Class action lawsuit for 30% discount?

[raidermatt]

In the banking industry, pre-checking boxes that trigger extra cost services is legally defined as predatory and can get a company fined.

True, as WMCricket said.

In fact, I am VERY familiar with a company who got in quite a bit of trouble for this, and other similar practices. In fact, several years later they are still operating under a Consent Order from the Feds.

I'm not sure what regulations applied to Disney, since they are in a less regulated industry. However, they were selling insurance, which has many regulations similar to financial institutions.

I doubt that its black and white whether Disney broke any laws. If it were, they would likely have the Feds on their back. But its probably a grey area of some kind, hence the lawsuit and settlement.

Regardless, rest assured that somebody within Disney made the decision to pre-check the box so that some folks would purchase the insurance who wouldn't otherwise want it. Companies do this type of thing all the time with all sorts of products, but it gets much more tricky with things like insurance and financial products.

That said, I'm another one who's all for personal responsibility and requiring people to read what they sign. But I also have no doubt in my mind that this was not an honest mistake on Disney's part, but was truly an attempt to get people to spend money on something they didn't want.

Does that make them any worse than many other companies? Unfortunately, no.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Its been awhile.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I think its easy to jump on people for missing a box on a web page when a lot of people don't routinely stare at web pages and may not notice if one little area (a very small area) doesn't look as it should or may not notice one line on a page that's full of writing, itty bitty logos and moving objects. I also think Disney and other corporations count on that and frequently create pre-checked boxes with what I would consider to be negative ramifications for the consumer. The simplest example of this is check boxes that grant permission to send spam to the user...Disney obviously took this one step further and took the opportunity to siphon money from the pocket of the consumer.

I don't know what would be a fair settlement however. I've never bought a package from Disney so I don't know if the insurance is a percentage of the price or what.

 

[Bugsmom73]

I debated whether to reply or not, I too got a letter and I did apply for the discount. When we booked the trip, we did not know about the insurance if we knew we had it we may have ended up cancelling and replanning at another date due to alot of extraneous circumstances that had occurred. Maybe we would have been more cognizant of it if we had not been so sleep deprived with our 8 mos DD who was sleeping no more than 2 hours a stretch at that time. I honestly did not know about the insurance if I did, we probably would have used it. Secondly, it was hard enough for me to focus on daily life and bill paying if it was about what we had expected, iti did not warrant a second glance.

 

[raidermatt]

Good to hear from you Matt...

Thanks, Vike.

 

[superbird]

Unbelievable. I feel sorry for all the victims out there. Imagine; they were expected to take responsibility for what they actually bought and paid for. Can you imagine the state this country would be in, if we actually expected people to read and be responsible? It is every Americans God-given right to be irresponsible and then sue rather than take responsibility for their actions. I say go for it. How dare anybody expect anybody to actually read. Terrible.

I like your style!! I know what you really mean and it is true!!

 

[dreamalittledream]

Dose anyone have an update on the status of this topic? Just curious... and nothing better to do at 1 am!

 

[Rhys'Gamps]

The lawyers were to meet 3/8/2005 at 8:30AM, in California and finalize the settlement. The people who had agreed to the settlement were to be notifed within 60 days of the results of the final agreement and how to redeem the benefits i.e. the 30% discount. I have not heard of anyone receiving any notification yet. The 3/8/2005 meetings was open to the public I wonder if any of our DIS members chose to sit in on them.

 

[orangeblossom]

I got it and promptly threw it away...I'm a Florida resident anyway so 30% off the rack rate is not a discount.

 

[joshsmom]

I got one of these and if I'm not mistaken, I ignored it. Don't know if I threw it away or not because it seems like it was sometime after Christmas/January that I got it and there was a lot going on then. Anyway, I would like to know what happened--I never heard anything else about it until I just saw this post. Hmmmmmm . . . .

 

[dreamalittledream]

just an update for everyone. I received a certificate of redemption today for the 30% off the regular non discounted rate on one room. There are black out dates and a special number to call. It looks really good for my plans though. Did anyone else get one and call yet? Can you get the MYW dining on it?

