Help please - contacting WDW about a 'strange' credit card charge??

[vickiea]

Hey Everyone,

does anyone know the best department and phone number to use to talk to someone at WDW about a charge that appeared on my AM Ex credit card.

The charge occurred while we were at WDW but I have reconciled all my receipts and I don't know what it is for and all my statement says is 'WDW Lake Buena Vista Orlando' I used cash the entire time we were there so I have no idea what this is, except it occurred on a day we ate at CRT - which of course was pre-paid, but I am wondering if some additional charge was made that I am unaware of. Plus the amount was $90 even which it wouldn't be (probably) if it had just been store shopping.

I don't know where to start with WDW phone numbers on this.

Thanks
Vickie

 

[Robo]

Hey Everyone,

does anyone know the best department and phone number to use to talk to someone at WDW about a charge that appeared on my AM Ex credit card.

The charge occurred while we were at WDW but I have reconciled all my receipts and I don't know what it is for and all my statement says is 'WDW Lake Buena Vista Orlando' I used cash the entire time we were there so I have no idea what this is, except it occurred on a day we ate at CRT - which of course was pre-paid, but I am wondering if some additional charge was made that I am unaware of. Plus the amount was $90 even which it wouldn't be (probably) if it had just been store shopping.

I don't know where to start with WDW phone numbers on this.

Thanks
Vickie

I have this info.



wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com


Walt Disney World Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040


Disney Guest Relations - 407-824-4321

 

[skywaywaver]

My first step would be to call Amex and ask if they have a phone number connected to the charging company.
Just tell them that you are trying to find out what the charge was for, and that you need to talk to the company. That might help.
If you can't get anywhere that way, just dispute the charge. That way you will get the documentation that states if you signed, if the security code was used, if the card was swiped, what exact time the charge was made, etc.
Let us know what you find out! Good luck!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Are you sure you were charged for CRT previously? If you gave them your CC info when you made your reservation, they may not charge until the day of.

 

[vickiea]

Thanks Robo and Skywaywaver,

I had placed a call to Amex, all they were able to tell me is that it was from a WDW restaurant, no name available. I called WDW, but I guess the department I need (Billing and Research) is closed till tomorrow.

Now here is the additional info. On the date of the charge we ate at CRT, a group of 9 people, 4 adults, 4 kids, one infant. This was prepaid in April, including the 18% tip since the party had more than 8 members (roughly $255). Is there anything to do with this meal that we would have been charged $90 for, maybe some $10 per person fee. Maybe they thought we didn't show so it was a no-show fee?

I am racking my brain to figure this out and I just can't. The only other WDW restaurant we ate at was LTT 4 days earlier.

I'll keep you posted.

Vickie

 

[Robo]

Is there anything to do with this meal that we would have been charged $90 for

At CRT?

Nope.

 

[dburg30]

Did you make any other ressies for something that could've gotten dinged for a no -show? Like a fantasmic package or something like that? I think they charge for no shows?

 

[seashoreCM]

Note: Notifying your credit card company about a possible dispute should be done in writing. If you did start by calling, it's a good idea to follow up with a written letter that recaps the phone conversation.

A charge that is bogus or unauthroized or unconnected with other transactions you did make with the same merchant is disputable even though the merchant is not in your home state and is more than 50 miles from where you live. If you suspect a charge is totally bogus, it is OK to deal first with the credit card company as opposed to first trying tor resolve it with the merchant.

I would not make long distance calls to Disney's 407 numbers to discuss this matter. Rath4er, I would quickly sketch out written inquiries (speed coming before deep thought and sending additional snippets if I forget details) and commence a dispute via the credit card company anyway if it takes long to get replies.

I would not spend time figuring out where to send the first letter, but just make a quick guess. The quicker they figure out where it should go and the appropriate department replies to you with an explanation, the less likely you would open the dispute with the credit card company where there is a prominent address on the credit card bill where to sent that.

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

 

[DebbieB]

I frequently have charges that I can't figure out and then it hits me a little later. Like last month on a business trip to Orlando I had a $17.56 charge that read WASH DEPOT LK. MARGQ39. I could not imagine what it could be. Then it hit me, it was for the gas station I stopped at right outside the airport for the rental car.

 

[Robo]

I would not make long distance calls to Disney's 407 numbers to discuss this matter.

Just to keep things in perspective...
(and go WAY off-topic)

The term "long distance" (as in "extra charges") is rapidly going the way of the dodo.

Many folks have free "long distance" on cels or landline phones.

Cable TV company giants and traditional telephone companies are beating each other up offering extremely low-rate "package deals" with TV, high-speed internet and phone (with free "long distance") services all combined.

These days I think nothing of calling anywhere on the continent and talking for an hour or more with my cel.
The "extra charges" are zero.

Not everyone has this available yet, but it won't be long before the "Toll-free 800 number" business will be thrown onto the same ash heap as CRT monitors and VHS movie rentals.

