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Originally Posted by Channel 5 - October 2

Dispute over golf cart strands tourists in Belize


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It may not be classified as a crime but two U.S. tourists were prevented from leaving the country for the last two days. Their story, while not very flattering to Belize's reputation for hospitality, points up the need for a better way to resolve disputes involving visitors to our shores. News Five's Janelle Chanona explains.

Sandra Warren, Sued for Golf Cart
"We never in a million years expected such questionable business practices, never."

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Like many visitors to Ambergris Caye, when American tourists Sandra and Norman Warren arrived in San Pedro Town on September twenty-third, they decided to rent a golf cart. The couple signed a week-long contract with Island Tour Rental Limited, but four days later the vehicle crashed.

Janelle Chanona
"Tell me about this accident, did you roll over, did you...

Norman Warren, Crashed Golf Cart

"It just tipped over. I veered like this because a dog was going to bite my feet and I lifted my feet and turned and I turned into the fence a little and there was a little embankment and the golf cart just tipped over."

Witnesses helped turn the vehicle right side up, but the Warrens say when they reported the incident to the golf cart company everything went downhill. The couple say they were willing to pay but when employees told them the repairs would cost twelve thousand dollars, the tourists were shocked. They decided to get a separate estimate from a local mechanic, who put the bill at eleven hundred bucks. A subsequent traffic police report assessed the cost at "no more than two thousand dollars." But Island Rentals wasn't budging and on Saturday night, Sandra Warren was served with an injunction, barring her from travelling home the next day.

Sandra Warren
"This is just, I wish they would have just settled, we were ready and willing to pay for everything last Wednesday, but they tried some intimidation tactics and trickery, serving us the night before we leave thinking that we're just going to pull the money out of our pocket, it's not fair."

"We tried to negotiate with her. We told her we'd be more than happy to pay for what is really wrong with the cart. We'll give you a thousand dollars. No. So then she served us with the papers and that day they already wanted to negotiate. They were willing to take four thousand five hundred U.S. dollars and we said no, that's not the price of what's wrong."

Unable to go home, the Warrens were forced to retain attorney Anthony Sylvester to present their case in the Supreme Court this afternoon. And in court today, Aldo Reyes, representing Island Tour Rentals actually asked the court to imprison Warren. That request was denied, but Reyes says his clients are simply trying to recover their costs, which now amounts to fifteen thousand dollars.

Aldo Reyes, Attorney for Island Tour Rentals
"Mrs. Sandra Warren is a tourist to Belize and she was scheduled to leave on Sunday so if she would have left, our client would have been left without any type of recourse to proceed her in the States, there are no reciprocal enforcements arrangements with the States."

"Liability has been admitted, it's just now the quantum of the repairs, the quantum of the damages. We have our estimates that are claiming one amount and their estimates are claiming an amount, so it's just to come to figure that's agreeable to all parties."

Today the court ruled that the Warrens could go home until the substantive case is heard.

Anthony Sylvester, Attorney for Warrens
"It is really shocking and in a sense frustrating and distressing to the defendants, but the good news is that this won't deter them, they will still come back to Belize."

Janelle Chanona
"Now, they get to go home today right?"

Anthony Sylvester

"Yes."

Janelle Chanona
"Now they do have to come back [for court]?"

Anthony Sylvester
"They will have to come back for the trial proper, but in addition to that they still want to visit Belize on vacation."

Janelle Chanona
"As for as a message to golf cart renters, what do you think this sends?"

Aldo Reyes

"Well just be very careful of the terms of golf cart rental, read them, and be very careful when you drive your golf cart."

Advice the Warrens say they will definitely take the next time they're in Belize. No date has been set for the golf cart trial. Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.

The San Pedro Business Association has agreed to provide eight thousand dollars as security for the Warrens in their case against Island Tour Rentals. The couple hails from Phoenix, Arizona and it was their first visit to Belize. Despite their troubles, they say they will vacation here again as they thoroughly enjoyed the rest of their experience.

http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_detail_story.php?story_id=19357


Originally Posted by Channel 7 - October 2
Tourists Who Crashed Golf Cart Sued

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Tonight an American couple who were on vacation in Belize are happy to be on the way back to their home in Phoenix Arizona after they had been denied permission to leave Belize. The couple is Norman and Sandra Warren and it is the Supreme Court which barred them from leaving the country.

