International Call Management Ltd

I am writing regarding the so-called 'Free holidays to Prague' offered by ICM Malta Ltd. My wife and I had both qualified for this after having sent Lm50 worth of call cards (for each Lm25 worth one would receive a ticket).

We received a contract which stipulated that a Lm30 deposit per person had to be submitted. We also had a choice of travel dates from which we had to choose three. Of course being a married couple we wanted to travel together but nonetheless we wrote a letter to one of the managers Mr Cilia requesting that we be given the same travel date as well as a double room to share. After not having received a reply we decided to call ICM and spoke to the secretary as Mr Cilia was always out or in a meeting. She gave us his e-mail address and told us to write our request as he would definitely see it.

However there was a time limit to send the deposit and as we still had not received any reply by post or e-mail as well as to numerous phone calls where Mr Cilia was still always in a meeting or not in the office, we decided to go ahead and sent a cheque for Lm60 deposit.

Following all this, our request had fallen on deaf ears as we were given different travelling dates. We then applied for our refund as it is clearly stated in the contract that this would be given if ICM couldn't fully accommodate our request made at the time of commitment. In our case, we had specifically made it clear that we wanted to travel together. Months later, on February 4, 2006, a press release from ICM informed clients that those who had been entitled to the Prague Scheme and could not travel shall be refunded their deposit of Lm30 by February 15, 2006.

Two months later, in April, my wife received her Lm30 deposit with a letter stating that "it has been decided that all participants who have been given a travel date and have chosen not to travel will be refunded the Lm30 deposit." (Copy of letter forwarded)

Again I wrote a letter to ICM enclosing a photocopy of the Lm60 cheque that I had paid so they refund my Lm30. This letter was sent on the April 15, 2006 and, as yet, I still have no reply. Most of their previous phone lines are now non-existent except for one which constantly triggers an answering machine.

I feel this company has never taken its clients seriously. Companies should treat clients with respect and people should be made aware of such false schemes and misleading companies.

I hope you can help me. (Andres Baron Bello)

On June 21 we sent a copy of this letter to International Call Management, asking them for their comments on the issue and, rather than give us their comments, they sent us the envelope back unopened. There was a stamped message with a tick on "Moved".

We sent another envelope with the same content still to no avail: it was returned too. In the prevailing scenario I appeal to International Call Management to send us their new address and to refund Mr Baron Bello his Lm30 deposit.