Morocco will be a month-long adventure, from Casablanca to Marrakesh. I booked a 15-day tour through Intrepid Travel called Best of Morocco, which will take me and a tour group of new potential friends, through colourful cities, medinas, the mountains and the desert. The tour was also part of an annual sale. What luck!
The remaining days will be all to my own. I’m considering kicking it back on the beaches of Essaouira and enjoying balmy evenings, as June marks the start of summer, so it will be fiercely warm. Intrepid also informs us that;
“The festival calendar is jam-packed with musical goodness, including Essaouira’s Gnaoua Music Festival and Fes’s Festival of World Sacred Music. There’s also the Cherry Festival in Sefrou which features elaborate floats and parades, authentic Moroccan food and the crowning of ‘Miss Cherry’.”
Lovely! As the temperature rises, Casablanca sounds like the ideal place to celebrate my birthday. I might catch the Jazzablanca Festival and make friends with some Europeans on their summer break. I’m SO excited!
But none of this came to pass…
I wanted to get my brown butt on a camel rather impulsively, so decided to entrust an individual who has several years of experience with handling visa applications. Family members have used him twice, with satisfaction. It sounded good.
With a week to go before my intended departure, the visa man in question went rather quiet regarding the progress of my application. He reported having been sick with the flu for 5 days. I eventually learned that a slip is given to whomever deposits a visa application, which includes a collection date. I asked for this, was promised a copy, but never received one. From this point onwards, all communications ceased.
Lots of stress-related diarrhea and sleepless nights later, I eventually managed to learn from the Embassy of Morocco in Pretoria, that my passport and visa application had never arrived. The plane was due to depart in 5 hours. All desperate attempts to get hold of Malcolm M failed. My ever-optimistic mother said, “Perhaps the man’s phone has been stolen?” But, when a friend messaged to ask about his services, he called that number and offered enthusiastic willingness to help.
Needless to say, the entire trip was cancelled, a new passport was applied for, and a case was opened with the police. It is therefore now safe to make this public, so that he cannot scam and hurt others.
Travel Insurance Claim
To add insult to injury, I heard back from the travel insurance company 5 days later while preparing to celebrate my father’s birthday. I had premium travel insurance, so I felt hopeful. They informed me with regret, that my claim(s) were not covered by my policy according to Section C – Matters of Fraud:
After careful consideration of your claim, we regret to inform you that the loss you are claiming for is not covered in terms of the policy contract you have with us due to the following reason(s): We understand that you did not receive your visa due to a fraudulent third party. However, as per the policy wording below, this is not covered by the policy. We will not pay for any claim arising from: hh. losses, if you are the victim of fraud caused by: fraud or misrepresentation by a third party including but not limited to a transport or accommodation provider, travel agency, tour operator, tour organiser, booking agent and/or consolidator. In light of the above, you unfortunately do not have a valid claim in terms of the policy you have.
Below are the words of others, whose pain I share.
SA Visa Solutions on Facebook
[24 June 2022]: “Malcom is a fraud and should not be trusted!! He takes you money and claims to see you through the process just to disappear on you. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY HIM.”
[10 August 2023]: “Malcom M and his wife Poonani M are frauds… they will take your money and disappear. FNB has blocked their account. Open up a case at the police station to have him prosecuted.
SHAMELESS THIEF & FRAUD:
[7 June 2024]: Well, I’m pleased to report that a criminal case has been opened and a detective will be looking into this man for his crimes. I must be one of the most recent victims. I had to cancel an ENTIRE month-long trip to Morocco, at great expense. Not to mention all the stress and anxiety caused. The plane has departed and I have no idea where my passport might be. I’ve had to apply for a new one. All of this due to ONE MAN!
Careful who you mess with buddy. They’re coming for you.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069683035320&sk=reviews
SA Visa Solutions on Hello Peter
23 Jun 2022 at 11:38
Unethical and Fraudulent Business Practice
I used the services of Malcolm M for a VISA application, he was completely helpful and attentive until the point that I handed both my passports (one new and one with an expiring US Visa) as well as money and all my personal details. It was at this stage that he disappeared and after 6 weeks of messaging him daily I managed to phone the US Embassy only to find out that he had not submitted my application and had, assumedly, stolen my passports and money. I am fearful that the theft of my passports equates to identity theft. I would strongly discourage anyone from ever using this individual.
Source: https://www.hellopeter.com/sa-visa-solutions/reviews/unethical-and-fraudulent-business-practice-bf775182d95ec57cf2bf35232953094adb60bd93-3981095
28 Dec 2022 at 12:50
SA VISA SOLUTIONS IS A FRAUDELENT COMPANY
This company and owner is a fraud. He took our money and identities of my wife and myself and didn’t deliver any VISAs. We had to eventually approach another company to do our VISAs. When I contacted him to refund my money he doesn’t take or return calls or messages. PLEASE DO NOT FALL FOR MALCOLM’S LIES… he will just steal and disappear with your money.
Source: https://www.hellopeter.com/sa-visa-solutions/reviews/sa-visa-solutions-is-a-fraudelent-company-4239845
17 Dec 2018 at 15:22
Irate customer
This is the worst company we have dealt with.. The guy’s name is Malcolm and he is the most unprofessional person we have ever met. My mom missed her flight and cancelled another due to the incompetence of this guy. He offered to pick up her passport on Friday and deliver it. This guy has been dodging our phone calls the entire day not letting us know what’s going on. We had to go to DHL only to realise that they were closed and this so called “professional” idiot didn’t have the decency to call or even SMS to inform us. I would never recommend him to anyone!
Source: https://www.hellopeter.com/sa-visa-solutions/reviews/irate-customer-2644148
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