How can you get out of a TA's reservation?

[o0quirkygirl0o]

Please tell me you have contacted Disney, or are currently writing the email to do so. You really need to get on this, your window is quickly closing and it can take a bit of time for the Disney cogs to get turning on things. Contacting Disney and having them take over the reservation is your best bet at this point.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I'm truly horrified reading this. I hope I am not breaking rules by admitting I am a TA. As a TA my clients could cancel as long as it was within Disney's policy. I have no rights to let them or not let them.

Now you could cancel resort/dining plan and your ADR's would be untouched. HOWEVER, others are right, if you gave her access to your MDE she could be vindictive. Here is what I would suggest if you want to make sure you keep those ADRs.

1)change email/password login-even if you need to create a new email just for the purpose.

2) This is going to be a PIA, but call dining. Explain the situation. See if you can give an alternate name, and be given a new reservation number. I am not sure they will allow this, but I would hope they would if you explain what is going on.

A good TA should be easily reachable, make you feel comfortable, and give you extra care that a Disney CM isn't able to such as:
-making ADRs
-scheduling Fastpasses
-going over day by day itineraries
-setting Magical Express

A TA should never be threatening, unreachable, or try to guilt you into anything.

This sounds like very good advice.

And BTW, you aren't breaking DIS rules by admitting you are a TA. You would be breaking the rules if you tried to promote your business here or try to get DISers to book with you.

 

[Networth]

Sounds more like a scam artist than a travel agent...

 

[2Tiggies]

Sounds more like a scam artist than a travel agent...

It's the absence of provision of essential information and terms and conditions that raise a big red flag. Even if not a scam artist, I think the OP is wise to be canceling with this agent. Or 'Agent'

 

[MrInfinity]

Can you clarify what you're trying to cancel? It sounds like you signed up w her to book your trip including ADRs, events, etc. Now you want to cancel the trip, pay nothing, yet keep most of what's valueable that she actually did for you? i.e. the get hard-to-acquire ADRs. If you're not going to pay her for her services rendered, what's the deal? You just cancel. You'll lose your ADRs of course, but they were part of a package you booked.

Any TA is going to do that.

Otherwise standard practice would be:
* Enlist TA
* Have TA acquire highly valueable ADRs
* Cancel TA
* Keep the ADRs
* Pay nothing

I must be missing something critical here.

Or did *you* book these ADRs separately? That would be a totally different story! But if the TA booked them they are property of the TA until you pay her whatever you agreed.

Or if you just want to cancel everything and you're ok w losing the ADRs, of course you can do that. Outside 45 days you won't have a Disney fee, tho this TA might have a cancellation fee of their own. Even if you didn't sign anything, surely if they attempt to enforce an overall cancellation fee, then it will clearly say on some promotional flyer they gave you that a cancellation fee will apply.

And if you haven't actually paid anything, then fee or not, you can probly just walk away and there is nothing she can do.

 

[Networth]

It's the absence of provision of essential information and terms and conditions that raise a big red flag. Even if not a scam artist, I think the OP is wise to be canceling with this agent. Or 'Agent'

Exactly any real professional would have better communication at minimum. The fact their is no contract would be a huge no no with me. I don't use TA's but it would be like going to a surgeon just because they call themselves doctor. OP needs to take whatever "penalty" and get out of their. And if you gave your CC number I would monitor it. This person sounds shady.

 

[snorkelyn]

What does flagging your account do? Will that prevent someone from messing with it? That's what I'm worried about most.

I think this was done for me since I transferred my reservation to Disney. Every time I called, I had to wait while the CM read a long story of my issue.

I haven't had the same experience but I can tell u I orginally booked my trip in August for the end of February. I went online and booked all my ADRs for those dates. Then in January about 50 days out we had to reschedule our trip to a little bit later. Before I canceled and rescheduled anything I went on MDE and redid my reservations. I wanted to make sure I could get the ones I wanted. I was able to book all of the ADRs except bog but I did manage to snag an ADR to trex which I couldn't get with my earlier dates so I was happy lol. If I were u I would sign up or log into MDE and try and redo your ADRs, that way the travel agent can't touch them if they are under MDE, at least that's what I hope would happen. Anyways good luck and let us know how this all turns out!

