Paid balance to TA, Credit Card statement says name of TA?

[patwell]

BINGO! They also have a "D" rating from the Better Business Bureau in their local area.

 

A+ is the best...........F.. is the worst.

 

Isn't this what's called a "no-brainer"? Better Business Bureau ratings are so easy to check I can never understand someone entrusting a lot of money to a place they've not checked out first. Ah well...live and learn I guess. But it's a tough way to learn something so simple.

 

Cheers, Penny

 

Penny’s Affair to Remember QM2 Review

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=471053

 

November 10,2007...the “Affair” continued...did it ever!

 

October 16,2008...the “Affair” goes transatlantic as we sail in tandem with the grand QE2 on her final transatlantic voyage...what a thrill!

 

December 9, 2008....the “Affair” resumes again....Life is good!

 

July 30, 2009....transatlantic again...some “Affairs” just get better

 

August 7, 2009....the “Affair” goes on...this time “home” to Norway

[cruisegal101]

Isn't this what's called a "no-brainer"? Better Business Bureau ratings are so easy to check I can never understand someone entrusting a lot of money to a place they've not checked out first. Ah well...live and learn I guess. But it's a tough way to learn something so simple.

 

Cheers, Penny

 

 

 

August 7, 2009....the “Affair” goes on...this time “home” to Norway

 

Yes, my friend, it is a no brainer. I have never booked anything without first checking out cruisecritic's sister site, tripadvisor--they have reviews on anything travel related including both real and online agencies, hotels, restaurants, car rentals, etc. Why would anyone choose to spend their dollars or entrust their credit card information to another without some assurance that the information is being shared with a reputable and honest company or web site?

[imacruizer]

BINGO! They also have a "D" rating from the Better Business Bureau in their local area.

 

A+ is the best...........F.. is the worst.

 

Thank you, Babette, for an excellent reminder that we all need to be informed and smart consumers. I just checked the BBB report for the travel agency I use most often and fortunately, found the report to be outstanding. I had checked the report before using them for the first time, but had not checked in some time. As we all know, from the reports on CC about the large agency that closed, that we should check the BBB often. Sometimes the lowest price is not the best choice. We all work very hard for our money and we need to be diligent about making sure the agency we choose has a good track record. Many of those who lost their money and their cruise recently, wished they had spent a little more time checking out their agency.

 

Anytime I book a cruise, I now ask if the payment will be made directly to the cruiseline. That was something I learned by reading these boards. Even if I have used the agent for years, and have booked many cruises through the same agency, I still ask that question. I then check my credit card charges to make sure that the charge was made by the cruiseline and not the travel agency.

 

Beth

[jonmar]

Interest on your money is negligible. The $200 OBC is probably from Cunard maybe part of a group amenity. The 5% is probably a discount from the TA. My guess is they use this approach to limit cancellations or having clients shop around for a better price from another agency.

 

The $200 OBC is in addition to the initial $300 from the Cunard group space. Offered of course for paying the balance in full straight away. I am going to call my credit card company on Monday and take their advice. If need be, I will demand the payment be forwarded to Cunard forthwith, or I will dispute the charge.

[Alberich]

Hello My travel agent in the UK have started to do this too & the deposit & final balance are to the TA and no longer Cunard or P & O. I am not worried in the slightest re anything going wrong with the TA or Shipping Line as it's either paid on my Amex or Visa credit card & my bookings are very high value ones i.e. Grill suites & P & O suites so the amounts are signficant for myself & other family members who I book for.

 

Very interestingly though re the fares changing & the TA taking the difference this does concern but of course in the UK we usually 'suffer' from more expensive fares than the US & then are penalised if we cancel our cruise by losing our deposit or if transferring to another cruise having to pay an admin fee. I certainly have never got a credit from my Travel Agent or Cunard if the fares go down in price like I know a good TA in the US can do for a client! That being said on some occasions in the past when PG single fares on QE2 were reduced greatly & much cheaper that my total fare Cunard have after initial protest 'upgraded' me to QG grade albeit that is what I would have paid had I booked the cruise last minute!

 

Kind Regards,

 

 

RJMS74

 

 

Largely irrelevant - it is a US booking that is being discussed.

[Giorgi-one]

The $200 OBC is in addition to the initial $300 from the Cunard group space. Offered of course for paying the balance in full straight away. I am going to call my credit card company on Monday and take their advice. If need be, I will demand the payment be forwarded to Cunard forthwith, or I will dispute the charge.

 

You said you got $200 OBC plus 5% off. This does not make sense unless you booked a really expensive cabin.

[jonmar]

You said you got $200 OBC plus 5% off. This does not make sense unless you booked a really expensive cabin.

