DirectAir flight cancellations spur talks of bankruptcy

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I sent the documents on Friday registered mail, I'll follow up in a week. I'm debating whether to call now to let them know about the recent update (Chapter 11), but I figure they must already know as I a sure they have other customers in the same boat.

If it were me, I would call *now*. I would report every little update that occurs. Persistence pays off (or I sure hope it does ). I will help my boss report the most recent update of the bankruptcy filing to TD Visa first thing Monday morning. The more supporting information you can provide to your banking institution, the better IMHO.

I have flighs booked to Myrtle Beach in Aug.

Just got off the phone with BMO mastercard and was told to call or send in an email to a specific department from their website.....the "dispute a payment" department , as the telephone agent could not give me any info as to whether or not I would be issued a refund or even how to request a refund. I will have feedback in "up to three days".....she said this is the best route to go....dispute a payment?
I hope I am not getting the run around.
What are your thoughts?

I can tell you that my boss (who was booked for flights to MB on March 26th and returning April 6) is definitely getting the run around from his credit card company. We have provided tons of info to them already (including the Visa "E-Promise" which is supposed to kick in at times like these ) in an effort to get a reasonably-timed resolution. Be diligent in your follow ups! And hopefully all the great posters here will keep us all updated on their successes as they occur.

I am routing for you all!

 

[Alderbrook]

I've had to dispute a payment before with BMO but it was for charges I didn't make at Ikea. They refunded all my money. I had to fill out an affidavit saying I didn't make the charges on my MC, not sure how it would work when you didn't receive a service?

 

[minniemomof3]

If it were me, I would call *now*. I would report every little update that occurs. Persistence pays off (or I sure hope it does ). I will help my boss report the most recent update of the bankruptcy filing to TD Visa first thing Monday morning. The more supporting information you can provide to your banking institution, the better IMHO.



I can tell you that my boss (who was booked for flights to MB on March 26th and returning April 6) is definitely getting the run around from his credit card company. We have provided tons of info to them already (including the Visa "E-Promise" which is supposed to kick in at times like these ) in an effort to get a reasonably-timed resolution. Be diligent in your follow ups! And hopefully all the great posters here will keep us all updated on their successes as they occur.

I am routing for you all!

I just called Amex with the update. They haven't received my documents yet because I sent it registered mail on Friday, but they did update my account to reflect the bankruptcy update. The CSR was very vague with her response, but she did say that they have money set aside for situations like this and hopefully they will be able to help all their clients affected.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hope all is going well for those working at obtaining refunds from their credit card companies. I am happy to report that my boss has received his credit from TD Visa after a lengthy email submission of supporting documentation .

Thought I'd share....hopefully others will be chiming in soon with their good-news stories too.

 

[pigletto]

I was refunded yesterday for the August flights. I had not yet submitted a claim or sent in the documents for those ones. All I had done was hit the "dispute charge" button on my online account and posted 25 words about the situation.

I sent in all of my paperwork for the April flights (that were booked back in October) and I am still waiting on those ones. I couldn't dispute online for those because it was past the 90 days.

So far so good.

 

[son3disfan]

Bmo update:

I sent a "dispute payment" email on line with the flight and purchase info with a short detailed explanation of services not provided ( we purchased in Feb for flights in Aug.)

Then ( because I am impatient and didn't want to wait the three days it would take for a reply from them....) I called the 1-800 number.

Interesting enough, the agent I SPOKE with issued an immediate refund ( pending dispute it says, but refunded )
And the email I received said they could NOT ISSUE a refund at this time as the company is not yet bankrupt.

So, talking to an agent might give you better results.

Also, the agent I spoke with repeated that I should wait a while, even until after May to dispute the charge because if Direct air DOES GO back into business in May, they can refuse the dispute ( they have 99 days to respond to the dispute).and if they do reject the dispute I will be charged the fare back, and then if they go backrupt again in May/June then, i am out of luck. Apparently,you are only able to dispute the transaction once.
I just told them to go ahead with the dispute.

 

[minniemomof3]

I haven't received a refund yet, but I called Amex for an update and they said they sent me a release form in the mail I need to fill out and send back with the unused tickets. Seems like a lengthy process, but it's probably because the tickets were purchased outside of the 60 day window.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I was refunded yesterday for the August flights. I had not yet submitted a claim or sent in the documents for those ones. All I had done was hit the "dispute charge" button on my online account and posted 25 words about the situation.

I sent in all of my paperwork for the April flights (that were booked back in October) and I am still waiting on those ones. I couldn't dispute online for those because it was past the 90 days.

So far so good.

Yay, pigletto! Fingers crossed for similar success for the April airfare!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Bmo update:

I sent a "dispute payment" email on line with the flight and purchase info with a short detailed explanation of services not provided ( we purchased in Feb for flights in Aug.)

