Bad end to a vacation at All Star Sports (long)

[nbodyhome]

I just wanted to say that I don't think we should say that anyone is stealing money. This very well might have been a mistake, not a theft. And if there are as many issues as everyone is saying, then perhaps the drawer is always off by hundreds of dollars.

 

[KRW101]

I just spoke with my credit card company - they advised it will be difficult to fight as there is no cash receipt. She did indicate that she has requested all of the info from Disney already. They (VISA) can not have the security tapes pulled, she advised that she thought only law enforcement can do that. She did suggest that I contact the Florida Attorney General and the BBB.

Thanks for all your suggestions - I'll keep you updated. And please always remember to get a CORRECT receipt. This may turn out to be an expensive lesson for us.

 

[REL1203]

hearing a story likes this really makes me glad I use my CC mostly, and NEVER have Cash (usually like $20), and try not to use my Debit card more than I have to...

 

[Fuddrules]

It doesn't matter what kind of resort it was...it IS Disney and I would think that all guests would be treated equally...

Originally Posted by DJ Disney Kid
Well it WAS a value resort. What do ya expect?

It was a joke, hence the wacky upside-down smiley.

How did they miss the smiley face? Nothing like being unintentionally obtuse.

 

[fla4fun]

I work in an accounting department that handles any credit card disputes that come in, and maintains the transaction records for all sales. It usually takes about two weeks for all the records, including the signed slips, to come in to the central office, be processed, and filed. Once all the records are in, it's easy to research a problem. But until all those records are in one central location, it's very difficult to piece together what happened. We can look in our computer system and see what supposedly happened, but it's much better when we have everything together, so we can say, yes, the cash deposit to the bank was over 250.00 at that location on that day, or the credit card slip we have on file has no signature, etc. As much as we would all like to think every employee is honest, or knows what they're doing, there's always the chance you'll meet a bad apple. I would think that Disney would keep their transactions separate by resort, and even by CM, so they should be able to research this for the OP. But I would definitely get the dispute into the system with the credit card company, as they usually have limits as far as the amount of time you have to file a complaint.

And a word to everyone - when you pay cash, make sure you get a complete receipt. There is no paper trail for you to go back with unless you have a complete receipt, that shows the amount due, amount you gave cashier, and change received. I always double check my receipts, whether cash or cc, but with cash it's especially important (and even more so if you are buying a high price item, or paying off your hotel stay).

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

I had a problem at a resort in Mexico one time, many years ago. Someone charged about $500 to our room and the hotel wanted payment before we left. I didn't have it... it scared me. It definately wasn't our bill, it was for food and we had a "meal plan" at the hotel and didn't need food. I think someone got our room no. during a group "welcome" at the beginning of our trip, or it was a hotel scam. They finally let it go and didn't charge us. Ever since I have always noted "No room/key charges" at any hotel where it might be applicable.

I hope you get it resolved, problems like this really put a damper on a vacation. (And btw... $500 is a lot to us too.!)

 

[Sammie]

I just spoke with my credit card company - they advised it will be difficult to fight as there is no cash receipt. She did indicate that she has requested all of the info from Disney already. They (VISA) can not have the security tapes pulled, she advised that she thought only law enforcement can do that. She did suggest that I contact the Florida Attorney General and the BBB.

Thanks for all your suggestions - I'll keep you updated. And please always remember to get a CORRECT receipt. This may turn out to be an expensive lesson for us.

I would be getting a new credit card company. We recently had someone charge 1500 to our account, we did not make those charges. All it took was one phone call to stop the charges.

Did you call the resort and ask to speak to the Executive Office? I am sure they would be willing to settle this.

Also on your statement there is a number in Disney Finance to call about billing problems, did you contact them?

 

[anothertrip]

Did she mention why she would not/had not looked at the security tape? Do you have her email address? Forward this thread to every Disney email address you can and see if maybe she'll take a look at those tapes!