The story began on September 23rd when the couple rented a golf cart from Island Tour Rental Company in San Pedro. But while driving the cart through the island on September 26th, dog chased the couple and they lost control of the cart, hit an embankment and flipped the cart.

The roof was damaged and the couple concedes that they caused it and agreed to pay to fix it. But the golf cart rental company wanted the couple to pay $12,000 for a new cart - even though two mechanics offered to fix it for $1,000. That is because the company claimed the chassis was broken.

So the golf cart company took it to the Supreme Court and sued the couple for the $12,000. Their attorney Aldo Reyes got an injunction barring the couple from leaving the country. But today the couple's attorney - Anthony Sylvestre Jr., from Musa and Balderamos, got the green light from the Supreme Court for the couple to leave the country.

The San Pedro Business Association agreed to take on the case and the responsibility in order for the couple to leave the country.

We note that the golf cart company had already charged $6,000 on the couple's American Express credit card for damages. Also notable is that the chassis of the golf cart was damaged and the replacement part isn't available in Belize.

The tour company's manager Carol Maldonado told us this evening that if the chassis was welded, it would endanger the lives of future drivers because a welded chassis won't be reliable because of the salt water on the island. She says she would have to buy an entirely new golf cart for them to get the replacement chassis. She says all her company wants is their golf cart back in working condition.

http://www.7newsbelize.com/archive/10010707.html


Originally Posted by Ambergris Today - October 3
Incident Strands Tourist in Country

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This past weekend an incident occurred between Island Tour Rentals and a couple visiting the island that could post some negative effects on San Pedro's tourism. According to the Warrens, they are being over charged for damages caused to a golf cart which they had rented at Island Tour Rentals - a small incident that could cause a ripple effect on the tourism industry here on the island and the country of Belize on a whole.

According to Sandra Warren they arrived on the island on Saturday, September 23, and rented a golf cart from Island Tour Rental. On Wednesday, September 26, they were heading to town from Victoria House when a dog started chasing them and tried to attach her husband, Norman Warren, who was driving. Her husband veered to the right and hit an embankment and the golf cart tipped on its side.

After having turned the cart upright with the help of a few locals, they immediately decided to go to the rental company to inform them of what happened. They had bent the roof of the golf cart and one of the front wheel fenders was torn off. Upon arriving, they asked the manager for an estimate on the damages, thinking that what had happened to the golf cart was minimal. The manager Ms. Maldonado informed them that the chassis was broken and the cart was basically useless. She came up with a charge of $20,000Bze for the cost of a new golf cart.

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Island Tour Rental then filed a police report. Upon the arrival of the police, they suggested Ms. Warren not to pay for the charges and to get a second opinion because this was not the first incident of its kind involving overcharges by the rental company.

Mrs Warren visited several local mechanics and they all estimated that the most it would cost to repair the damages would be around $2,000Bze. Mrs. Maldonado then showed up with charges of $12,000 to fix up the cart, but was advised by the police to make the matter into a law suit because she was charging more than $5,000. The police removed the copy of Ms. Warren's credit card the company had and told them they were NOT allowed to make any charges on it.

Upon Mrs. Warren arrival to her hotel room later that day she discovered that Island Tour Rental had attempted to make two charges on her credit card, each amounting to $6,000US. Only one charge was accepted by the credit card company.

Upon listening to the Warren's case, the San Pedro Business Association (SPBA) has taken priority over this matter since they want to protect the tourist couple from being extorted from a ridiculous amount of money. The Warrens are being charged for damages to: (i) Lift Kit - $1800 (ii) hubs & Bearings - $420 (iii) Sun tops - $1400 (iv) Front Frame - $265 (v) 1 rear & front fender - $695 (vi) Tie Rods - 250 and Chassis for a grand total of about $6,275Bze.

Island Tour Rentals has taken this case to court and their action had forced the Warrens to stay in Belize beyond their scheduled visit. They were scheduled to leave Belize on Sunday, September 30 but were given an interim injunction preventing them from leaving the country; failing to do so the Warrens could have been sent to prison or have their assets seized.

The San Pedro Business Association volunteered to take over the Warren's position of responsibility for any damage claims over $2,000Bze. The SPBA has done this so that the Warren's can be discharged of the interim injunction and be able to leave the country and return to the United States to attend to their child and return to work. The Warren's appeared in court on Tuesday, October 2, and were allowed to leave the country with an agreement that the San Pedro Business Association take responsibility of the case and represent them in court.

