Has this happened to you in Fiji?

[Papa_Bear]

Dear Wananvu Beach Resort Ben and Rachael,
Tony Wiley and Reed Nescher,

Kai Viti divers is trying to charge another $2503.85 USA dollors today Jan 6 tuesday. My credit card called me thinking it was fradulant. I had to put a block on my card and they are sending me another card.

I am sorry that all of us are having trouble with this individual who is running Kai Viti divers to corruption.

Ben and Rachael of Wananavu, I did tell Wells fargo that the charges .
$1767.38 Kaiviti is acceptable
$1598.79 Wananavu was signed and authorized by me
$357.09 Wananavu was signed and approved by me

$337.24 was not approved by me and it was dropped.

Wells Fargo might contact Ben and Rachael at Wananvu because of all the confusion.
however Wells fargo wrote me about $357.09 because it was 1 day apart from the $337.24. The $357.09 is correct and was approved by me Cynthia Bower.

Bless you all ,

Cynthia Bower

This is an Email I just received a few minutes ago! I have been holding out writing about this, but the thing seems to be coming to a head! So here I go:

For our second week in Fiji I wanted to do more Bligh Water diving and try something different to photograph and write about and it looks like I have it! I was at DEMA and went to thee Fiji section of the show and stopped at the Wananavu Booth and talked to a woman named Julie who talked about her 12 years building the "Operation" and we (Our fault?) assumed she was talking about the Resort and Dive operation since she was telling use "She" had space at the resort and on the boat!

I came home and went on the web site at Wananavu.com and went to the Dive and Stay package offered and it was cited as:

Kai Viti Divers
ROOM TYPE
5 NIGHT 6 TANK
7 NIGHT 10 TANK
Per Person

Per Person
Garden view Bure
F$1395
F$2060
Oceanview Bure
F$1495
F$2160
Beachfront Bure
F$1595
F$2260
Deluxe Honeymoon
F$1945
F$2510
Rates are exclusive of Fiji 12.5% VAT and 5% Hotel Turnover Tax
All rates valid to 31 March 2009.
Web site:Snorkeling trips, Scuba Diving, Live Corals, Fijian Massage - Wananavu

So I contacted my friend Tony Wiley and told him to look and contact her to make arrangements so we could be picked up at Pacific Harbor and taken to Wananavu Beach Resort on December 6th. Some of us were going for different times and under different packages and Julie told Tony "We would work out the diving arrangement once we arrived. She had her Office manager contact us at Beqa Lagoon to get our Card numbers and settle the outstanding issues

We were picked up by, what we found out later was the resort (Wananavu Beach Resort) and delivered in great style by a friendly driver. The resort was top notch, friendly, clean, great food, and well appointed! We started the diving the next morning by setting my cameras out for the Dive Boys to pick up and take to the boat!

The diving was top notch and the Dive Masters were some of the best! We learned that one of their boats was down and under major repair! Tony would dive one day and the Bowers were thinking about one week while I was there for one week. I knew I was going to do an extra day of diving and two or more three tank days! One of the reason the diving was "To be determined" as Julie stated.

Things started to go bad when the Bowers decided to stay an extra 5 days and emailed Julie for rates! The rates were as posted on the web, but I was asked to go to the Dive Shop to settle my bill! I assumed it was for the extra day of diving and the two three tanks days! Well I was told that my card was charged 2562 fijian and that did not include DIVING!!!! They wanted another 1300.00 fijian for the diving!!! And "Tell the rest of my group, they owe as well"!!! I asked why mine was so much more and was told the package didn't included diving and I had to pay for a single room"!!! I never asked for one and the Resort was only 1/3 full!

I told her she got all she was going to get from me or the others! We went to Ben the manager of the resort who told us not to worry and didn't know what she was doing! The Web price was good and gave free upgrades to us for the hassle!

When I got back Julie is now demanding $4200 US dollars from us! And as you can read from the email above is willing to commit a crime to get money she feels she is owed! I have been patient, but I won't stand for this kind of treatment for me or anyone else! The resort is some place I will return to, but I hope Julie will have sold her interest in the dive operation! She has handled this very badly, but I want to see if anyone else here has had similar experiences?

And the Moral of the story is pay for the package through the resort and don't deal with KaiViti Divers! Know before you go and that is why I am posting this story here!

Julie I hope it is worth it to you! You're taking on Papa Bear!

 

[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 she is full of **** 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!

 

[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?!!!

 

[ShakaZulu]

That's why I want to buy my own Island!

 

[Stransky]

use Ra Divers next time.imo.
Still its a shame that a good trip ends up leaving a sour taste.
G/L.

 

[Papa_Bear]

They were less expensive! But the boats are not on the same par and Ra does not go out to Bligh Water they are a little slower! But you're right it takes the cream right off the Sundae! I want to know if others have had similar problems and worn others of what might happen and pay in advance so the resort handles it all, then you are set!

 

[Doubler]

Papa Bear Undercurrent had a story about another resort in Fiji pulling a similar scam. I believe the solution to your problem is spelled Nai'a.

 

[Papa_Bear]

I agree, but been there done that and loved it! I have to see as much as possible with the limited time god has given me! Also this is useful information for many and is a part of what we do! Also many others can't or won't spend the money or don't want to do 25 dives...... Oh well? BTW, still haven't heard from her to this point!