Not true. *see long story below. The agent can call and mess with ADRs just by knowing a few general pieces of information. (eg name, address, email- things that will also be connected to your new reservation)

I don't know what you do and don't have but it is pretty apparent that they have not done things properly. I don't see how they can hold you to anything, quite frankly. I would be so bold as to say they have many folk canceling as you are and that's contributing to their threats and hostility in attempting to intimidate you into keeping your reservation with them. Based on the information you have given us, I just can't see how they could possibly do anything to stop you from canceling. I think your biggest challenge is to have some faith in yourself and be direct with them and not allow them to intimidate you.

Agree

Please tell me you have contacted Disney, or are currently writing the email to do so. You really need to get on this, your window is quickly closing and it can take a bit of time for the Disney cogs to get turning on things. Contacting Disney and having them take over the reservation is your best bet at this point.

I would forgo the other agents gift card offer and transfer to Disney. Disney is more likely to stand behind you if you released the reservation to them.

Here's the story of my cousin (sorry it's a long one):
She used an agent, and trusted the agent to make her ADRs. Well, the agent made up her own list of ADRs, which were WAY off from what my cousin requested. (EG:
1. agent booked CRT for dinner instead of Breakfast
2. agent booked a late breakfast at Crystal Palace (instead of the 8am my cousin requested so she could get in the park early)
3. agent booked Bippity Boppity, rather than Pirate adventure cruise for my tom-boy nieces??
4. she paid no attention to dates requested in which parks (and my cousin didn't have hoppers)
Sooooo...my cousin spent HOURS on the phone (in tears) with Disney to try and fix these ADRs. Of course, by the time my cousin realized and called Disney (the next day), all the good ones were gone. Disney couldn't help her much. many of her dates and venues had to change. This was only PART of what this agent screwed up. So, my cousin had the reservation transferred to Disney.
THEN....get this...the travel agent spitefully called and CANCELLED all the reservations that my cousin spent HOURS on the phone correcting!

Even after this, Disney tried to come as close as possible to the ressies that the agent cancelled, but some had to change slightly.

I would not mess around. This agent sounds like she would screw you for cancelling on her. I would email Disney.

Good luck. Sorry about the long story.

 

[china mom]

I'm truly horrified reading this. I hope I am not breaking rules by admitting I am a TA. As a TA my clients could cancel as long as it was within Disney's policy. I have no rights to let them or not let them.

I, like you am horrified reading this and, like you am a TA. I cannot fathom treating a client in such a neglectful manner that they would want to leave me and if, for some reason, someone did want to leave me, I would be kissing rear trying to keep the business rather than resorting to threats. If they still wanted to leave, I would sadly and gracefully let them.

I had a real estate agent one time who neglected me. I asked to be let out of our listing agreement and she became horribly abusive to me on the phone - spewing profanity and everything. in the end, I got out of the agreement and found a more professional agent and then referred him to friends and family. He probably did a million dollars in sales based on my referrals. Vinegar is no way to catch flies.

 

[snorkelyn]

Can you clarify what you're trying to cancel? It sounds like you signed up w her to book your trip including ADRs, events, etc. Now you want to cancel the trip, pay nothing, yet keep most of what's valueable that she actually did for you? i.e. the get hard-to-acquire ADRs. If you're not going to pay her for her services rendered, what's the deal? You just cancel. You'll lose your ADRs of course, but they were part of a package you booked.

Any TA is going to do that.

Otherwise standard practice would be:
* Enlist TA
* Have TA acquire highly valueable ADRs
* Cancel TA
* Keep the ADRs
* Pay nothing

I must be missing something critical here.

Or did *you* book these ADRs separately? That would be a totally different story! But if the TA booked them they are property of the TA until you pay her whatever you agreed.

I agree with this too. If your agent is shady, release to Disney- don't start over with a better deal from another agent. It may look shady on your part in the eyes of Disney.