Whatever the case may be, and whether or no the Warren's are being ripped off or not, this small matter can cause great damage to our tourism industry. News on the incident has spread like wild fire over the internet and one can rest assured that some tourists might think twice about renting a golf cart or about coming to the island.

Business should take great precaution in protecting our industry and avoid creating situations that could leave a negative mark on our island. We only hope that this situation will be cleared up as quickly as possible. We should all deal with whatever problems arise in an educated, legal and proper way. Ambergris Today will keep you updated on this matter as information becomes available.

Deep linking to the article is not possible, this is the link to their web site: http://www.ambergristoday.com/


Originally Posted by San Pedro Sun - October 4

Legal dispute over Golf Cart #8


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Pictured is the golf cart in question. The Warrens were permitted to leave Belize, but will have to return for the court case at a later date.

Golf Cart #8 remains as the golf cart in question and that is the number that Sandra and Norman Warren will never forget. The couple who hail from Phoenix, Arizona rented a golf cart from Island Tour Rentals located inside of the Island Supermarket on September 23rd for a weeklong period. Upon renting said vehicle, the Warrens or rather Sandra, signed a contract, which among many things, stated that the couple will incur any expenses should the cart receive any damages.

Heading to the resort where they were vacationing at, The Victoria House, a dog intercepted the couple's path with the intention of biting Norman's feet. This caused Norman, who was driving, to veer to the side where he was met with an embankment, causing Cart #8 to tip over. Witnesses of the accident helped the duo flip the cart to its upright position and immediately drove to Island Tour Rentals to report the incident.

Upon arriving at the company, Karol Maldonado, manager, met the couple and went outside to inspect the damages received. Island Tour's in-house mechanic was brought in to assess the dents and scratches on the cart. The inspection revealed, according to the company, a broken chassis (the framework of the cart), with damages on the lift kit and three fenders to name a few amounting to a price tag of $12,000. The couple was in shock to think that they would have to pay this amount for according to them, "a golf cart that still runs." Maldonado claims to have explained to the couple that although it might run, the damages done to it prevent the company from renting it to other people. "We have to think about the safety of our clients," commented Maldonado, "we can not rent out a cart that is welded and might get broken while another client has it. What if something worse were to happen?"

According to Sandra, Maldonado immediately charged $6,000 to the American Express card that she had provided when she signed the contract. An additional $6,000 was attempted to be tried but AMEX rebutted the charge until they spoke with the Warrens. Unaware that the charge had been made, Sandra waited for police officers to arrive, since the company had called to file a report. Sandra claims that she was warned by reliable sources to get a second opinion before paying any money to Island Tour Rentals. Traffic Department mechanic, Bernard 'Sambo' Spain assessed the damages and put them at "no more than two thousand dollars." Second and third opinions were also received from two other mechanics on the island. With three mechanics having looked at the cart, the Warrens chose to pay Island Tour the highest of the three bids, $2,000. Maldonado refused and stated the fact that she was pursuing legal action against the couple. When the Warrens returned to their hotel, they were shocked to see a charge of $6,000 on their card. The Warrens state that police officers told Maldonado to withdraw the charges which she did. Maldonado alleges that she never made a charge on the couple's card but rather put the $6,000 on hold for use of payment on a later date.

The couple, after having been served with an injunction barring them from leaving the country, sought legal advice from Anthony Sylvestre since any matter above $5,000 needs to be settled in Supreme Court and can not be contested in San Pedro Magistrates' Court. Island Tour Rentals stated in an interview with The San Pedro Sun that this matter did not have to go to court. "It could have been easily settled if they would have taken one of the many offers I have extended to them, including to take the golf cart and simply return it the way we rented it out to them. That's all and even then they refused," stated Director Mahmoud Harmouch.

The matter was taken to the courts and the San Pedro Business Association, which includes businesses such as Victoria House, Pedro's Pizza, Banana Beach, Portofino and SEAduced, assisted the couple in any which way they could. "The San Pedro Business Association has been great. If we had been elsewhere and gone through an incident such as this it would have been completely terrifying but having these people help is just amazing," stated Sandra.

