Credit Card Charged for Dining Reservations

[Walsh clan]

I see a thread with a similar question but mine's a little different and I'm not sure what to do now.

I booked Hoop Dee Doo, Cinderellas Royal Table and Spirit of Aloha in February (180 days exactly to our trip to WDW). I had booked the dining option so presumed that my credit card would not be charged as I would use the relevant vouchers for the meals (and if we used them all up would pay for any surplus). However, my credit card was charged straight away for all three. I rang back (I live in Ireland) and explained the situation and they said that they would credit my card for the amounts charged but it may take a couple of bill cycles.

To date, I haven't received any credit for the amounts (approx $400) and when I rang again at the weekend I was told that the amount had been credited and I should have seen the amount on my credit card by now. This was after a lengthy wait on the phone and if I have to do that again, by the time this is sorted I will have paid out the same value in phone calls! They definitely haven't appeared yet(I check my online banking account regularly.)

What frustrates me is that I have just paid $3000 for our accommodation in WDW and I am still owed this money for over 4 months.

What do you suggest now? Thanks for listening!

Moira (slightly distressed).

 

[rluey29]

Sometimes big companies have so manny channels things go through stuff gets lost and kicked around. I know this isn't fair but it is how things are sometimes. I personnally would be on the phone every day until my money was returned or credited.

 

[tinkamom]

Use this number-800-828-0228, its free.

 

[Walsh clan]

Thank you both... I'll wait until this evening and sort this one out!

 

[gigi1313]

Use this number-800-828-0228, its free.

the toll free number does not work from ireland...

to the op... we had a similar thing happen and did not expect our credit card to be charged since we were on the dining plan, but i was informed that i would not receive the credit until *after* we dined at CRT, as is their policy... the credit card charge is a "deposit" to hold the ressie so that if you are a no-show, they have recourse... if they only hold your ressie w/knowledge that you are on the dining plan, if you do not show up, they cannot deduct the credits from your ddp, ergo, they have no recourse...

 

[Walsh clan]

Thanks Gigi, wish they had told me that too....

the toll free number does not work from ireland...

to the op... we had a similar thing happen and did not expect our credit card to be charged since we were on the dining plan, but i was informed that i would not receive the credit until *after* we dined at CRT, as is their policy... the credit card charge is a "deposit" to hold the ressie so that if you are a no-show, they have recourse... if they only hold your ressie w/knowledge that you are on the dining plan, if you do not show up, they cannot deduct the credits from your ddp, ergo, they have no recourse...

 

[BlindTyldak]

I Used to work for a credit card company, here's how to do it.

Call your credit card company at your local customer service number and explain the situation to them, emphasizing that you are not getting any cooperation from Disney and that you would like the assistance of a representitive of the company and you would like them to three-way call Disney with you on the line. They will call Disney (on their dime!) and between both parties they'll work it out as to did the transaction happen and where it went. If they start relaying transaction numbers back and forth and your credit card rep (NOT DISNEY) tells you that they will need a couple of days to track it and it sounds legit, trust them, sometimes it does take a couple of days. don't let Disney blow you guys off until you are happy.

When you do get the charge reversed, while on the three-way line ask the Disney representitive to make the appropriate card reservation and make sure the credit card rep holds the line as well. If either of them say that the charge will not take immediate effect (most likely it will be Disney who says this) and that the card rep can disconnect, insist that all parties stay on the line until you are satisfied a new charge will not appear on your bill and your reservations are held (or cancelled, if you are frustrated) appropriately.

 

[gigi1313]

I Used to work for a credit card company, here's how to do it.

Call your credit card company at your local customer service number and explain the situation to them, emphasizing that you are not getting any cooperation from Disney and that you would like the assistance of a representitive of the company and you would like them to three-way call Disney with you on the line. They will call Disney (on their dime!) and between both parties they'll work it out as to did the transaction happen and where it went. If they start relaying transaction numbers back and forth and your credit card rep (NOT DISNEY) tells you that they will need a couple of days to track it and it sounds legit, trust them, sometimes it does take a couple of days. don't let Disney blow you guys off until you are happy.

