Anyone heard from Rocco lately?
May 28th, 2007, 02:09 PM
#41
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Tom
Can you please stick to the topic as it rather important.
Post this on another topic.
Debbie (dwc0201)
Can you please (if possible) contact me ASAP [email protected]
Marc
Can you please stick to the topic as it rather important.
Post this on another topic.
Debbie (dwc0201)
Can you please (if possible) contact me ASAP [email protected]
Marc
May 28th, 2007, 02:11 PM
#42
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May 28th, 2007, 02:29 PM
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I can confirm the last email I had from him was on May 10th when he talked about how things were and his upcoming trip in July.
Aside from this I am not aware of any of his business dealings and one begins to be worried about him and for those with whom he is dealing.
Matt
Aside from this I am not aware of any of his business dealings and one begins to be worried about him and for those with whom he is dealing.
Matt
May 28th, 2007, 02:34 PM
#47
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Jeez Marc sorrie, Toms response was in answer to my question, I wasn't trying to hijack the thread, it was just a quick question that I wasn't looking for a detailed answer, I wouldn't have asked if I'd know it would upset you that much!
Imelda
Imelda
May 28th, 2007, 04:16 PM
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Marc, are you already in contact with the camp operators to secure your bookings? If Rocco had paid the deposits chances are good that you won't have a financial loss at all (at least for the Zambian bookings). Also ask them for the internal flight bookings. I guess the most important thing here is that your upcoming safari will happen.
May 28th, 2007, 04:17 PM
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napamatt- Rocco put together my first two trips, the first as a non-agent the second as an agent with destinyafrica and everything went smoothly with no complaints, and the camps he suggested were perfect. when planning my third trip, I originally wanted to go to Kwando and Julian had just returned, and had more knowledge about Kwando Camps than Rocco, so I dealt with him. Kwando turned out to be too expensive so Julian looked at other options, including Somalisa which I booked and since Julian did all the work, I stuck with him as an agent. My deposit and final payment was sent to Rocco as he is in the U.S. Everything went smoothly again for me. Obviously after this thread, I wouldn't book with destinyafrica again, but will not hesitate to deal with Julian and Sharon from timelessafrica.
Good luck Marc, Debbie and Africa, I hope you are able to take your trips and all have a great time!
Good luck Marc, Debbie and Africa, I hope you are able to take your trips and all have a great time!
May 28th, 2007, 04:20 PM
#51
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I have been reading your posts but have been rather low key because I am still hoping Rocco will come through. I don't want to blast him-just in case. If Marc is in the same situation I am, it doesn't appear Rocco booked any flights or paid anything from my deposit to the camps. Again, the camps have been great and our trip will still happen in July and I am hoping it won't cost us anymore than planned. Will give you more details once I attempt again to contact Rocco to see if he wants to try and work things out in a friendly manner. 
Either way, we are going as I have been trying to get to Africa for a few years now.
Marc, I did send you an e-mail so we can talk.
Debbie
Either way, we are going as I have been trying to get to Africa for a few years now.
Marc, I did send you an e-mail so we can talk.
Debbie
May 28th, 2007, 04:47 PM
#52
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My apologies Imelda,
Just trying to keep my mind on things at hand.
I, like Debbie prefer not to discuss things here on this forum. I just wanted to ask the question as to who had the most recent contact with Rocco.
Many thanks to all who are helping.
Hopefully for myself, Debbie and others things will progress to a positive outcome.
I'm sure all of you understand.
Regards
Marc
Just trying to keep my mind on things at hand.
I, like Debbie prefer not to discuss things here on this forum. I just wanted to ask the question as to who had the most recent contact with Rocco.
Many thanks to all who are helping.
Hopefully for myself, Debbie and others things will progress to a positive outcome.
I'm sure all of you understand.
Regards
Marc
May 28th, 2007, 05:05 PM
#53
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dwc, so none of your deposit made it to the camps/ transportation? do you have to pay that amount again or are the lodges writing it off? glad to see they are so accommodating...all the lodge managers I've met have been fantastic people and happy they are working to make your trip happen!
Again, good luck to all of you!
