Bad experience with an airport to Disney car service

[jeanneg]

OK, I admit it's probably my own fault for NOT using FL Tours which we have in the past and with much satisfaction. One member of our party suggested that this time we use *** to get to the port from MCO and we all went along with this. Bad move. Basically, I have no complaint regarding the service itself. We were a party of 10 normal-sized adults in a 10 passenger van. It was quite tight, but adequate. There was very little room for all our cruise luggage, but we kept some of it on our laps and made do. Our driver was prompt and courteous and so we thought all went well. That was until yesterday when my credit card statement arrived in the mail. The charge on my statement was $20 more than the charge on my signed receipt. When I called and politely inquired about it, I was told by the owner of the company (Gregory Nicolas) that I failed to notify them of multiple drop-offs and that was the reason for the extra unauthorized charge. Our designated drop-off was listed at MCO, however he insisted that since 4 people were left off at Terminal A and 6 at Terminal B, it was equivalent to multiple stops. I told him that the driver never made any comment or indicated there would be an extra fee. In fact, the male members of our party loaded most of the luggage into the van themselves since our driver was female and somewhat petite. They even made a point of loading it so that the first ones out would have their luggage on top. Futhermore, if the driver had told us upfront about the additional charge we would have either agreed to accept it OR have everyone let off at one location and use the moving platform. But we were never given the choice. Mr. Nicolas would not listen to any of this and insisted that I had deceived him and was attempting to "steal" services from his company. He hung up on me twice so I sent him a very polite and detailed email listing all the facts (which I can fully document). He then proceeded to send me 3 emails each one more inappropriate than the one before. He accused us of inadequate tipping when we readily paid the full 20% gratuity he stipulated. Since we had waived our free 30-minute shopping stop and the men did most of the loading/unloading, all of us felt that the 20% was fully adequate. His emails to me were quite inflamatory and most unprofessional. I also can't believe he was stupid enough to put those things in writing as it can only serve to reflect poorly on him. Yesterday I notified my credit card company to dispute the additional charge and I also filed a complaint with the BBB of Central Florida. I realize it is a very small amount of money, but if he gets away with adding unauthorized charges to everyone's account, he could end up stealing a small fortune.
Sorry to post such a negative report, but I hope to spare others from the same fate.

 

[Lewisc]

I'd be shocked if the credit card company backs the company. Business must be bad for the company to try this.

What's funny is the company says no hidden fees.

I don't know if the airport charge extra for the second stop. EVEN IF THEY do the company should have either disclosed the $20 fee in advance or absorbed the fee.

 

[JERSEYGIRLINSI]

What a terrible mess. I think that the lack of disclosure is terrible, and then to just charge your account without a phone call or email or anything is unacceptable. And the receipt didn't indicate the charge before you signed off, just unprofessional. Disputing the charge & contacting the BBB...right on the mark IMHO.

 

[Nennie]

That's horrible! It amazes me that the company would risk such bad will over a lousy 20 bucks! Best of luck to the OP!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You should easily win the dispute with your credit card company.

 

[helenk]

Thanks everyone for your support. I really wanted the name printed so other consumers wouldn't be duped but I guess it's not meant to be.[/QUOTE]

The name can not be printed because the company was banned from using the site, the name is always **** out, it is not just you.

 

[MomofCKJ]

Really they were banned from this board? Wow, I am glad I moved my ressie a few months back to Sunray. I originally had booked with this company you are talking about but then had read SO much about Sunray I moved it to them. I am glad I did.

Sorry you are having to deal with such unprofessionalism.

Allyson

 

[seashoreCM]

. He accused us of inadequate tipping

Laughable excuse for padding a bill. "Tip" implies "Optional"! Of course a merchant's altering a charge slip to cause a greater charge is upon first analysis (the legal term is prima facie) a no-no to begin with and as a consumer I would start the dispute stating only the different amount than I signed for as the reason for the dispute.

Sorry but I try to make sure that censoring (added later: ... of the company name) applies to both good and bad comments equally and equitably.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Edd]

Now you now see why this company has been ****** out. The owner is a complete idiot. First off he took it on his own to make up a charge of multiple stops. That is bogus. Your destination was one airport. Second off he questioned the tip amount. That was bogus. I personally don't feel sorry for a woman driver when they drive a van, because I have noted all the men do the work for them. In many cases they sit back and look over for help. Why should you tip when you do the work. Second off, companies hire woman down here because they do not have to pay as much to keep them as they do men. That is a known fact.

I would dispute the whole charge because the company didn't live up to expectations and second off because they decided to add extra charges to your credit card without your authorization. The owner should suffer the amount of the credit card for forgery of a settlement.

I personally apologize to you for running into such a crude individual. The transportation industry suffers everytime someone like Nicholas tries to pull such stupid stunts. Believe me we all aren't like that, but as you know there are always a few idiots within every group and it looks like you ran into one.

 

[seashoreCM]

The censoring is due to failure to abide by The DIS rules (spamming, steering, surreptitious advertising, unauthorized linking) when posting messages and replies. I would love to see the name plastered all over a bad report but I do try to play fair.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's a shame they pay the women drivers less. I've had a woman driver before and she was terrific. I tried to grab one of my bags, in order to be helpful, and was told..."Please, mam, let me get that. That's what I'm here for. You just relax and try to not be sad about leaving."
Sure am sorry you had to have such a bad experience. No excuse for that at all!!

 

[Edd]

Diane,

I knew someone would say something about that "woman" remark but it is true. Most, I have seen some different, take advantage of that. The fault should be squarely on the owner for putting a smaller female driver into that position. As drivers you have to work for the tips, by pleasing people who have spent their hard earned money for a vacation. Your driver, male or female, can't do the work than they don't need to be in that position. There are also a few men around that are so fat they don't even get out of their vehicles to help load, yet they expect to get tipped because they are disabled.

