Princess let me down badly

[Pink-belle]

50 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

Might I suggest you tell Good to Go insurance this as to date many thousands have pounds have been requested and paid. 

As for assistance to me and your opinions I will not comment bar to say i think you are wrong. I hope you never find yourself in trouble and need help with language barriers.

 

Incidentally the insurers have admitted their global response team made a serious mistake and they should have assisted me or any other one person travelling with my aunt.

 

Incidentally although not the same reference all three bookings were linked.  Being blood related doesn't actually enter into this at all.  She is and remains a family member to all of us having been married to my husband's uncle for over 60 years.

I’m sorry I offended you, that was not my intention.

 

I thought my post conveyed, thoughts about your aunt, and acknowledged how wretched you must currently feel, obviously not.

 

I also said things had obviously gone wrong.  
 

I must have misread the bit about the bookings being linked.  Sorry about that.

 

Actually I have been in a similar  position, my father died whilst I was on a cruise in Norway, I don’t speak Norwegian but I dealt with it.  
 

I just felt your anger was perhaps directed in the wrong directions.  Of course I recognise your aunt is someone you love and care deeply for, I was just saying, my understanding “legally” is that does not automatically entitle you to information etc. I wasn’t saying your feelings were wrong. 
 

I posted about the GHIC, in a bid to help, as you said that was currently a major problem.  You say the Insurance company have already said they made a mistake, it looks like they have made another one.

 

 

[voljeep]

medical billing and collections has a job to do, and the leverage is while still on board, and 'may' try to coerce someone into signing for the charges, even if not 'legally' responsible.

 

I'll just leave that little nugget.

[memoak]

15 minutes ago, Coral said:

She did if you read it carefully. It was a chip and pin which requires a pin code sent to a phone or tablet. This is pretty standard in Europe and Australia. In the US we use a signature card mostly.

So people there are forced to own a cell phone to have a credit card ?  I would think that would prompt a class action law suit. Many people cruise but don’t have smart phones

[Daniel A]

@Megabear2 has an American Express card.  Maybe someone can confirm whether or not the UK American Express card has a traveler's assistance line to help cardholders in this type of situation in which Megabear was in effect left stranded in a foreign country?

 

I don't post this as a suggestion as to what Megabear should have done but rather as a suggestion to other people who in the future could find themselves in a similar circumstance.

 

My prayers for your aunt.  🙏 🙏

[wowzz]

2 minutes ago, memoak said:

So people there are forced to own a cell phone to have a credit card ?  I would think that would prompt a class action law suit. Many people cruise but don’t have smart phones

You dont need a smart phone, just a standard mobile phone.  When an unusual transaction is made on your card,  you are sent a one time password (OTP) to verify that the transaction is valid. 

Used throughout the world,  apart from the US it would seem ! 

[dog]

3 minutes ago, memoak said:

So people there are forced to own a cell phone to have a credit card ?  I would think that would prompt a class action law suit. Many people cruise but don’t have smart phones

If you don’t have a cell phone then you don’t sign up for that option when you take out that credit card.

 

 

[Megabear2]

41 minutes ago, Pink-belle said:

I’m sorry I offended you, that was not my intention.

 

I thought my post conveyed, thoughts about your aunt, and acknowledged how wretched you must currently feel, obviously not.

 

I also said things had obviously gone wrong.  

Thank you, there is no need to apologise, I did get the jist of what you meant and appreciated it. Sometimes we write in haste and mean good but do not think that the other person might read it differently.

 

Some of the things being directed at me are extremely curt and upsetting so I'm probably reacting rather sharply as a result!

 

[Megabear2]

28 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

@Megabear2 has an American Express card.  Maybe someone can confirm whether or not the UK American Express card has a traveler's assistance line to help cardholders in this type of situation in which Megabear was in effect left stranded in a foreign country?

 

I don't post this as a suggestion as to what Megabear should have done but rather as a suggestion to other people who in the future could find themselves in a similar circumstance.

 

My prayers for your aunt.  🙏 🙏

I called them but due to Princess giving me a 20 minute deadline at that point (and I've not previously mentioned but stated they would call the police if I did not leave the port area) they did not have time to call back to offer assistance.  I was actually boarding the plane when the call returned and so I do not know if they would have helped.

