Apple Vacations and Virtual Showcase Travel.

Online bookings require the customer to sign a contract with Apple
Vacations. Apple breaches the contract at will.

In August 2004 I booked a land-only all-inclusive package in Mexico throughApple (New Years, family of four). . I paid a deposit and was required tosign a contract. The contract stated the balance was due Sat. Nov 13, 2004.

The balance was charged early to my charge card, without notice on October
24, 2004. This occurred at a time when the Canadian dollar was rising in
value and the payment in full was unilaterally charged to my VISA 20 days
ahead of the contract date.

When I observed that they had taken the balance in full and broken the
contract which they required me to sign, the only option offered was to
fully cancel my family vacation. I identified this problem to Ed Bank at
Virtual Showcase Travel on Nov 15th. There was no acknowledgement of breach of contract. Subsequent to my new years travel, I wrote to Apple Vacations on January 9th, 2005, providing copies of the contract and proof of their breach in charging me early (when the American dollar was falling in value against the Canadian dollar, action taken in breach of their published Fair Trade policy). . There has been no acknowledgement as of March 4, 2005.

I had not previously booked with on-line holiday agencies so I paid a direct
commission to a long-time professional travel agent to assist me with this
booking. She advised me that the on-line agency probably will not
acknowledge what they have done (breach of contract) as if they do so, they
might be responsible to do something about it.. .. .. .. .

I did have accomodation. I did have ground transportation. The room was
not what I had booked but the on site Apple representative did assist to
resolve. Yes, we had our trip.

Yes, I still have a bad taste in my mouth about any booking agency which
unilaterally breaches the contracts which THEY required, and ignores anyone
who points out exactly what they have done. Will I use Apple again.
Emphatically, NO.

I would be angry, also, if this happened to me. However, unless I don't understand your post, isn't your anger misplaced? The ta is the one that charges your cc with the final payment not Apple Vacations. Correct?

If everything was to your satisfaction, except the payment date, it seems to me that you need a new ta and not a new tour company.