 

Not sure what doesn't make sense but I'll give the specs again:

The original deal was for a balcony cabin, in their group which provided for an OBC of $300. I made the deposit. They emailed me the invoice, and it said if balance paid in full by Jul 13, 2009, an additional discount of 5% would be given as well as a further $200 OBC. I made the payment shortly after and then noticed on my credit card statement is was charged by this company, not Cunard. If I demand payment immediately to Cunard, they will not honor the additional discount and OBC, even though these conditions are not apparent prior to making final payment.

[Giorgi-one]

Not sure what doesn't make sense but I'll give the specs again:

The original deal was for a balcony cabin, in their group which provided for an OBC of $300. I made the deposit. They emailed me the invoice, and it said if balance paid in full by Jul 13, 2009, an additional discount of 5% would be given as well as a further $200 OBC. I made the payment shortly after and then noticed on my credit card statement is was charged by this company, not Cunard. If I demand payment immediately to Cunard, they will not honor the additional discount and OBC, even though these conditions are not apparent prior to making final payment.

 

It does not seem like the TA would have enough commission to give you 5% discount and another $200 OBC. We were on the July 4th Getaway and also got $300 group OBC and met others who also got this. This must be almost standard with Cunard.

[ocngypz]

It does not seem like the TA would have enough commission to give you 5% discount and another $200 OBC. We were on the July 4th Getaway and also got $300 group OBC and met others who also got this. This must be almost standard with Cunard.

 

There's enough.......just enough........though it remains to be seen if the $200 would ever show up in the first place......since it's all a cash flow grab.

[Cosmic Rays]

Hello My travel agent in the UK have started to do this too & the deposit & final balance are to the TA and no longer Cunard or P & O. I am not worried in the slightest re anything going wrong with the TA or Shipping Line as it's either paid on my Amex or Visa credit card & my bookings are very high value ones i.e. Grill suites & P & O suites so the amounts are signficant for myself & other family members who I book for.

 

Very interestingly though re the fares changing & the TA taking the difference this does concern but of course in the UK we usually 'suffer' from more expensive fares than the US & then are penalised if we cancel our cruise by losing our deposit or if transferring to another cruise having to pay an admin fee. I certainly have never got a credit from my Travel Agent or Cunard if the fares go down in price like I know a good TA in the US can do for a client! That being said on some occasions in the past when PG single fares on QE2 were reduced greatly & much cheaper that my total fare Cunard have after initial protest 'upgraded' me to QG grade albeit that is what I would have paid had I booked the cruise last minute!

 

 

Kind Regards,

 

 

RJMS74

 

B****VER by any chance?

[Giorgi-one]

There's enough.......just enough........though it remains to be seen if the $200 would ever show up in the first place......since it's all a cash flow grab.

 

If you can sell the cruise without the extra 5% and the extra $200 OBC, what is the advantage of the early payment.

[ocngypz]

If you can sell the cruise without the extra 5% and the extra $200 OBC, what is the advantage of the early payment.

 

 

They charge your card through their merchant card.. and have your money to pay the finals of other cruises.. then they'll actually pay your final with other monies from susequent credit card payments taken inhouse rather than paid directly to the cruiseline.

 

From what I could gather, the "agency" is an independent who books through whomever to take advantage of their group rates........by charging the card inhouse.. he gets his commission upfront rather than having to wait for the cruiseline to pay the host agency.. and then the host agency paying him.

[jonmar]

Update: Called my credit card company today, and was transferred through to the dispute department. I gave them all the intel and was advised about 11 times not to worry, that if the agency defaults they would recover the funds. Basically they told me that my protection as a consumer provides for reimbursement if the purchase or service is not provided, whether or not Visa can collect the funds from an insolvent company. I made it clear that I was dealing with a US agent, and again was told not to worry, that the travel industry sets aside funding for this sort of problem. I specifically asked if I should call the TA and demand that payment be made directly. I was told 'no, take my name if it should happen. Don't worry these calls are recorded' I said 'okay'.

 

Can anyone think of any angles here I haven't considered to cover myself?

[Giorgi-one]

Update: Called my credit card company today, and was transferred through to the dispute department. I gave them all the intel and was advised about 11 times not to worry, that if the agency defaults they would recover the funds. Basically they told me that my protection as a consumer provides for reimbursement if the purchase or service is not provided, whether or not Visa can collect the funds from an insolvent company. I made it clear that I was dealing with a US agent, and again was told not to worry, that the travel industry sets aside funding for this sort of problem. I specifically asked if I should call the TA and demand that payment be made directly. I was told 'no, take my name if it should happen. Don't worry these calls are recorded' I said 'okay'.

 

Can anyone think of any angles here I haven't considered to cover myself?

 

You mean except for dealing with a reputable agency?

