Soul Surf Club Dubai - Complete Fraud.
What a horrific experience and a blatant attempt to rob me of my money. Paid in advance for an 850AED ($235 usd) lesson for one hour for me and my two boys (11 and 9). Had a WhatsApp exchange where the owner (Anthony) told me lessons includes - 1 hour coaching, rash guards and surf boards. Told me to come at 12pm.
We arrived and his coach was waiting for us at their flimsy little tent with hardly any surf boards and equipment or anything.. And just two , soaking wet, oversized rash guards in a plastic box, extra large size for adult men. Nothing for my boys.
The coach just looked at me blankly and said "people bring their own rash guards." Bring our own rash guards?? We're paying 850AED! I then showed the coach our WhatsApp exchange with Anthony where he had written quite clearly: "850AED for 1 hour coaching + rash guards + surf boards."
The coach then called Anthony and told me to speak to him if I have a problem. Err? Shouldn't you explain to him that you don't have the equipment before you pass the phone to me? Totally unprofessional.
So he hands the phone to me to speak to Anthony and I have to explain to him "Where are the rash guards?" Anthony's resposne:
"If they're not there, then we don't have any."
His only excuse was that they had a busy morning and people must have taken them. I told him rash guards were promised in our WhatsApp exchange and that we can't have beginner surf lessons with two young boys without them.
He then offered to either reschedule the appointment or give me a refund. Ramadan had started and my boys were fasting so this was the only Saturday we could do it so I told him I want a refund. He agreed to the refund and I assumed that would be the end.
But there was no refund until the following Monday when I had to follow up with him and phone him for the refund. What happened next was the most abusive phone call I've ever had from a business owner.
He began laying down the law to me by telling me his terms and conditions state there is no refund and that I should read them next time before booking a service. He then started spewing blatant lies to me about how he was too busy on Saturday and offered me a refund without finding out what was going on, but apparently he'd spoken to the coach and I had cancelled because I complained about the waves (total lie) and that my boys were too scared to go in the water (another total lie, my boys were heartbroken they couldn't surf). He then told me there is no refund and threatened me with the police before hanging up on me.
After threatening him with a credit card dispute he sent me a FAKE refund confirmation email and message confirming a refund on WhatsApp while spinning more lies about my behaviour. However, 3 weeks later, there was no refund, so now I've had to file a credit card dispute against him to recover my money. Thankfully I kept a record of all communication and have enough evidence (including the fake refund email he sent) to reclaim my money, but it takes them 60 days to work through this.
A warning to everyone - this man is a fraud and thief who will take your money without any remorse.