Complaint Review: Thrillant Adventure Sports/Spot Reservations - Internet

I'm a senior citizen and I bought a $199 gift certificate for our son's Christmas present in 2013.  Lee had always wanted to learn flying lessons, so he could use it for one flying lesson.  No mention was ever made to me on the phone of any weight restriction.  He tried several times to call Thrillant Sports and Spot Reservations to set up a date/time.  Each time he was told they'd call him back but never did.  Over a month later, he finally was able to speak with a person who told him he weighed too much.  He's a large man, 6'4" and 292 lbs.  He asked for a refund, they said no.  He asked if he could transfer it, they said no.  Over the next year, he tried to lose as much weight as he could, but still was not down to their required weight.  Asked again for a refund, he was told no.  He was also told he only the $199 certificate expires April 25, 2015.  (I thought there were no expiration dates on gift certificates in California).  This year, he again tried to call them numerous times & they gave him the same old song & dance of they'd return his call.  No return call ever came.  He kept trying and trying until finally he spoke with a gal that said maybe they could find him a dinner cruise (he lives in Bakersfield, no cruise nearby) or something else.  Needless to say, she could not.

Lee told me all of the above & is working 12 hour days, so he asked if I would attempt to get something resolved on this waste of money.  My husband & I don't make a lot of money, so $199 is a lot to us.  I tried calling at approx 3:40 pm...was put on hold.....heard several recorded messages...waited, waited, waited,... & then a message came on that they close at 4 pm & to call back during normal business hours.  I emailed twice, once on their site & once from my email.  No response.  I also called & left a message for customer service explaining all of these problems.  Finally, approximately 3 weeks later, customer service emailed me with an authorization #.  Two days later, on approx April 11, 2015, I get a call from customer service telling me the $199 certificate is transferable and they will extend it 30 days to May 25, 2015.  I've searched their entire website and there is absolutley no "Thrillant Sport" that an athritic 65 yr old woman and a 67 old man with Congesstive Heart Failure would be able to participate in.  Our 2 grandsons, ages 6 & 10 are too young for any of the activities.  Our only other son & his wife have already sky dived, rode in a helicopter and went hot air ballooning.

So, I just got off the phone today, May 10, 2015 with Thrillant Sports, attempting for some sort of solution to this dilemna.  The gal I spoke with was very rude and short with me.  She just kept repeating the coices listed on their website which I already knew.  I even suggested we would agree to put some money to it for a dinner in San Francisco, a horseback ride for our grandsons, a spa or facial or ???  All to no avail.  With 15 days left on the expiration of the certificate, we just have to kiss the $199 goodbye.  DO NOT EVER use these sites....they are a total rip off....there is NO REFUND, NO PARTIAL REFUND and a total lack of any kind of customer services.  I don't care what kind of business your in, there are always going to be needed some exceptions to the rule, but not for this soul less company.  On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate them -0.

Totally Ripped Off and poorer now,

Mrs. Nancy Sandberg