[jonmar]

Well reputable or not, and most online reviews say not, it would appear that if the sky falls, it wont fall on me. At least according to my credit card company.

[Giorgi-one]

Well reputable or not, and most online reviews say not, it would appear that if the sky falls, it wont fall on me. At least according to my credit card company.

 

Sorry, I couldn't resist that little jab. Credit card covers you for nondelivery of service, but I believe there is a time limit. Check on that.

[ocngypz]

Update: Called my credit card company today, and was transferred through to the dispute department. I gave them all the intel and was advised about 11 times not to worry, that if the agency defaults they would recover the funds. Basically they told me that my protection as a consumer provides for reimbursement if the purchase or service is not provided, whether or not Visa can collect the funds from an insolvent company. I made it clear that I was dealing with a US agent, and again was told not to worry, that the travel industry sets aside funding for this sort of problem. I specifically asked if I should call the TA and demand that payment be made directly. I was told 'no, take my name if it should happen. Don't worry these calls are recorded' I said 'okay'.

 

Can anyone think of any angles here I haven't considered to cover myself?

 

Um.. the funds set aside is for insolvency of the cruiseline.. not the travel agency you purchased the cruise from.

[jonmar]

Curious. I thought as much and specifically asked that too. She said if I don't get what I paid for, Visa will reimburse me and attempt to recover the funds. Maybe I'll do my 2 out of 3 rule: Call three times and take the majority answer. If three different answers, I'll call again. You never know when the janitor decides to take a call.

[cruisegal101]

Um.. the funds set aside is for insolvency of the cruiseline.. not the travel agency you purchased the cruise from.

 

Please correct me if I am wrong but if the online booking agency does not remit payment by the 90 day due date, isn't the voyage cancelled by the cruise line? If I am correct, the poster will get his money back, but there will be no cruise which could be a major inconvenience and disappointment.

[ocngypz]

Please correct me if I am wrong but if the online booking agency does not remit payment by the 90 day due date, isn't the voyage cancelled by the cruise line? If I am correct, the poster will get his money back, but there will be no cruise which could be a major inconvenience and disappointment.

 

 

First, the deposit will be lost.

 

Secondly, there is no assurance the agency will still have balance of the money to pay back to the client.

 

Third, yeah.. no cruise. Major bummer.

 

 

The stinker is.... you have 60 days from the date of transaction to inform your card issuer of non-compliance.

 

Fourth, major aggravation.

[lord of the seas]

Cancel and re-book with a proper TA.

[jonmar]

Cancel and re-book with a proper TA.

 

I've already considered this option and Babette has advised if I want that voyage with those cabins, I'm kinda beat. The final payment is due within the 60 days.

[jonmar]

First, the deposit will be lost.

 

Secondly, there is no assurance the agency will still have balance of the money to pay back to the client.

 

Third, yeah.. no cruise. Major bummer.

 

 

The stinker is.... you have 60 days from the date of transaction to inform your card issuer of non-compliance.

 

Fourth, major aggravation.

 

Spoke to Visa again and was directed to some fine print, none of which is a problem. 'Fail to provide' kicks in September 1, 2009 if the payment is not made to Cunard. I have 120 from that failure to dispute the charge. In the event of insolvency, I am insured and Visa refunds the amount and recovers it on their own. My only concern now, is if they failed to pay, will Cunard give me a chance to pay them directly while Visa starts the dispute?

[ocngypz]

Spoke to Visa again and was directed to some fine print, none of which is a problem. 'Fail to provide' kicks in September 1, 2009 if the payment is not made to Cunard. I have 120 from that failure to dispute the charge. In the event of insolvency, I am insured and Visa refunds the amount and recovers it on their own. My only concern now, is if they failed to pay, will Cunard give me a chance to pay them directly while Visa starts the dispute?

 

 

Probably not as the company would have had to declare formal bankruptcy.... or in the case of that VERY large NJ agency which went under.... cease trading all together. It took quite awhile for bookings to get straightened out.. and finals (2nd final payments actually made) accepted directly by the cruiseline.

 

You also have working against you.... the sell out situation of your cabins.

[garigoun]

I've been reading this thread with a growing sense of bewilderment and confusion. Poor simple me has just been booking through one or other of the well advertised and popular travel agents specialising in cruises (no names, no packdrill) here in the UK. I see what I think is a deal for when I want to go. I pays my (NON-REFUNDABLE) deposit plus the outrageous impudence of the 2% credit card charge, I've NEVER had OBC, NEVER and I am a repeat customer. I have had, it is true, an upgrade, just once. Now quite by chance I read this thread and it's a whole new world of what appears to me to be a financial jungle. Surely to God it shouldn't be so difficult to get a fair deal without all this research and to-ing and fro-ing between TA and credit card company. I despair I really do.

Gari