 

[Bronte]

Yes ... we recieved ours today as well and we called on it right away. We booked CBR for March 31 through April 9th (spring break for us.) We did get the 30% off full rack rate which came to $121 per night for the standard room.

 

[dreamalittledream]

great! When you called did they say they have a limit the rooms that are available? Did you ask about the dining?
I am going to call but I know they don't have the rates out yet for when I want to go. I need to wait until June. this was a great mail day.

 

[Bronte]

Sorry ... I did not ask about the dinning option. The letter said the 30% was for room only and that was fine with us because we usually buy our tickets separate anyways. I also did not ask if there was a set number of rooms for this but I would think there would be ... that is why we called right away. With a shortage of general codes lately I am happy that I am getting this discount (if something's else comes up that is better I will just cancel and loose nothing.)
When are you going ??? I was surprised that the 2006 rates came out today for the value and moderate hotels ... now we just have to buy out park tickets (will do that this summer) and start watching for a good rate on airline tickets (have to wait till Sept. for that.)
Hope this helps ... Good Luck

 

[TheLeonhardts]

Just wanted to let folks know. We called and applied the discount to an existing reservation with a whopper of an upgrade (ASMovies to AKL-Concierge). It was no problem, we kept the same reservation number. Our park hopper tickets, magical express reservations, and dining plan stayed intact and the discount was properly applied. The cast member was great and I've had no problem double checking the reservation through the standard WDW number. Now, I've seen on the resorts boards that not all folks have had this flawless experience, so it may relate to the experience of the cast member. Also, the information listed under My Vacations on the WDW site isn't entirely correct (room listed as standard, vacation protection plan not accepted, dining not mentioned, magical express information wrong and flights not listed)-- but I called and verified that the information in the WDW computer is correct. I'll also be able to check my verification documents when they arrive, and I'll be able to double check with the concierge staff via email. Can you tell I'm a stickler for details?

Judy

 

[Bronte]

Judy ...
You were able to apply the 30% off to a package that included passes as well as dinning. I thought the 30% off was for the room only. I did book room only for March 31 through April 9. I was going to buy my passes seprately this summer and was not going to add on the dinning opition but perhaps I should if it is possible and at such as savings ... Should I just change what I have or make new reservations?
Bronte

 

[dreamalittledream]

Just wanted to let folks know. We called and applied the discount to an existing reservation with a whopper of an upgrade (ASMovies to AKL-Concierge). It was no problem, we kept the same reservation number.
Judy

Wow! great news. who did you call to make the first change, the number on the letter or the regualr WDW number?
I have not called yet, I'm holding out for the June rates!

 

[TheLeonhardts]

Bronte & Dreamalittledream:

I just got the discount on the rack room rate -- my park hoppers and dining plan were not discounted. I called the number on the certificate to make the reservation, asked to just update my current reservation, and gave the CM the reservation number and the certificate number. I was on hold for awhile -- either the computers were slow that day or the CM was going to a fair amount of trouble. However, my reservation number did stay the same.

I just called the usual 407-WDW-DISNEY number to check the reservation after I made it. I believe both numbers answered as the "WDW Travel Company".

It sounds like my savings were roughly commensurate with what AP savings (about $130 off of $435 a night) can be, if they have them. However, it's a fairly short trip (5 days) and the dining plan is a significant savings for us, so it works out to be far more economical than having an annual pass.

Judy

 

[pattyivtoo]

Vike, since lodging sales tax varies so widely across the country (heck, you pay 12% more in sales tax when you stay at the All Stars v. Pop Century) it might not be that obvious to someone.

I never book online, always over the phone - and have never been offered vacation insurance. Why not? Likely because it's a waste of the sales agent's time - as nearly 100% of the callers would decline.

But, since it's offered (as an opt-out) on the website, it really smells of an opportunistic tool.

If you are booking a room only the agents cannot offer insurance. If you are booking a package the agents are supposed to assumptively sell the insurance. That means they check the box and give the quote saying this includes vaca prot insurance

 

[dreamalittledream]

Sorry to drag out an old thread but I have not seen anyone posting about this lately, has anyone used it to make their ressies?
I am very curious if anyone had success with paying for the dining plan and adding it to the rooms reserved at the special rate.
thanks!