Months after Dan Anthony’s truck rental, he gets a repair bill for $750. But he didn’t do it, and now the car rental company is threatening to refer his case to a collections agency if he doesn’t pay up. What are his options?
The Travel Troubleshooter
Mel Jung’s Amtrak tickets are canceled accidentally, and he’s forced to pay a $236 for a new ticket. No one is taking the responsibility for the error. Is he stuck with the higher fare?
Ted Van Anne’s wife isn’t an experienced traveler, but she knows she declined the optional car rental insurance. So why is Dollar charging her an extra $20 a day for her car? And can the charge be reversed?
Karen Johnson gets some bad news from her hotel just before she checks in: There’s no room for her. Instead, she’s sent packing to an inferior motel, and when she complains, she’s mailed a form response. Now what?
Bernardino Suva is hit by a $250 cleaning fee for smoking in his New York hotel room. Problem is, he doesn’t smoke. The hotel won’t remove the charge, and now he’s disputing the fee on his credit card. Is that his only option?
When Jennifer Tomes’ fiance walks out on her, her cruise line tells her she can’t get a refund for her honeymoon. Is she out of luck?
When Enterprise rents Janice White a car in Chicago, there’s damage to the fender. No worries, says an associate. It will be noted. But a few days after she returns the car, she’s being asked to pay for the dent. What now?
When Beulah Saideman accidentally books the wrong W hotel through Cheaptickets.com, she finds a $477 cancellation fee on her credit card bill. The W insists it didn’t charge the fee. Can Saideman get her money back?
When Leigh Barber returns his rental van to Enterprise, he discovers a small scratch that was overlooked when he picked up the vehicle. He signs a form acknowledging the damage, but with the assurance from a manager that thee scratch can be “buffed out.” Now Enterprise wants him to pay. Does he have to?
Timothy Taylor gets an unpleasant surprise in the mail after returning his rental car: A claim for $2,000 in damages. He didn’t do it, and his car rental company agrees, but after agreeing to drop the matter, it reverses course. Can it be talked out of this wrongful claim?
David Walters’ wife passes away before they can fly from Dallas to Midland, Texas. But when he asks his online travel agency for a refund, it refuses, saying the airline will only offer a credit. But dead passengers can’t use a flight credit — or can they?
Dan Lachapelle is promised a prompt refund for his canceled Antigua vacation. But it’s been weeks, and there’s no sign of the money. Now his online agency isn’t responding to his queries. Will he ever see the money again?
Jared Slain books an airline ticket for his stepson under the wrong last name. Then, shortly before the family vacation to Mexico, he discovers the error. Now his online agency and airline want him to buy a new ticket. Does he have to?
Hotwire offers Loretta Krahn a hotel room in Rosemont, Ill. She ends up in Elk Grove, Ill. Now she wants her money back, but Hotwire refuses. Is she out of luck?
Elliott is consumer advocate 
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