(Just a "times, they are a'changin'." message.)

 

[CrazyaboutCinderella]

If you had a CC associated with the "ticket/room key", they will sometimes charge the CC instead of taking off the meal or snack. That happened to me, when we went in "05.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

Did you make any other ressies for something that could've gotten dinged for a no -show? Like a fantasmic package or something like that? I think they charge for no shows?

Isn't the no-show fee $20 pp. I booked for CG today and was told $20pp if we cancel within 24hours or no-show. I would have assumed it was the same fee for all the restaurants.

 

[frayedend]

We have always called AMEX with any questionable charges. They alway acknowledge and send a letter with the details. So while doing it in writing is a good idea I don't think you need to with AMEX. Also, dispute it with AMEX. Let them do the leg work to figure it out. They even advertise on television that they do this. They will credit it to your account until it is figured out. Don't bother dealing with Disney as AMEX will do it for you.

 

[rapriebe]

We have always called AMEX with any questionable charges. They alway acknowledge and send a letter with the details. So while doing it in writing is a good idea I don't think you need to with AMEX. Also, dispute it with AMEX. Let them do the leg work to figure it out. They even advertise on television that they do this. They will credit it to your account until it is figured out. Don't bother dealing with Disney as AMEX will do it for you.

Totally agree. Let AMEX take your headache for you, that's their job. They have the resources and the know-how to do it quickly and efficiently.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Although it hasn't happened at Disney, I have gotten charged for a "no-show" at a restaurant even though we had gone. If they didn't check you in properly then that is a good possiblity.

 

[seashoreCM]

Just to keep things in perspective...
(and go WAY off-topic)

The term "long distance" (as in "extra charges") is rapidly going the way of the dodo.

These days I think nothing of calling anywhere on the continent and talking for an hour or more with my cel.

True, I still live in the dark ages with no cel phone, but the majority of cel' phone users today, I take it, still can run out of "free" minutes. Stories abound, some on The DIS, about parents complaining about the huge wireless bill their teenager(s) ran up.

Back to the topic, if Disney doesn't more precisely identify the charge such as "Chef Mickey" instead of just WDW Lake Buena Vista", the customer/guest shouldn't have to spend his TIME at home letting his fingers do the walking around WDW figuring out where the charge came from.

And, if/when the customer starts the dispute with the credit company, this will get right to the point. The merchant will quickly regurgitate the details about the charge. (way way off topic WDW trivia: 1. Where used to be mentioned the "Get To The Point Sisters"? 2. Who says "get the point in the end"?)

Still another good business practice that could avoid many of these problems: A merchant who initiates an additional charge transaction, including for a no-show or for room/car damage, should send the customer a letter saying the merchant did that and why.

 

[Robo]

True, I still live in the dark ages with no cel phone, but the majority of cel' phone users today, I take it, still can run out of "free" minutes. Stories abound, some on The DIS, about parents complaining about the huge wireless bill their teenager(s) ran up.

Also becoming moot.

In my case right now, I have enough extra "roll-over minutes" (unused from previous months) that I could basically call from Nantucket to San Diego and leave the phone off the hook for the duration of the latest OJ controversy and not run out of "free minutes"
(well, almost.)

And that's just on the cell.
Most all of the new land-line phone deals offer unlimited free-anytime long-distance calling for as long as you can yack.

The phone business is ever-changing... and fast.

Remember all those incessant "10 cents-a-minute" "8 cents-a-minute" "5 cents-a-minute" TV ads for long distance service of just a few years ago?
-Gone.

Now its TEXT-MESSAGING that racks up the costs so much for teens' cells.
And even that is being reduced to little or no extra cost with newer "plans."

You should take a look into the new phone services.
You might save some money every month.
I was amazed at what is offered now.




.

 

[dqpowell]

Isn't the no-show fee $20 pp.

It varies from restaurant to restaurant. For example, California Grill charges $20 per person inside 24 hours; Fantasmic dining package at Hollywood & Vine charges $10 per person inside 48 hours. I don't know what CRT charges.

David

 

[skywaywaver]

On the date of the charge we ate at CRT, a group of 9 people, 4 adults, 4 kids, one infant. This was prepaid in April, including the 18% tip since the party had more than 8 members (roughly $255). Is there anything to do with this meal that we would have been charged $90 for, maybe some $10 per person fee. Maybe they thought we didn't show so it was a no-show fee?

Since the charge is exactly $90, and you had 9 people, sounds like you weren't checked in correctly, so there's the charge.

Let AMEX deal with it...that's what you pay fees for!

 

[dqpowell]

Since the charge is exactly $90, and you had 9 people...

Well, sort of. She had 8 people dining and one infant, who wouldn't (or shouldn't, anyway) count towards the penalty for no-shows. Of course that probably is what happened, but technically the charge should have been $80 if it was assessed for that reason.

David