 

I can say when called today they responded swiftly and dealt with my problems with the money being from the wrong account.

[PacnGoNow]

I just can’t imagine the stress you felt that day and what you went through.  I don’t think I could have handled it as well. 
I really appreciate you sharing with us on CC, as it may help another to be prepared in case they have this predicament.  I know I learned a lot from your posting.

 

Take care of yourself. Prayers for you all.

[wowzz]

32 minutes ago, dog said:

If you don’t have a cell phone then you don’t sign up for that option when you take out that credit card.

Not an option in many places - it is a standard anti-fraud procedure. Why would anyone not want a secondary level of security to avoid fraudulent card use.

Anyway, we are digressing from the despicable attitude of Princess.

[Megabear2]

37 minutes ago, memoak said:

So people there are forced to own a cell phone to have a credit card ?  I would think that would prompt a class action law suit. Many people cruise but don’t have smart phones

UK law would not consider court action over an issue such as this.  Our banking and financial laws are extremely tight and the two stage authority applies to every bank and card provider to help prevent fraud.  It is an extremely robust system, making payments above a fairly small limit are often challenged particularly for international transactions.

 

It was because of this two step authorisation I asked Princess to just charge the card through the onboard account as it was pre authorised but they insisted I do a direct card insertion payment within their card reader.  This led to it requiring the pin, which of course led to the code generated.  UK credit cards rarely get foreign transactions of this sum and it would be flagged immediately as suspicious.

[dog]

6 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Not an option in many places - it is a standard anti-fraud procedure. Why would anyone not want a secondary level of security to avoid fraudulent card use.

Anyway, we are digressing from the despicable attitude of Princess.

I just took out a credit card with 3 options: 

text

email

phone

Edited July 12, 2022 by dog

[Megabear2]

5 minutes ago, dog said:

I just took out a credit card with 3 options: 

text

email

phone

I'm sure you did but as Wowzz just pointed out the two step authorisation is a legal required protection.  My aunt has her card to text and telephone for security checks and her telephone was with her.  

[wowzz]

4 minutes ago, dog said:

I just took out a credit card with 3 options: 

text

email

phone

But even then, you still require a mobile phone.

[dog]

Just now, wowzz said:

But even then, you still require a mobile phone.

Done  here. No longer helpful.

Edited July 12, 2022 by dog

[Megabear2]

To those who asked for updates on the health of my aunt, I have further news and an update from Italy.  The insurance company has agreed for my aunt to be moved to a specialist cardiac facility in central Rome.  Apparently she was awake for a few minutes while they started the preparations for the move and she mumbled she had been kidnapped.  Great news.

[azbirdmom]

1 minute ago, Megabear2 said:

To those who asked for updates on the health of my aunt, I have further news and an update from Italy.  The insurance company has agreed for my aunt to be moved to a specialist cardiac facility in central Rome.  Apparently she was awake for a few minutes while they started the preparations for the move and she mumbled she had been kidnapped.  Great news.

 

Thanks for sharing the news.  I hope she keeps healing and that the rest of the nonsense that you've faced is resolved soon.  Best wishes to you both.

[PacnGoNow]

6 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

To those who asked for updates on the health of my aunt, I have further news and an update from Italy.  The insurance company has agreed for my aunt to be moved to a specialist cardiac facility in central Rome.  Apparently she was awake for a few minutes while they started the preparations for the move and she mumbled she had been kidnapped.  Great news.

Great!  Best of luck.  

[Daniel A]

41 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Not an option in many places - it is a standard anti-fraud procedure. Why would anyone not want a secondary level of security to avoid fraudulent card use.

What happens if you travel to Alaska, Mexico, Japan etc...?  Do you need to incur roaming charges just to use your credit card?  If you lose your phone or damage it while travelling and want to purchase a new phone how does one pay for it?

[scooter6139]

So sorry that you had to go through this terrible incident.  Glad to hear your aunt is doing a bit better.  Hopefully this will continue in the near and far future!

 

Ok, I'm trying hard to just read through it all as a complete outsider.  Here's my thoughts/questions:

 

1.  Princess dealing with Aunt - well done.  Treated quickly and taken well care of.

2.  Dealing with niece during treatment -  Sounds like they were following their protocols during treatment.  Some were odd or even questionable, but I would blame that on communications issues with Medical/Princess staff.  

