Our experience with Black Flag Charters was extremely disappointing, and it now seems they are…read moregoing out of business and running away with our money.
Our group, the Clemson Scuba Club, booked a Spring Break trip with Black Flag Charters. As happens in diving, weather resulted in several dives being canceled. We didn't think much of it at the time, but several other dive companies were still going out those very same days, and it could have been divable conditions, but we acted in favor of what we thought was safety. We completely understood that safety comes first and had no issue with the cancellations themselves.
The problem began afterward.
Black Flag acknowledged that our organization was owed a refund totaling $3,072.33 for the canceled portions of the trip. Unfortunately, despite months of emails, text messages, phone calls, and payment requests, we have still not received the agreed refund. The amount of $3,072.33 is remarkably low to begin with, as we only got to dive 1 of the 6 dives we charted and paid for, but were being given back not even half of what we paid, and then the owner Anthony Falzon made up some bogus reason about paying his staff (who didn't end up doing their job, since we never even went to the marina???) and the equipment being rented from yet another company.
Throughout this process, we made every effort to resolve the matter privately. We gave the company multiple opportunities over several months to make good on its commitment before pursuing any formal action. We were patient, remained professional, and consistently communicated our only goal: receiving the refund that had already been acknowledged.
Instead, we were met with repeated delays and long periods of little or no communication while our student organization remained responsible for refunding members who had paid for services that were ultimately not provided. It has become clear at this point, after Black Flag has taken down their website, that they are trying to just turn tail and run away with thousands of college kids' money. We have been in contact with the BBB, West Palm Beach attorneys, and the small claims court of West Palm Beach.
As president of the Clemson Scuba Club, this has been incredibly frustrating because these funds belong to our members, many of whom are college students. We have documented our communications and have now begun pursuing formal avenues to recover the money after exhausting every reasonable attempt to resolve the issue directly. We have proof of PDF's and emails that they sent us showing that they agreed to pay us $3,072.33, but yet have not
I cannot emphasize enough that I cannot recommend doing business with a company that acknowledges a refund is owed yet, in our experience, does not follow through with payment despite months of good-faith efforts to resolve the matter. I genuinely hope they choose to make this right. Not only for us, but if they have any desire of doing business again, then for future customers as well.
