Comments on: Collection agency demands $1,700 for lost airline ticket — should I pay?

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:21:39 +0000

I’m not sure I’d notice a $1700 credit on one of my heavily-used cards. I always look at all the charges on my statement for anything fishy, but the credits?

If I’m not expecting one, I don’t really scrutinize the credits.

By: David Z

David Z — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:51:03 +0000

And aren’t these all ticketless transactions as e tickets?

There are very few scenarios where it’s just not possible to issue e-tickets. But I notice it happens mostly with travel agencies “mixing” different airlines (e.g. Air Berlin and British Airways) for especially international flights.

Based on the details of this, a paper ticket had to be issued. Unfortunately those things can get lost.

IMHO Orbitz can file that Lost Ticket Application (LTA) themselves. They probably just don’t want to do it, which can be quite a shame.

Like some of the commenters here, I’m rather darned at Ms. Durana not having noticed Orbitz’s refund. But then, many people “skim” rather than read thoroughly nowadays, sheesh.

By: Victor Ozols

Victor Ozols — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:31:57 +0000

Maybe there are people out there who wouldn’t notice being paid $1,700 twice, but after the collection agency got in touch, wouldn’t most reasonably intelligent people check their records?

By: JB

JB — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:57:15 +0000

She may be one of those people that just pays off her credit card when the statement arrives. This case shows one reason why the statement should be checked carefully before it’s paid (to check for expected refunds). A more important reason is to ensure someone hasn’t charged to your account. Watch those statements!

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:51:01 +0000

How wealthy does a person have to be to not notice $1700 credit on her credit card??

By: Elizabeth Smith

Elizabeth Smith — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:09:51 +0000

I don’t know how anyone doesn’t know they’ve been double-refunded $1700! Now to me, that’s amazing!

By: ajaynejr

ajaynejr — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:09:13 +0000

Generally, when a collection agent calls or sends a letter you should not “just pay up”.

You need to do research to find out what the bill or debt is about. In Durana’s case she should have been able to locate the double refund.

When you order airplane tickets and they never arrive then you should contact the travel agent or airline telling them that. You may need to fill out some paperwork but I think the seller should be doing the heavy paperwork such as the notarized documents.

Now if you never ordered the merchandise or services or tickets at all, even if you did business with the company some time ago, I think it is fair game to start the dispute with your credit card company without “dealing first with the merchant in good faith”.

By: jimmy

jimmy — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:03:35 +0000

instead of continuing to complain about the treatment she received from the company (which she deserved) can she maybe take time out to explain how she missed $1700 being refunded into her account?

By: Beth

Beth — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:59:47 +0000

Good to know what to do in a case like this. Although, my budget is so tight that I’d definitely notice an extra $1700!

By: Kristin Zern

Kristin Zern — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:25:51 +0000

Ok so she should have ckd her cr card statement more carefully. But what does it mean exactly that Orbitz lost the ticket. Surely she printed out a statement, kept the link or whatever. If Orbitz somehow “lost” the booking, couldn’t they just reinstate it when she sent them the paper work?
And aren’t these all ticketless transactions as e tickets?
I much prefer to book directly on an airline site. First of all there is usually more choice of flights, times and usually lower prices. I do however ck in at Orbitz and other sites like Kayak to get an idea of options.