Speaking with the Business Association, The Sun discovered that these individuals were doing their best to help our tourists who patronize our beaches and fall in love with our country. "We can not let this happen to our guests. They are willing to pay, they are aware that they caused those damages. But, they have a son and they have jobs and their lives to get on with. They can not be held hostage in our country for this. Like we said they are willing to pay but they want to pay what is fair," commented Brent Kirkman, manager, Victoria House.

Not only did the Association help but they took responsibility of the case. "Island Tour Rentals is not suing the Warrens anymore. We have taken up that responsibility so they are in reality suing us. We will pay what needs to be paid and we will be here to contest the matter in court," commented Kirkman.

After the motion passed through in court, the Warrens were finally free to board their Continental flight en route to Phoenix and their lives. Maldonado ended, "There has been much said about us, not in the best of light, but there are always two sides to what happened. We are in a legal process and we are just letting the court take its course." Island Tour is being represented by Aldo Reyes.

http://www.sanpedrosun.net/07-391.html

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What on earth? It says: "Reyes says his clients are simply trying to recover their costs, which now amounts to fifteen thousand dollars."

OK, a big leap, but let's for a moment assume that the cost for repairs is actually the $4500 that was offered as a settlement amount. How then does Island Rentals costs amount to $15,000? Now, I suppose they are including legal fees.

Not to mention, I find it absolutely baffling that Island Rentals has been and is taking such an extreme position in the first place, the second place and the third place.

Note to Island Rentals, you are causing your name to be smeared all over the internet (not just here on AC message board). I guess you don't care about that or loss of general word of mouth referrals.


A fish and a bird can fall in love, but where will they build their nest?

P
pedro2
pedro2
P
There's no way they can expect to recover legal costs they have incurred in bringing a vexatious and unnecessary action. But this is Belize and they are Lebanese.....

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Unfortunitly this situation has already had an effect. Our friends who are joining us in Belize very recently cancelled a planned trip to a resort more remote from San Pedro in favour of one closer. Reason...no need for a golf cart in SP.

They are still coming as planned but a resort not so close to SP just lost buisness for the sake of bad reports regards golf cart rental.

It dosn't matter how many good companies there are, one bad... tars the rest. Too be honest...it's also bikes for my wife and I now in 3 weeks. More work/exercise but less worry.

Shame on Island tours and sorry for lost buisness to those good guys out there...but this is our vacation and not taking chances.




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WE'RE FREE!!!!! Norman and I are home, very tired and happy to see our son who is enjoying himself immensely saying that mom and dad spent time in the Belizean Prison. I have to work early in the am so I'll start work on a trip report tomorrow. Brent, thanks for the email welcoming us home and to Peter for letting everyone know we had finally been allowed to fly home. Love to you all for saving us, literally, and to all of you who had us in your prayers.
Sandra and Norman Warren

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Great to hear that you're both home, safe and sound! I imagine it was just heaven seeing your son. laugh Once again, so sorry about your vacation being marred by such an awful incident. I'm not suprised, however, that so many people had your back. Kudos to each and every one of them!!! San Pedro is truly a wonderful place with wonderful people.


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It's a small island, everyone will know. It's a big internet, and those that do their research before their first visit will know. Those that have been there will know and probably understand in a little more depth. In my mind, this nets a lot of negative publicity for the cart company, but ten times that in positive publicity for the people who stood up for them. It is amazing that anyone who deals with the tourists could be so short sighted regarding the ramifications of their actions. I get the impression that the Warrens were staying at VH. Would this same thing have happened if they were staying at Rubys? As international travelers, we all realize that stuff happens, and we are usually willing to settle up for a reasonable amount. When someone attempts to royally hose us down, it does upset the applecart.

We are down next month, will rent a cart, and will enjoy ourselves. We will also patronize the SPBA businesses. Guess where we won't go?


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Whew, glad to hear you guys are home. Just putting it out there - there are MANY REPUTABLE GOLF CART RENTAL COMPANYS in San Pedro. Rent a cart and enjoy seeing all of the town at your leisure, its not to be missed.

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She's insane. Karol Maldonado that is. The day that she served me with the injuction was the first time they tried to negotiate. That negotiation came down to $4500 (from original $6000) and was based on the fact that they had "discovered" another cart in their inventory and could remove the front end from that one to be used for the cart we damaged.
Just to be perfectly clear, the certified non-biased mechanic Mr. Spain who was hired by the SP police stated on the assessment that there was no damage to the chasis. Our mechanic and VH mechanic stated the same. have a great day all!

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