However this unfolds, you are at risk of your ADRs being messed with. So sorry you have to deal with this.

 

[china mom]

Can you clarify what you're trying to cancel? It sounds like you signed up w her to book your trip including ADRs, events, etc. Now you want to cancel the trip, pay nothing, yet keep most of what's valueable that she actually did for you? i.e. the get hard-to-acquire ADRs. If you're not going to pay her for her services rendered, what's the deal? You just cancel. You'll lose your ADRs of course, but they were part of a package you booked.

Any TA is going to do that.

Otherwise standard practice would be:
* Enlist TA
* Have TA acquire highly valueable ADRs
* Cancel TA
* Keep the ADRs
* Pay nothing

I must be missing something critical here.

Or did *you* book these ADRs separately? That would be a totally different story! But if the TA booked them they are property of the TA until you pay her whatever you agreed.

Or if you just want to cancel everything and you're ok w losing the ADRs, of course you can do that. Outside 45 days you won't have a Disney fee, tho this TA might have a cancellation fee of their own. Even if you didn't sign anything, surely if they attempt to enforce an overall cancellation fee, then it will clearly say on some promotional flyer they gave you that a cancellation fee will apply.

And if you haven't actually paid anything, then fee or not, you can probly just walk away and there is nothing she can do.

Yes, that would totally suck if clients were in the practice of using TAs to get all that work done and then bail, keeping the reservations that were made. But, if it happened to me as a TA, I would be disappointed and even mad if I thought it was premeditated but would just roll with the punches. I would not consider that the reservations were my property - the heck with it, let them keep them.

I don't see this as any different than the potential client I have been working with for weeks now. She has asked me a zillion question - some of which required research (time) on my part to answer. She has had me work up dozens of price quotes with all different scenarios. her dates of travel have covered all range from early Spring o late Fall. Her party size has fluctuated from three to five. her choice of resorts has moved from value to deluxe and back again.

And, you know what, deep down, I know that she will never end up booking. But, all I have is my reputation and I will keep working my butt off for her hoping that maybe she will book, or maybe she will refer someone to me.

 

[redrosesix]

I was leaning this way too until I re-read her posts...all of the necessary info wasn't in the first post.

Can you clarify what you're trying to cancel? It sounds like you signed up w her to book your trip including ADRs, events, etc. Now you want to cancel the trip, pay nothing, yet keep most of what's valueable that she actually did for you? i.e. the get hard-to-acquire ADRs. If you're not going to pay her for her services rendered, what's the deal? You just cancel. You'll lose your ADRs of course, but they were part of a package you booked.

Any TA is going to do that.

Otherwise standard practice would be:
* Enlist TA
* Have TA acquire highly valueable ADRs
* Cancel TA
* Keep the ADRs
* Pay nothing

I must be missing something critical here.

Or did *you* book these ADRs separately? That would be a totally different story! But if the TA booked them they are property of the TA until you pay her whatever you agreed.

Or if you just want to cancel everything and you're ok w losing the ADRs, of course you can do that. Outside 45 days you won't have a Disney fee, tho this TA might have a cancellation fee of their own. Even if you didn't sign anything, surely if they attempt to enforce an overall cancellation fee, then it will clearly say on some promotional flyer they gave you that a cancellation fee will apply.

And if you haven't actually paid anything, then fee or not, you can probly just walk away and there is nothing she can do.

It sounds like she booked with an agent and now that agent is no longer there. She has already paid in full but is having serious issues with the agent who took over her file (who she thinks is the owner). She wants to cancel but the new agent won't let her -- meanwhile she has found a better deal elsewhere (first time I read this I thought she was just changing to get the better deal, but it doesn't sound like she has booked that yet).

Scary stuff. And I agree with the other posters who said ask Disney to take over the reservation, especially since it has been paid for. So what if the other agency is offering gift cards and your first trip is therefore a little more expensive. You paid to learn a lesson to check more prices before paying in full. At this point, you need to try to rescue what's left of your plans because you don't have enough time left to ensure you'll be able to book everything you had.