When you do get the charge reversed, while on the three-way line ask the Disney representitive to make the appropriate card reservation and make sure the credit card rep holds the line as well. If either of them say that the charge will not take immediate effect (most likely it will be Disney who says this) and that the card rep can disconnect, insist that all parties stay on the line until you are satisfied a new charge will not appear on your bill and your reservations are held (or cancelled, if you are frustrated) appropriately.

that's all great information for a credit card dispute, but disney's policy (i believe) is to charge the card at the time of reservation and reverse it once the party has dined and paid in another fashion (cash, traveler's check, ddp, etc)... from that point it will take at least one billing cycle (or so it's been my experience) to have the charge reversed (and you can get a receipt for the reversal just for the asking)... it's actually nice to have a "credit" to my credit card upon return from vacation... it makes the other incidental charges not so painful

 

[BusyMomto3]

I reserved the HDDR quite a few months ago for Sept 29th. I was not on the dining plan at that time, so I paid right away. Since then, my sister's family has decided that they are coming with us. We are now on the free dining plan. When I called for my sister's reservation for HDDR, I told them that they would be using their dining credits. Disney took my credit card number, but did not charge my account. The CM told me that my credit card would be charged if my sister's family did not show up. I decided for my family to keep our credits and just pay OOP for HDDR (already paid for)

 

[BlindTyldak]

that's all great information for a credit card dispute, but disney's policy (i believe) is to charge the card at the time of reservation and reverse it once the party has dined and paid in another fashion (cash, traveler's check, ddp, etc)... from that point it will take at least one billing cycle (or so it's been my experience) to have the charge reversed (and you can get a receipt for the reversal just for the asking)... it's actually nice to have a "credit" to my credit card upon return from vacation... it makes the other incidental charges not so painful

I'm on the DP and have made ADR's for Cindy's, the Princess dinner, and HDDR, all requiring the credit card number hold. Not a single one of them has been charged. I really think the OP had her card charged in error as she is on the dining option, and was told that it would be charged back, so in this case the dispute process would be accurate.

 

[gigi1313]

i've also been on the plan twice and am on it again for sept and have had my card charged EVERY SINGLE TIME for CRT, HDDR, etc... don't know why the discrepancy...

 

[BlindTyldak]

i've also been on the plan twice and am on it again for sept and have had my card charged EVERY SINGLE TIME for CRT, HDDR, etc... don't know why the discrepancy...

I don't know, I'd call them and find out . . . I was starting to wonder if it was a difference between free dining and paid dining plan (ours are in Nov so we had to pay for it) but the charges/not charged seem to be all over the place. Unfortunately I'm starting to think that it might come down to CM training, some doing one thing and others doing another.

 

[gigi1313]

we've been on paid and free so i don't think that enters into the equation... it could be how it's booked... and possibly by whom...

also, i have a TA that makes most of (but not all) my ADRs for me, but i cannot imagine that would make a difference...

 

[duckie0517]

I too booked a ohana & crt and it was booked to my credit card. My reservatons are in October. I called Disney, reminded them that I booked the DDP and was re-imbursed within 3 days on my credit card. I didn't have to have my meal to be re-imbursed.

Someone at Disney goofed up. Unfortunately, you will be paying for it unless you keep calling and possibly speak to the supervisor.

 

[Walsh clan]

Ok... so I took a piece of everyones advice.

Rang dining plan people on main dining no. (407 - WDW DINE) and explained the situation. Spoke with a very nice person and explained the situation, stating that I would prefer not to bring my credit card company into but if I had to I would.

She apologised for the delay and spoke to another agent and came back saying that she had put through the credit onto my card and for international transfer it would take 24 hours. So I should expect to see it tomorrow. If not, I said that I would be ringing back with my credit card company in tow.

I asked for a definitive answer on the dining plan situation and credit card charges and she stated that if you say that you have the dining plan initially (I did but they made an error) then your credit card details will be taken as security but if you are a no-show then your credit card will be charged the full rate of the show/meal etc. They should not be charged at the time of booking - free dining plan or not.

So I will let you all know this time tomorrow if the credit has appeared, otherwise BlindTyldak, I'll be going down your route, now that I know they are at fault.

Again, thank you so much....

Moira.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) It can take up to 6-weeks for the credit to show.
2) If you don't get it, you can fix it when at WDW.
3) Easy . . .
. . . go to cncierge desk to pick up tickets
. . . ask them to refund the credit card and charge the DIning Plan
. . . almost seamless and VERY quick

 

[Evil Queen]

Is it a charge or an authorized hold?

 

[gigi1313]

for us it was a charge every time... maybe my TA did not tell them we were on the DDP? i know i always do...

 

[BlindTyldak]

That's great news, Walsh!!! if for any reason you do not see the credit appear within 24 hours, before you call disney again call your credit card company and see if it is on hold . . . some credit card companies have their own policies as to when a refund will appear on your card when allowed to go through normal routes, but often the customer service agent can see the chargeback coming through and release it immediately. That, however, depends on the company, so if it is the case just ask nicely. It'll save you an international call to check on its progress and complete the resolution most likely.

Good luck, and I'm looking forward to hearing that your issues are over!

edit for spelling

 

[pyrxtc]

When I reserved my CRT breakfast, I was not charged. I was told that if we didn't show up or cancel 24 hrs before then we would be charged.