out there on VistaPrint if you aren't very careful clicking through their multiple pages of offers at the end of check-out. I swear I never agreed to a 10 day free trial with Todays Escapes +. My credit card began having $15.00 a month charges in August...at first I just though I had gotten a book or something on Amazon, then in September I didn't get a bill, but in October I got 2 bills. So today I had the joy of calling my bank, filing a claim for fraudulent charges, and had to shred my debit card and will wait a week or so to get a new one. I am getting 3 of the 4 charges removed from my account by my bank.

A report has already been filed by someone on Rip Off Report.com about this business scam.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/231/RipOff0231963.htm

Have any of you ever received a call from Simplicity Bridal that I've won an 8 day/7 night vacation. Looking online in forums women are saying the trip is free, though you have to come in for a seminar. I like free, but have any of you run into this pseudo-scam? Do tell.

I recieved a call on my cell phone from 21st century brides and said I won a free vacation and gift voucher. I made a time to go in for the presentation, but I don't know now. Is this a scam you think? Has any went to the presentation? Or heard of it?

I've been browsing through the scams tag in this community and I'm horrified at what some of you have been through from scammers. Lots of people have mentioned that these scammers got their information from David's Bridal or other bridal shops as well as wedding expos. Now I feel nervous about shopping for dresses when the time comes.

So my question to you lovely ladies is how do you avoid being barraged with phone calls, emails and mail? Will bridal shops let you try on gowns without giving them all your personal information? Is there a box you can select so that your information will not be shared?

I would expect there's a way to opt-out of information sharing like I'm used to with my regular online shopping, however there are so many stories of scams that I wonder if the rules are different for the wedding industry.

Since there was post regarding American Prestige, I thought I'd throw a suggestion out there that when you go to bridal shows and enter contests, take a card or some pamphlet from the vendors booth and mark on it that you entered a contest. Helps you keep straight whether you actually did enter, or if they just got your info from someone else and are (completely or somewhat) scammers.

I got something in the mail today and it looked fishy. I'm not going to do it, but I thought I'd ask here and see what you guys thought.

I only got married on Saturday. The license hasn't even been mailed in yet. I got a letter from "National Records Services" telling me to fill out their form and mail it in with a $15 check and they'll do all my name-changing Social Security paperwork for me. The form listed all the fun stuff like name, SS#, mother's maiden, and all that great stuff they'd need to steal my identity. They claim that the $15 is to save me the hassle of having to go down to SSA and changing it myself. But as I mentioned, no one even knows I'm officially married yet. I could have let the license expire for all they know.

It just reeked of SCAM to me. Anybody else agree?

[I'm in California, by the way.]

I remember someone else posting about having their credit card charged by VistaPrint for membership in their "rewards" club.  I just discovered that they have been charging my card $14.95 per month since I ordered my STDs from them in the fall (not sure how I missed this when I reviewed my other credit card statements).  They reversed all the charges they made and cancelled my supposed membership when I called to complain, but if you have ordered from them or plan to, please check your statements carefully!  I *never* agreed to or authorized this.  Personally I think this is an unethical business practice and although my STDs came out fine I have no intention of ever patronising them again in any way.

Hello ladies!

I was hoping I could get your input on a situation that's been thrust upon me lately. I'll just describe what's happened. I went to a bridal show a few weeks ago and recently received a call saying that I had won a vacation package. I had put my name and phone number on a piece of paper and placed it in their drawing. The lady on the phone said that my fiance and I need to go to a meeting to receive our prize package. They also mentioned that we'd have to listen to all of these sales pitches about products they offered, but she made sure I knew that there was no obligation to purchase anything....

So, I don't know if this is a legitimate prize or if it's just a scam. To me, it would be worth a wasted 2 hours to receive an all inclusive trip. But, I'm just not sure.

So tell me what you all think. Is it worth my time? Or should I just shrug it off as a scam?

Is it illegal for stores to rip the tags out of wedding dresses?

I was at a bridal shop yesterday and I tried on this AMAZING dress. It was a size 8 and it was discontinued (she said) and on sale (for cheap!). It fit just perfectly (even though I felt my breathing was a tad restricted), but I was concerned that it might not fit next month when I need it (I'll be 22 weeks pregnant by then). I asked if it could be let out any, and the seamstress happened to be in. After explaining to her my situation, she determined that the style of dress couldn't be let out more than an inch and it wouldn't be able to go any around my waist, where I would need it. She actually had the nerve to say to me, "Honey, I'm a seamstress, not a magician!"

Well, I wanted to know who made the dress, but the label had mysteriously disappeared and the sales girl said she didn't know who made it and it was the last one in the store. I promptly left the shop and burst into tears.

I understand that they may not be able to order the dress, but I might have been able to find it online or somewhere else if I knew who made it. I'm really pissed off about it. I've searched all morning through different designers websites and I've found nothing. I googled all the search terms I could think of for it and nothing. ARGUAH!

So I'm off to look again today at a few other bridal shops. I feel just miserable about this whole situation. Certain dresses look fine. Certain dresses look silly. Mostly I feel just depressed that this happy occasion is already such a fiasco.

I just sent this to Royal Prestige, and I filed a consumer complaint. Beware Brides! This is soo not worth your money, or your time. Now our budget is cut almost in half because of this crap. I'll let you guys know if anyone ever contacts me about this, but I'm not holding my breath. The cookware is literally NOT usuable!!!

Have you seen this?


( What do you think? - with text for those who can't watch! )

I was at a bridal show a couple weeks ago and just got a call from celebrity brides. I called them and they said we had won a 3 day honeymoon and toasting glasses. All we have to do is show up and watch the showing of their items. Has anyone done this and actually got the honeymoon and prizes? I have to be at a hotel tomorrow morning. Any info would be great. Thanks!

Apparently I've been entered in a contest and have won a free honeymoon. All I have to do is go to a 90 minute presentation this Friday.

Does anyone know about this company? Is it a scam?

hey everyone i have a question
i went to a bridal show last month and entered in every drawing they had lol and i've been winning tons of awesome stuff!!
soo today i got a phonecall saying i won a free honeymoon (!!!) and that the only thing is that i have to attend a cooking show at a local hotel and i can pick up my package there..
is this a scam or the real thing??!? 
i dont remember the name of the company, but they were telling me that the trip is fully covered, etc... 

i'm so happy but i cant help but feel like i might be getting cheated.
has anyone else ever won a free honeymoon??
what did you have to do, if anything??

i thought you girls (and guys) would know best :)

Has anyone here ever 'won' a trip from Florida Travel Enterprises? Big scam or legit? I was recently at a bridal show and this guy called today saying we won a trip. I told him I'd have my fiancee call back as to whether or not we are going to take it....I'm sure it's a scam, but I thought maybe you ladies would have some more info. Thanks!!

i got a phone call yesterday from an unknown number. they left a message saying i had won a gift package from simplicity brides and to call them back. i searched the website and all it says is new site coming soon. anyone ever hear of them?