 

[JanaDee]

What reason did you give her for canceling?

And yes she could cancel your ADRs.

Not sure Disney could do anything.

OP doesn't need a reason.

 

[gonnago]

I am so sorry you are having this problem.I also book directly through Disney because for me doing all the planning myself is part of the excitement of the vacation.Now with that being said my main concern is that you should call Disney with your confirmation# and make sure that the reservation has in fact been paid in full and then address your issues once you know they have received payment.I do not know if you paid Disney directly or paid the TA and if you made payment to the TA I would be extremely concerned that said TA has not made full payment for your reservation.I hope you are able to get it all straightened out and that your family has a magical vacation from that point going foward. And also to the Dis boards!

 

[grannyminnie]

Wow, this boggles the mind... Sure hope the OP gets everything straightened out, and quickly, because as some have said, the clock is running on the 45-day mark! It could be that this unscrupulous agent is allowing that to take place.

 

[catra121]

Can you clarify what you're trying to cancel? It sounds like you signed up w her to book your trip including ADRs, events, etc. Now you want to cancel the trip, pay nothing, yet keep most of what's valueable that she actually did for you? i.e. the get hard-to-acquire ADRs. If you're not going to pay her for her services rendered, what's the deal? You just cancel. You'll lose your ADRs of course, but they were part of a package you booked.

Any TA is going to do that.

Otherwise standard practice would be:
* Enlist TA
* Have TA acquire highly valueable ADRs
* Cancel TA
* Keep the ADRs
* Pay nothing

I must be missing something critical here.

Or did *you* book these ADRs separately? That would be a totally different story! But if the TA booked them they are property of the TA until you pay her whatever you agreed.

Or if you just want to cancel everything and you're ok w losing the ADRs, of course you can do that. Outside 45 days you won't have a Disney fee, tho this TA might have a cancellation fee of their own. Even if you didn't sign anything, surely if they attempt to enforce an overall cancellation fee, then it will clearly say on some promotional flyer they gave you that a cancellation fee will apply.

And if you haven't actually paid anything, then fee or not, you can probly just walk away and there is nothing she can do.

Not sure how other agencies work...but where I work you don't pay anything to the agent directly. They book your trip, they book your ADRs, they help you plan your days...and the ONLY thing they are paid is commission from Disney.

That's why it hurts agents when people cancel...because they literally get paid nothing when someone cancels. Just part of the job. Cancelling ADRs would be spiteful and retaliation...and even though the situation might be frustrating for the agent (wasted time)...it's not okay to be spiteful and try to ruin their trip because you are frustrated.

There is nothing that the OP needs to pay this travel agent UNLESS they had a separate contract that included some additional planning services beyond the norm (and that would NOT include ADRs, BBB reservations, etc as those are just standard things offered by all Disney TA).

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I use DU for my TA and they have been wonderful but I am pretty sure that they cancel any ADR's for you if they make them and they are upfront about that somewhere. They do a lot of business with WDW and I am sure they got burned way too many times. Especially pre CC hold with the ADR's and only signature restaurants had a CC hold. I used to be on the phone at 7 AM at 180 days out for 10 days in a row.

Is it 45 days for packages? Isn't room only different?

OP - let us know how it is going

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I just realized something.

The OP said somewhere that she paid for the vacation already. If she paid in full that doesn't mean she paid WDW in full. It could be the TA never turned the money over to Disney yet or worse. Used it for something else hoping to get another clients money then actually pay it right before the deadline.

I heard about that happening on the cruise board. A TA hung onto the money until the deadline (45 day's?) but because Disney wasn't paid at the 90 day mark the client couldn't prebook anything. Can you imagine not booking FP+ until 45 days instead of 60 how mad you would be?

 

[2Tiggies]

Is it 45 days for packages? Isn't room only different?

OP - let us know how it is going

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe room only reservations only have to be paid in full on check in.

 

[ellone]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe room only reservations only have to be paid in full on check in.

You pay one night ahead of time and the balance at check in.

 

[Cyrano]

Op has not been back to the thread and I am sure the advice received has been helpful.
Closed