3.  Payment - Correct me if wrong, but Princess tried to charge the Aunt's card for medical and since the phone was out they could not do so.  Anyone know what Princess policy is regarding getting payment for medical when charge is refused?  Especially if that guest is getting taken off ship via ambulance?  Going straight to the niece sounds odd but, like most medical places, they want payment.  Not condoning this but not condemning it either as I don't know what the policy is.

4.  After/off ship - Poor communication and follow up.  Princess let the ball down here.  I wish they would have done more, but to be honest it is not Princess's job to get everything setup for a departing guests.  It would have been nice if they did.  (I've read so many post complaining about Princess or another cruise line not going above and beyond what is expected pre or post cruise.)  Not trying to be cold here, but Princess responsibility ends at the gangplank.  Without know their policy in this, especially when in different ports/nations and what they were in the process of doing.  I just need more info.  

 

 

[ontheweb]

54 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

I called them but due to Princess giving me a 20 minute deadline at that point (and I've not previously mentioned but stated they would call the police if I did not leave the port area) they did not have time to call back to offer assistance.  I was actually boarding the plane when the call returned and so I do not know if they would have helped.

 

I can say when called today they responded swiftly and dealt with my problems with the money being from the wrong account.

Oh my, that 20 minute deadline is not something you previously mentioned. And just when we think Princess could not be any more callous, we learn that they actually can.

[ontheweb]

14 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

To those who asked for updates on the health of my aunt, I have further news and an update from Italy.  The insurance company has agreed for my aunt to be moved to a specialist cardiac facility in central Rome.  Apparently she was awake for a few minutes while they started the preparations for the move and she mumbled she had been kidnapped.  Great news.

Thanks for the update. Maybe everyone's prayers are beginning to take effect. 

[AmazedByCruising]

1 hour ago, phonejock said:

You would think that Princess would have specially trained crewmembers to help passengers in emergency (non covid) situations. 

 

Indeed. I had a much smaller medical problem once (on Celebrity), and was very happy about the treatment at 9PM and actually surprised at the low costs. But for a situation where the patient isn't even responsive, I'd expect the ship to take care of the patient and anyone related, and certainly not lay an extra burden on family members.

 

I believe the ships calls the Port Agent to arrange the ambulance etc. Certainly they can help with transportation, translation, hotels, explaining the procedures in Italy, too. For the relatively rare occurrence, there would have been a topic now how wonderful Princess handled the situation. 

 

59 minutes ago, voljeep said:

medical billing and collections has a job to do, and the leverage is while still on board, and 'may' try to coerce someone into signing for the charges, even if not 'legally' responsible.

 

I'll just leave that little nugget.

 

Are you saying that the leverage is that they literally can hold you hostage until you pay?? When it's not even your bill? How about a guest that is a lawyer (which I'm not!), who doesn't like to be held hostage over someone elses bill and knows how to press charges in Bermuda? 

 

It's not only not very "legally responsible", it's of no use either IMHO. 

If the guest can pay, there's plenty time and a legal department to make sure they do eventually (and add extra costs for recouping the money). If they can't, you get yourself a stowaway that needs to sleep and eat.  

 

 

[ontheweb]

3 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

I don't think that the luggage handlers outside of the ship are Princess employees.  They handle all the ships that come through the port.  It could just as easily happened to a Disney ship had one been there on the same day at the same time. 

They are being subcontracted to get the luggage aboard the Princess ship.  Princess cannot totally shirk their responsibility for the consequences of their actions. (The same for Disney in the earlier post, or for that matter any cruise line.)

[JimmyVWine]

4 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

Princess cannot totally shirk their responsibility

But no one said that Princess shirked its responsibility.  Of course Princess is ultimately responsible for making things right.  But being responsible for making something right is not the same thing as being blameworthy for making something wrong.  There is a big difference between:

• Princess throws luggage into the water and;
• Princess didn't do enough for us once the luggage was thrown into the water.

 

The discussion on the Disney forum did not make that distinction.

Edit to add...too much thread drift here, so no further comment will be made on this.  The OP's subject matter is too important to be lost in a discussion of wet luggage.

Edited July 12, 2022 by JimmyVWine