Skydiving company from HELL
The reservations I made for skydiving were with Soaring Sports. I got the website from someone on a DC forum on Myspace. I wish I would have researched more about the company before making reservations. Actually when I called, I was calling just to get prices and was talked into making my reservations right then. She at first mentioned Allentown, PA and the Raliegh, NC. Then she said Salisbury, Maryland and I told her that was where we wanted. She said we would get a phone call in a few days to confirm the address and our jump time. I made the reservations and paid $287.70.
So I called a few days later when I never heard from them. I was given the Help desk phone number. They told me they would call us with the site in a few days. A few more days went by, and I called AGAIN to check on the reservations. I was told they would call me 24 hours before the day of jumping to make sure the weather was good.
Sunday, I received a phone call from the company. They said they were calling to give me the address of the jumpsite. I was writing down the street and the town, but almost shat my pants when they told me Wisconsin. I replied "The state Wisconsin?" She said yes. I told her we made our reservations for Maryland.
"Oh, you are not near Wisconsin?"
"Uh, NO! We are in Virginia near DC! We are supposed to go to Salisbury, Maryland."
"Oh, well I don't know what happened. We will fix it and call you back."
2 hours later, I called them again. "We are still waiting to hear back from the pilot in Maryland to get the jump time." I told them I was worried that we wouldn't be able to jump since they screwed up and made us reservations in Wisconsin. They said it shouldn't be a problem and would call me soon.
This morning, 10 am, I called to see if they had the address and time in Maryland yet. Turns out, out of the 4 people in our group, they had 2 of us going to Wisconsin. How the fuck are 2 people in a GROUP going to Wisconsin and the other 2 going to Maryland. BIG FUCKING DISTANCE. The lady told me she is sorry for the mix up but would get is straightened out and call me back in 2 hours.
3 hours later, I called the company AGAIN. They said they were expecting the pilot from Maryland to call them back at 4pm because he is not sure if he is flying this week. WTF!
I called at 4:30pm. Now I am told the pilot will call back after 5pm with the time and location. I called the other 3 girls in the group to give them an update. I tried to call and was on hold for 15 minutes. I tried to call back again and got an answering machine. I finally called the main number and requested the manager. Some guy Rick got on the phone, took down my information, and said he would call me back shortly. He never did.
Erin goes and decides to check out the company online. I now kick myself for not doing so. Apparently, Soaring Sports has a history of not providing services and not refunding money.
http://www.skydiveorange.com/caution.htm
http://ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff148373.htm
http://kutv.com/consumer/local_story_312122913.html
Even the Better Business Bureau said there have been a lot of complaints about this company. When I called for prices, I should have been more hesitant with the pushy saleslady.
This company has skydiving websites for different cities. They all have the same photos and the same "customer experience" letters.
I called my bank and reported the scam. I told them I paid for sevices that are not being rendered. I told the bank about all the unreturned calls and the run-around I got today. They agreed to refund the money. I told all the other girls to do the same thing. We are going to attempt to go to Ocean City Skydiving because I at least know a girl that went there.
Theresa called the company to complain to them. They told her are reservations are all set for Salisbury. This was 930pm. If we were reserved, why did none of us receive a call with the location and the time! So I called back and was extremely pissed off. I told the guy how unacceptable their service was and how I consider this services not rendered and how I would not even want to do business with them after the unresponsiveness I received. He told me they are still waiting for the pilot to call with a time and location. I laughed and told him that he told another girl in my group that the reservations were all set and asked him why we are all being told different things. I told him how when I call, each person tells me different information such as they will know after 4 and then after 5. He asked to put me on hold and I told him "NO! I was on hold for 15 minutes early and I am not being put on hold again!" He said he could find me another drop zone somewhere else and I laughed again and said "yea, you guys were going to try to send me to Wisconsin before." He said that was a typo. (Yea, I can see how MD and WI are so close.) He said we could reschedule the jump for another day and I told him that I did not want to do business with them. He asked if I was canceling. I told him that I was not canceling because I do not want to jump but I feel they failed to provide me with the services I paid for. He asked again if I wanted to cancel. It was as if he was trying to get me to say "I want to cancel" so that I can not get refunded. I told him "how am I supposed to jump tomorrow when you guys still don't have a location or a time?" He asked if I wanted a refund. Again I laughed and said "I would love one, but according to all the reports about your company online you guys don't give refunds." He said "that is because your deposit is non-refundable." I told him I am not doing business with them. I already reported the scam to my bank. I made a report to the Better Business Bureau. And I will be sure to tell everyone I know how horrible their business and service is.
This is so fucked up. I am going to write letters to every television news station and newspapers to see if they will do a story about this place.