Again, good luck to all of you!
May 28th, 2007, 08:08 PM
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I dont think Rocco ever took this ''travel agent'' thing too seriously-it was more to get discount accommodations if you ask me.
He must be going through serious difficulties in his personal life,more than he would like to share on a public forum.I am sure his ex wife will check this forum from time to time and I imagine someone is hurt by the ''new'' life.
He has helped all of us in the past,as a ''travel agent'' and for free in the good old days.
Hope everything is ok buddy.
He must be going through serious difficulties in his personal life,more than he would like to share on a public forum.I am sure his ex wife will check this forum from time to time and I imagine someone is hurt by the ''new'' life.
He has helped all of us in the past,as a ''travel agent'' and for free in the good old days.
Hope everything is ok buddy.
May 28th, 2007, 09:08 PM
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Well, he sure took our trip seriously, since me being a total newbie, I was stressing about everything. And, he came through on every detail. In fact, I was wondering how he could possibly take care of answering so many questions and providing so much in the way of vouchers, visa waivers, etc, for us if he was also trying to do the same with a number of other clients.
I do hope he resurfaces and gets eveyone he is dealing with back on track--for them, and for him.
Jim
I do hope he resurfaces and gets eveyone he is dealing with back on track--for them, and for him.
Jim
May 29th, 2007, 12:55 AM
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Apology accepted Marc. I appreciate you are trying to sort out a bad situation and I would probably be stressing badly at this stage too. I am sorry things aren't working out the way you planned but thankfully all this is happening in time to get everything sorted yourself. I really do hope that all goes to plan and that you have a fabulous trip in the end..... and I promise to e-mail Tom with questions in future 
... Assuming that's OK with you Tom?
... Assuming that's OK with you Tom?
May 29th, 2007, 02:55 AM
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Personally I've learned a huge amount from the agents who participate here, and I hope they'll continue to contribute...their knowledge is one of the things that makes this forum such a great resource compared to other forums. They spend a lot of time giving pro bono advice since they don't get paid unless someone books with them and a lot of people here already have an agent, and I think it's great.
I also don't think there's anything wrong with booking with a small company as long as you do your homework and the company follows good business practices like having a client trust account. Like a lot of people I don't really want to pay the inflated price of a big company which spends a lot on fancy offices and brochures...I'd much rather spend that money on my safari!
For me and my sister, this whole mess has made us decide to use a US agent rather than one in Africa (though obviously we will NOT be using Destiny Africa!). It's a lot easier to do your homework on a company in your own country. Imagine how awful this would be if Rocco was in another country! At least in the US there are consumer protection laws that you can fall back on.
I really, really hope things work out for Africaddict, Dwc, and Africa! Please let us know how it turns out!
Moira
I also don't think there's anything wrong with booking with a small company as long as you do your homework and the company follows good business practices like having a client trust account. Like a lot of people I don't really want to pay the inflated price of a big company which spends a lot on fancy offices and brochures...I'd much rather spend that money on my safari!
For me and my sister, this whole mess has made us decide to use a US agent rather than one in Africa (though obviously we will NOT be using Destiny Africa!). It's a lot easier to do your homework on a company in your own country. Imagine how awful this would be if Rocco was in another country! At least in the US there are consumer protection laws that you can fall back on.
I really, really hope things work out for Africaddict, Dwc, and Africa! Please let us know how it turns out!
Moira
May 29th, 2007, 03:16 AM
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Sorry Marc, I didn't realize you were from Australia!
I think that US consumer protection laws would still apply since the company is in the US but you would need to check, and obviously it will be a pain in the butt to deal with long distance.
The other thing we've decided after reading about this mess is that we are definitely paying with Amex. Amex is great about helping customers out in situations like this...Visa and MC not as much unless the payment was made recently.
Moira
I think that US consumer protection laws would still apply since the company is in the US but you would need to check, and obviously it will be a pain in the butt to deal with long distance.
The other thing we've decided after reading about this mess is that we are definitely paying with Amex. Amex is great about helping customers out in situations like this...Visa and MC not as much unless the payment was made recently.
Moira
