Is this Priceline “missing button” case a lost cause?

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By Christopher Elliott

Brook Demmerle’s problem is not uncommon, but it’s usually unsolvable. But you know me, don’t you? Always tilting at windmills. I’m a sucker for lost causes. So if you think I should jump in and get involved, I will.

This spring, Demmerle booked a cruise on Priceline through its agency site, which means it wasn’t a “name-your-own-price” booking — so it was refundable, under certain conditions. Just a few days later, Demmerle says she had to cancel the cruise because of a work-related conflict.

The Priceline rules on canceling a cruise are imprecise, at best:

Cancellation policies vary between cruise lines and they do increase as the travel date approaches. You will be provided with specific details during the booking process, and we’ll follow up by providing the fees in writing as well. It’s your responsibility to be familiar with the penalties. To protect yourself from penalties for canceling due to medical reasons, we strongly encourage you to purchase our Travel Protection plan.

Insurance refund dilemma

Demmerle decided to buy the travel protection, just in case. When she asked for a refund, she was well within her cruise line’s refund period, and received her money back. Except for the insurance, which she hadn’t used.

“When I called Priceline to cancel and asked about the insurance, I was told that it was non-refundable and non-transferrable unless it was the exact same voyage,” she says.

That doesn’t seem right to her. She won’t need to insure her cruise anymore. Why shouldn’t she get her money back for the insurance?

Ah, but the refund rules are spelled out clearly on her confirmation, a Priceline representative told her when she called.

Flying Angels provide medical transport anywhere in the world on commercial airlines with a Flight Nurse or Doctor. A Flight Coordinator handles the logistics. The client receives care during the entire transport—bedside to bedside. Visit FlyingAngels.com or call 877-265-1085 to speak with a flight coordinator.

“When I received the email confirmation, there was a button on the top asking to confirm and below the button were the conditions. I do not recall hitting the confirm button, although Priceline claims I did,” she says.

It wouldn’t be accurate to say travel insurance is non-refundable. Most policies have a free “look” period, so if you change your mind about the insurance, you can get a complete, no-questions-asked refund. She was past that period.

The question is, did Priceline adequately disclose the refund terms?

“I did not see the small print at the very bottom of the page saying the insurance was non-refundable,” says Demmerle.

She doesn’t think it’s right.

Demmerle thinks of it in the same terms as an offer by Groupon or a Living Social. Even when the offer expires, they still have to give you the value of your expenditure under some state laws.

“Why should Priceline not have to at least give the value of what you paid?” she asks.

Two sides to the travel insurance dilemma

The way I see it, there are two separate issues. First, the disclosure of the insurance refundability. Small print is often hidden or obscured on booking pages. I’m sure the terms on her insurance say what Priceline says they say, but were they adequately and clearly shown to Demmerle? (Related: What to do when cruise insurance isn’t a ‘shore’ thing.)

The second issue is the problem of pushing the button. Priceline is known to keep detailed electronic records, including when a button is pushed on a booking screen. It has shown me evidence of button-pushing, even when a customer denied it. (Here’s what you need to know before planning your next cruise.)

Case closed? Probably. But Demmerle is right about at least one thing: She’s been made to feel as if Priceline and its insurance company pulled a fast one. No amount of fine print and buttons can make up for that. I share her frustration, but I’m not sure there’s anything I can do to help.

Should I mediate Brook Demmerle's case?

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Update (8/14): Priceline investigated this claim and found that it had refunded her insurance, minus a $25 processing fee on June 17, a day after she had requested it. Priceline is keeping the processing fee.

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Christopher Elliott

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers consumers to solve their problems and helps those who can't. He's the author of numerous books on consumer advocacy and writes three nationally syndicated columns. He also publishes the Elliott Report, a news site for consumers, and Elliott Confidential, a critically acclaimed newsletter about customer service. If you have a consumer problem you can't solve, contact him directly through his advocacy website. You can also follow him on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or sign up for his daily newsletter. He is based in Panamá City.

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