 

[Praying Colonel]

I just spoke with my credit card company - they advised it will be difficult to fight as there is no cash receipt. She did indicate that she has requested all of the info from Disney already. They (VISA) can not have the security tapes pulled, she advised that she thought only law enforcement can do that. She did suggest that I contact the Florida Attorney General and the BBB.

Thanks for all your suggestions - I'll keep you updated. And please always remember to get a CORRECT receipt. This may turn out to be an expensive lesson for us.

I would think that once you dispute the transaction, Disney bears the burden of proof that the charge is valid. Anyone who's dealt with Fair Credit Billing Act issues have an info on that?

ETA: From a bankrate.com article on FCBA disputes:

Rule No. 1 -- Dispute a billing mistake in writing.

Rule No. 2 -- Send your dispute letter to the issuer within 60 days.

Rule No. 3 -- Include your name, address, account number and a description of the error in your dispute letter.

Rule No. 4 -- Mail your dispute letter to the address for "Billing Inquiries."

Once you've taken these steps you can sit back and let the law work for you.

Once a credit card issuer receives your dispute letter, it is required to act on it. Thanks to the Fair Credit Billing Act, it can't brush you off.

"It forces the credit card company to investigate and look into it," says Chi Chi Wu, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. "Before the Fair Credit Billing Act, the credit card company could ignore you."

Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, which was passed in 1974, your card company is required to investigate and either correct the mistake or explain why the bill is correct. Your issuer must do this within two billing cycles and take no longer than 90 days. Your issuer must also acknowledge your complaint in writing within 30 days.

And here's the actual statute in question------> link

Finally, let me give the standard disclaimer that this isn't legal advice and shouldn't be taken as such. Please consult an attorney of your own selection for a definite legal opinion.

 

[Sammie]

I would think that once you dispute the transaction, Disney bears the burden of proof that the charge is valid. Anyone who's dealt with Fair Credit Billing Act issues have an info on that?

yes you are correct, that is why I told the OP, if her CC company is not willing to dispute the charge, she better get another company.

 

[Fionasmommy]

I just spoke with my credit card company - they advised it will be difficult to fight as there is no cash receipt.

But there's no credit card receipt either! Unbelievable!

I'd almost look at it as two transactions. I've got the tickets that I paid cash for, but it looks like they also charged me for tickets too. KWIM? Because basically if you paid cash AND they charged you, you should have two sets of tickets for that price.

 

[missmun52]

I just wanted to say that I don't think we should say that anyone is stealing money. This very well might have been a mistake, not a theft. And if there are as many issues as everyone is saying, then perhaps the drawer is always off by hundreds of dollars.

I did not mean to imply that they are absolutly stealing but it is a very real possibility. People are people no matter where you work. They can be dishonest! I dont know how Disney works as I do not work for them nor have I ever, but when my draw was short, or over, I knew about it within a few days and accounting knew about it the SAME night. I would assume that there is someone keeping records each night. I worked for A rather large company and I cant see that Disney would not have some kind of similar system when dealing with money. I find it hard to believe that her CC was charged accidentaly AND she recieved NO recipt from the cast member; it could be a mistake but just does not add up to me, that person must have been very absent minded that day if it were.

 

[nbodyhome]

I did not mean to imply that they are absolutly stealing but it is a very real possibility.

I am not saying it couldn't happen, definitely. But I am uncomfortable with a name being mentioned here of a cast member and the insinuation that she may be in on theft. We have one side of a story - not two, yet. It is very easy to take one side of the story and believe it - but what makes me uncomfortable is having it with the name also.

It is like the DD story. I totally believed it at first - because anything can happen anywhere. Disney isn't perfect, and there aren't all perfect cast members either. Nor all perfect guests. But until we know for sure what happened here, I think the cast members name should be pulled (just edited - I think it has been, which is what I hoped for).

