Travel companies are sending collection agencies after their customers with greater frequency. Here are five things you need to know.
CREDIT CARD
I hate it when I’m right about something like this. A few days ago, I warned that the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 had a gaping loophole that could force us to pay a foreign transaction fee whenever we crossed a border.
Mariah Nunn has been a loyal American Express cardmember for the last quarter century. When she heard the line, “Don’t leave home without it,” she took it to mean Amex would never leave her either, especially when she was out of the country. But she was wrong.
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009, which is expected to land on the president’s desk later this week, promises to help consumers by prohibiting unfair, misleading and deceptive practices in the credit card market. But those protections may not extend to international travelers.
Steven Olson wants his $200 deposit back from Princess Cruises, but the company isn’t budging. The problem: he canceled the credit card through which he made the purchase. Princess will only refund it to the canceled card. After hours on the phone and promises of a check, Olson is no closer to getting his money. What now?
Never give your PIN number to anyone. Ever. Derek Wilairat learned this rule the hard way on a recent trip to Rome.
Kim Bouck is wary of the fine print on the “free” ticket offer by American Express. So she gets a few of the company’s promises in writing. When the promises are broken, however, American Express backtracks — and she’s left ticketless. What now?
Kay Rihn reserves a nonrefundable rental car through Hotwire and uses a payment system that allows her to send a check. When she doesn’t receive a confirmation from the online agency, she mails a check anyway. Turns out she doesn’t have a reservation. But her money? It’s gone.
Lynne Lenhart’s daughter had her $140 iPod taken on a recent visit to New York. The thief was a taxi driver who remains at large, with the apparent blessing of the government and the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. This sad — and apparently unsolvable — case raises some important questions about the use of credit cards.
Next time you’re tempted to pay for a trip by check — or God forbid, cash — think about Catherine MacLean. A few months ago, she and her husband booked a cruise to Vietnam. It’s the last time they ever heard from their cruise line.
Joseph Dunlap runs into a snag when he tries to buy an airline ticket online for his mother. So he calls the online agency, Expedia, and is sold a ticket that costs twice the online rate. Do rates really vary by that much? Well, yes — and no.
You probably already know about foreign exchange fees. But did you know your credit card may not work overseas at all?