 

[GregoryNicolas]

Hello Everyone,

This is Gregory Nicolas. I'm still having to recup after reading so many bad things about me and my company, when none of you even thought of really asking me what happened. How come you all are so quick to judge me and my company when the OP related her story but you never heard mine. How dissapointing when I an my company have never done ANYTHING wrong. The explanation would be way too long and I'm really tired to be badmouthed and not having the right to dispute absurd claims like the OPs. Before being banned I was an active member, with my company name as a member's name, never hidden, and I have never promoted, gave tel #'s or web addresses (all I did at the time was to answer a direct question a client had online-which I know was wrong and apologized many many times). I appreciate the fact my name is *** even when bad things are said, but no one here is stupid. BTW, this is the first time I read someting bad about either me or my company in this board!!! So please, before running into conclusions, try to be just and think that maybe what is said above about me and my company is wrong.
If anyone is curious, give me a call. I'll be more than happy to address any question you might have and give you all the "dirty" details about the OPs false accusation in this open forum. As for all the other posts above I will answer them one at a time if necessary......

 

[GregoryNicolas]

I'd be shocked if the credit card company backs the company. Business must be bad for the company to try this.

What's funny is the company says no hidden fees.

I don't know if the airport charge extra for the second stop. EVEN IF THEY do the company should have either disclosed the $20 fee in advance or absorbed the fee.

Business has been great, no complaints in that matter.....

The airport does not charge for the extra stop, WE DID. The OP failed to tell us many "small" details" of her trip to the Port and back, and we had enough. I, yes, decided after the fact to charge her this extra $20.00, when in fact all the stops she had (in the beggining of her transfer to the Port, and on the way back) added to much more than a mere $20.00. You might say if it's a mere $20.00 why not let it go and "absorb" it. Well, sometimes I feel I had enough and am tired of being taken advantage of, even if it means fighting for $20.00 only! You have no idea of all we did for her, if you knew I bet you would never back her up! BTW, she states she had a great srvice herself!

 

[AllyBri]

OK I'm curious.
How do you know for sure that the op is not telling the truth?
Unless there was a camera and recorder in the car.

 

[GregoryNicolas]

What a terrible mess. I think that the lack of disclosure is terrible, and then to just charge your account without a phone call or email or anything is unacceptable. And the receipt didn't indicate the charge before you signed off, just unprofessional. Disputing the charge & contacting the BBB...right on the mark IMHO.

You are right, I should have told her of the extra charge. That is my only mistake. But think for a minute. When you hire any service and in the end you start asking for small "favors" up and down, don't you expect being charged for it. Is like going to a restaurant and asking for some more vegatables, fries or ...(included in your meal) and being amazed they charged you an extra side dish in your bill. Well, like I explained to her, our drivers are trained to do all the clients wants if time is not a factor. That doesn't mean you can take advantage of them and believe we at the office will not find out. In most cases we would have let it go and forgot about it, but I must say again, the OP was not an easy one with many requests which are not in her original reservation.

 

[GregoryNicolas]

Thanks everyone for your support. I really wanted the name printed so other consumers wouldn't be duped but I guess it's not meant to be.

The name can not be printed because the company was banned from using the site, the name is always **** out, it is not just you.

No one is or never will be "duped". trust me, we run a VERY reliable and reputable company, recommended in many discussion boards, guide books, and travel agencies specialized in Disney travel. You again, as many will, jumped into your own conclusions before even hearing the other side of the story.....

 

[GregoryNicolas]

Really they were banned from this board? Wow, I am glad I moved my ressie a few months back to Sunray. I originally had booked with this company you are talking about but then had read SO much about Sunray I moved it to them. I am glad I did.

Sorry you are having to deal with such unprofessionalism.

Allyson

Hello Allyson,

From all the companies here in Orlando you made the right choice. Sunray is one of the only ones even I only heard good things. Just please let everyone know you changed your reservation because of recommendations here, not because of a problem with us. See, people here are too quick to judge.....

 

[GregoryNicolas]

Laughable excuse for padding a bill. "Tip" implies "Optional"! Of course a merchant's altering a charge slip to cause a greater charge is upon first analysis (the legal term is prima facie) a no-no to begin with and as a consumer I would start the dispute stating only the different amount than I signed for as the reason for the dispute.

Sorry but I try to make sure that censoring applies to both good and bad comments equally and equitably.

For this one no comment!!! You just said the censorship is for both good or bad. When a good comment comes along, and we had a few, you never came to make a remark. Now that there is a bad one you, as all others, are very quick to make a bad remark....

 

[seashoreCM]

, I should have told her of the extra charge. That is my only mistake. But think for a minute. When you hire any service and in the end you start asking for small "favors" up and down, don't you expect being charged for it. Is like going to a restaurant and asking for some more vegatables, fries or ...(included in your meal) and being amazed they charged you an extra side dish in your bill. ... it, but I must say again, the OP was not an easy one with many requests which are not in her original reservation.

I'll have to say that the restaurant waiter or the limo driver or the computer programmer (me) or whoever has to sooner or later (sooner is perfectly acceptable) put his foot down and come out and say that the extra side dish or passenger stop or software feature is going to cost X dollars more, unless such price was already stated to the customer via a menu or brochure, etc. Lacking that disclosure and notification, I will have to side with the customer and the charge should not be imposed.

Regarding the censoring, it is just the name of the company that was being censored from the various conglomerations of good or bad comments.