Just MHO. I don't know which side of the story is correct, I've only heard one. I hope that whatever happened gets resolved. I have had issues with Disney in the past, not to this extent, thank goodness! The most important thing - if you are buying anything with cash, make sure you have a real receipt.

 

[Tess]

I just spoke with my credit card company - they advised it will be difficult to fight as there is no cash receipt. She did indicate that she has requested all of the info from Disney already.

What your CC company is saying may be true, but since you are disputing the charge, it is now in Disney's court to provide documentation that you did in fact charge the $495.25 for the tickets. Since you signed no such receipt, it is doubtful that Disney will be able to document its charges.

We went through this situation on a minor scale last summer. There were two charges on our end of vacation bill for which we had no receipts nor any recollection of charging. Both were merchandise stores on property and amounted to around $30. We called and wrote to the CC company and sure enough, Disney could provide no documentation that we had made any charges at these two locations. The CC company withdrew the charges and charged them back to WDW.

Try to relax and this whole mess may be just as simple as the $30 error and its resolution. Remember, it will be incumbent upon Disney to document the validity of its charge to your CC. As an aside, my husband is in the banking industry so he has a bit of experience with this stuff.

 

[mom-mom2three]

I am so sorry this happened to you Praying it all turns out well for you

 

[taximomfor4]

But there's no credit card receipt either! Unbelievable!

I'd almost look at it as two transactions. I've got the tickets that I paid cash for, but it looks like they also charged me for tickets too. KWIM? Because basically if you paid cash AND they charged you, you should have two sets of tickets for that price.

That was my thought as well. A Radisson charged me for my room, then charged the person behind me in line's room onto my card as well. I didn't know it until I got home and later got the cc bill. I disputed the charge with my cc company (Chase). They removed the charge pending the investigation, and told me that the charge would ONLY be put back onto my account if Radisson provided them with my signature for that second room. Obviously, Radisson couldn't do so (I had signed for my own room & walked away). To this day, I don't know how that other room was finally paid for, I just know I didn't pay for it.

 

[cbrfan]

So sorry this happened to you. Hope it all gets resolved soon. Just can't stress strongly enough to file your credit card dispute IN WRITING. Also keep detailed notes on every conversation with Disney, CC company, police, etc. If it's any comfort, we've always had excellent luck with getting unauthorized charges removed from our credit cards.

 

[missmun52]

But until we know for sure what happened here, I think the cast members name should be pulled (just edited - I think it has been, which is what I hoped for).

I agree very much with this, and I totally understand what you are saying.

 

[manning]

Im really sorry you had such an awful thing happen on your trip.


Once they have your credit card info they can charge anything on it,

My mom had called and asked to extend our stay one morning and told the cm she would come down to pay, she didnt want to use her credit card.

Well when my mom went down to pay they informed her that they already charged her card on file. We didnt have charging on our room keys either.

My mom was mad and the manager pointed out that when you sign the paper when you check in(not express checkout just the normal paper you have to sign) , you allow them to charge anything to the card you used to check in with.


I hope you get your money back,

I could be wrong, but not necessarily.

They may be able to charge the additional days to your card.\

However, upon check-in you are asked if you want to charge purchases to you room you have two things to do.

1. say yes and sigh on the checkin papers that you authorize it or

2. say no. I have never done this so I don't know if you have to sign that you refuse charging privileges.

I do know that when you go over the charging limit the transaction is stopped and you are asked to contact the hotel. I would assume this would be the case as you weren't given a limit.

I once even had a transaction stopped based on that I checked out of the hotel. That was a surprise since I wasn't scheduled to check out until two days later. I was even told I had to go to the front desk to get new key cards since the old ones didn't work. I went directly to the the room and guess what...they work.

Sometimes you wonder if the right hand knows what the left hand is doing there.

 

[traci]

What was the piece of paper that they gave you, that you thought was a receipt? I'm just curious what it said, or what it looked like

I am very sorry this happened to you. I hope you get it fixed soon.