Then ( because I am impatient and didn't want to wait the three days it would take for a reply from them....) I called the 1-800 number.

Interesting enough, the agent I SPOKE with issued an immediate refund ( pending dispute it says, but refunded )
And the email I received said they could NOT ISSUE a refund at this time as the company is not yet bankrupt.

So, talking to an agent might give you better results.

Also, the agent I spoke with repeated that I should wait a while, even until after May to dispute the charge because if Direct air DOES GO back into business in May, they can refuse the dispute ( they have 99 days to respond to the dispute).and if they do reject the dispute I will be charged the fare back, and then if they go backrupt again in May/June then, i am out of luck. Apparently,you are only able to dispute the transaction once.
I just told them to go ahead with the dispute.

I was very interested to read your post. I have been anxious to see the differences (if any) between the three major credit issuers (Visa, M/C and Amex) as to how they handle this same situation. I have all three cards, but almost never use the Visa or Amex. My mastercard gives the best rewards, so that's usually my card of choice. I would definitely re-think it as my favourite, though, if it turns out one of the others would be quicker to come through when the going gets tough. Will be watching and waiting to hear how this pans out for everyone.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I haven't received a refund yet, but I called Amex for an update and they said they sent me a release form in the mail I need to fill out and send back with the unused tickets. Seems like a lengthy process, but it's probably because the tickets were purchased outside of the 60 day window.

Just be sure to send it signature guaranteed so it doesn't go "missing" in the mail. Keep us posted!

 

[minniemomof3]

Just be sure to send it signature guaranteed so it doesn't go "missing" in the mail. Keep us posted!

Thanks. I'll make sure to do that.

 

[fitmom3]

I deal with PC Financial (mastercard). I called them while I was in Florida. I don't have to send in anything. They will have to get the statement from MC since I made the purchase over 6 months ago on my old card. I asked the customer service rep if I should call back in two weeks...she said that I should have the funds by then and to check my account next week for credit. If I don't hear by the end of next week I will call them back. and about two weeks before our vacation a crook copied my debit card and spent $1100. I got the money back in three days.

 

[Lisa Anne Colling]

We were given a temporary refund by Visa, but were told it may be charged back. They have to now go to Direct Air with the charge dispute and they are now bankrupt, which means no money, so Visa told us if they don't get the money back from Direct Air then we don't. Thankfully I only paid for 2 of us.
We are part of a large group going to Myrtyle Beach for a dance competition. My gut at the time said drive, but no one wanted to drive and I didn't want to drive with my daughter by myself. Now we are all driving! Great Fun!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I deal with PC Financial (mastercard). I called them while I was in Florida. I don't have to send in anything. They will have to get the statement from MC since I made the purchase over 6 months ago on my old card. I asked the customer service rep if I should call back in two weeks...she said that I should have the funds by then and to check my account next week for credit. If I don't hear by the end of next week I will call them back. and about two weeks before our vacation a crook copied my debit card and spent $1100. I got the money back in three days.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We were given a temporary refund by Visa, but were told it may be charged back. They have to now go to Direct Air with the charge dispute and they are now bankrupt, which means no money, so Visa told us if they don't get the money back from Direct Air then we don't. Thankfully I only paid for 2 of us.
We are part of a large group going to Myrtyle Beach for a dance competition. My gut at the time said drive, but no one wanted to drive and I didn't want to drive with my daughter by myself. Now we are all driving! Great Fun!

Maybe its worth reminding your financial institution that your Visa card offers some benefits that should kick in at times like this. Specifically, their Visa E-Promise:

http://www.visa.ca/en/personal/securewithvisa/epromise.jsp

"Providing you with heightened peace of mind

The Visa E-Promise offers you a new avenue to settle disputes you may encounter while shopping online, by mail or by phone. Visa cardholders can request their issuer cancel or reverse a charge where the merchant has not refunded the cardholder when:

•The cardholder has lawfully cancelled their agreement in accordance with the online, phone or mail order merchant's cancellation policy; or

•The purchased item has not been received or the cardholder can prove that the item is different from what was ordered and has been returned to the merchant.

Once contacted by the Visa cardholder, and provided that the grounds for the request are legitimate, the Visa issuer will act on the cardholder request, investigate the dispute and provide a refund to the cardholder if the claims are validated."

Definitely, the second point should apply to all Direct Air customers. You most certainly can prove that your purchased item was not received.

Good luck!!!

 

[Lisa Anne Colling]

I hope you are right Gina! We did bring that up with the person we were dealing with at Visa. They said bankruptcy is different. Not sure how that can be because know matter what way you look at it we didn't end up with the goods we paid for. Hopefully we just got someone on the phone that didn't know what they were talking about. . We were the only ones in our group that was told this by Visa, so I'm really hoping all is well and the refund sticks!