Squash Those Travel Bullies!
An article was featured on CNN today that explained how to get your way with travel companies. I completely agree 
with it to the point that if you were seriously wronged these are some valuable tips to get your way- but not if you are trying to take advantage of a business for your own greedy pleasure. Here is an example of how we felt we were wronged and the company made it right (eventually).
One day the husband and I were making a day trip to San Francisco. We rented a car so we could head north and visit one of the redwood forests. We booked the car on Priceline and was told that $29 would be our set fee unless we added insurance and gas. We arrived at the airport and got to the rental car place- only to discover that they were out of the class of car we had reserved. So they upgraded us to a mustang. It made us a little nervous to drive this car around the city so we asked how much full coverage would cost. We asked for the total charge including Priceline fees and were told it would be $37. We felt it would be worth the cost so we opted for the insurance (something we generally do not agree to because we have full coverage on one of our cars). We had a great trip and nothing happened to the car.
A few weeks later the charge shows up on our credit card as two separate charges- one for $29 from Priceline and one for $37 from the rental car company. I of course outraged wanted to call and pitch a huge fit to the company as we were mislead when we signed the contract. We went back and read the receipt and it read it would be a separate charge. Worried that are $29 a day rental car had manifested into an extremely pricey $66 a day car (that’s how they get ya!), My husband called the company in San Francisco directly and explained how we believed we had been mislead by the agent. After a few minutes of convincing the manager agreed to cancel the extra charge of $37 completely. Unfortunately we didn’t get the manager’s name and when in a couple of days the charge had not been cleared- it was another battle to get it cleared again- as no one would believe that a manager would just agree to cancel those charges. So moral of the story always ask the name of the manager or associate who helps you.
If you feel you are being taken advantage of (and lets be a tad honest- we often feel like we are taken for a ride when we go on vacation) speak up and let it be known! Most often they will avoid confrontation and try to accommodate. Your money is valuable and so is your vacation memories- don’t let others try to take them and manipulate those for you!
What are your travel bully stories?
Tags: bully, mischarges, problems, travel, wronged
