My TA Nightmare

[mitsugirly]

As a matter of fact, for my first couple of cruises I used a travel agent that was highly recommended here and posted here ... and she was great (she has since passed away).

 

 

Sorry to hear about your TA. I also had one on here and she was awesome. She passed away last year. I wonder if we had the same TA? :(

[HokiePoq]

OP, so glad your situation is resolved!!! This must have been very stressful.

I searched both American Express and Largo and didn't find one common to both. I am hoping this means that NCL has removed that name.

Someone who knows, could you check, please, and let us less skillful ones know that the name is no longer there? The listing on the NCL website was one of the issues pertinent to everyone who is a NCL customer.

My upcoming trip is booked with an online agent from an AMEX agency in Florida that we've used multiple times with no problems.

If you had not already gotten the problem solved with the help of a good TA, I would have suggested calling AMEX Travel corporate headquarters.

As other posters have mentioned, the key is that the charge on one's credit card goes to directly to the cruise line, not an individual agent. I am thinking this would apply to both online and local agents.

[WaldosPepper]

As of this morning, his agency is still listed on the site. I have reached out to the Social Media department again, requesting that the please remove his listing asap.

[stormynow]

Still don't know how to figure this out. Am using a AMEX owned agent in Miami. If any connection would like to know.

[WaldosPepper]

Still don't know how to figure this out. Am using a AMEX owned agent in Miami. If any connection would like to know.

 

Absolutely no connection whatsoever.

[2boyzmom]

Still don't know how to figure this out. Am using a AMEX owned agent in Miami. If any connection would like to know.

 

There is no connection with AM Ex- I just discussed Am Ex because that is how I paid..

[jdvmd]

Glad everything worked out for you!

[emtee3511]

I am new to the Forum, although not new to cruising. My husband and I are also Platinum with NCL and cruise every year out of New York. This year I did book with an online TA (not my first time to do so, but my first time with this TA.) Like others in this thread, my $4000 plus cruise payment was never forwarded to NCL, and American Express has refunded the full amount to my account. I also rebooked our cruise with NCL.

 

The Florida Attorney General's office (http://myfloridalegal.com/Contact.nsf/Contact?OpenForm&Section=Consumer_Protection_Division) answered my request for complaint info by taking an online complaint (at the above link) and also sent me an email suggesting I could follow up with a complaint to each consumer department below (which I did.)

 

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Division of Consumer Services Complaint Forms: https://csapp.800helpfla.com/CSPublicApp/Complaints/FileComplaint.aspx

 

Federal Trade Commission

Toll-free: (877) 382-4357

Website: http://www.ftc.gov

 

Better Business Bureau of West Florida

Phone: (727) 535-5522

Email: info@bbbwestflorida.org

Website: http://www.clearwater.bbb.org

 

Pinellas County Department of Justice & Consumer Services

Phone: (727) 464-6200

Email: consumer@pinellascounty.org

Website: http://www.pinellascounty.org/consumer/

 

These links would be useful for anyone who has been scammed in the manner I was (cruise funds not forwarded to cruise line) as mentioned in this TA 'disaster' thread.

 

Note to Forum Moderator/Administrator: If I have broken any Forum rule by posting these links, please delete my posting and accept my apology. My purpose in posting this my first Cruise Critic post is to give helpful information regarding recourse to being scammed by any online TA.

[stormynow]

Emtee3511, think u did a great service. Thank you.

[WaldosPepper]

Emtee3511 you get my vote for the best "first post" ever in the history of Cruise Critic.

 

Kudos to you for taking the time to seek out a venue to share this excellent information.

 

Hope you'll stick around and join us often.

 

:)

[cabincop]

I also want to thank emtee, great info great first post. I always book with ncl directly. Well not exactly true when I go to europe I book thru my local ta. I always feel that I would rather trust someone than save a few dollars. Sadly trying to save money can cost you way more than you would think. Welcome to cruise critic

[emtee3511]

@cabincop, WaldosPepper, and stormynow... thank you for the warm Cruise Critic welcome :)

[SuzanneH]

I absolutely agree-- BEST first post EVER!!! THANK YOU Emtee3511 for looking out for everyone that will book with that agent. Hopefully there is a CLIA complaint that can be filed, as well!

[2boyzmom]

Ditto! Thank you for the links. I filed a complaint with the Florida Attorney General !

[SweetpeaOne]

I have been following your story. Very happy to hear the great news. Enjoy your cruise.

[tempura]

I found a complaint about this person dating back to 10/1!

 

http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/my-cruise-connection/largo-florida-33770/my-cruise-connection-travel-agent-to-avoid-largo-florida-1088752

[terrydtx]

I found a complaint about this person dating back to 10/1!

 

http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/my-cruise-connection/largo-florida-33770/my-cruise-connection-travel-agent-to-avoid-largo-florida-1088752

 

The person in this complaint, who was ripped, off almost sounds like the same as the OP. I hope that someone files a complaint with the AG in Florida. Because of the history of consumer rip offs in the Travel industry in Florida, the state has some very strict criminal law laws protecting consumers. This guy deserves to do some jail time. In the very least we all know who he is now too.

Edited November 5, 2013 by terrydtx