*LONG RANT* - Disney Vacation Online Payment

[maxiesmom]

Some of us don't have debit cards for the very reason OP got hosed. Even if it's a reputable company like Disney once you click the money is gone and you've seen how hard it is to get it back. Now imagine what it would be like if they didn't want to cooperate Why do you think so many businesses love them? Even if you have a legitimate excuse for a refund they can earn interest while it's being disputed.

Out of all the financial tools at my disposal a debit card is the last one I'd use. And if this problem wasn't bad enough, consumer guru Clark Howard (who absolutely loathes debit cards) reported on another scam that is especially dangerous to debit card holders:

http://clarkhoward.com/liveweb/shownotes/2010/08/19/19105/

So apparently it all comes down to who do you trust, Clark Howard (who I have never hear of) or Dave Ramsey. Me, I trust the one who explains to you why credit cards are bad. Dave. If you have a problem using your personal debit card, you can always go get a one time use one, and use that. Some of us don't like the temptation a credit card gives us to live beyond our means.

OP--I am sorry this happened to you. All I can tell you is that when I have cancelled vacations with Disney before, they have been pretty quick to get my money back to me. Hopefully it will show up any day!

 

[Purseval]

So apparently it all comes down to who do you trust, Clark Howard (who I have never hear of) or Dave Ramsey.

http://talkers.com/online/?p=71

Clark Howard is the 2nd highest rated non-political talk show host in the nation (and the highest rated just quit radio). He's a self-made millionaire who retired in his thirties, took up consumer advice as a hobby then turned it into a 2nd career. Dave Ramsey doesn't even make the list. If you've never heard of him you may want to check out his website clarkhoward.com it's loaded with resources and tips. If you ask around in this forum you will also see that Clark is highly regarded and recommended by Disboard folks.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I don't really understand why people make partial payments on their Disney package anyway, as there's no real incentive to do so. If there was a discount for paying in advance I could see the reasoning, but it's actually the opposite - if I hold the money in my savings account until the due date, it's earning interest for as much time as possible; if I fork it over to Disney in advance it's no longer earning interest for me.

There isn't a right or wrong way to pay for ones vacation.

Paying at once works for you. Paying bit by bit works for others.

I like to make payments. Pay a deposit when I first book. Then each pay day I make a payment until the balance is paid. May not work for others, but It works for me.

When someone else starts paying for my trips, I'll be happy to let them pay the way they see fit.

 

[Birdrav]

I did the very same thing on a cruise 2 years ago. I called them and they did refund me the money that I did not mean to pay. It seemed to be a diffucult process for them, and it took over a week for the money to be credited to my account. But it can be done.

 

[Abbie]

Wow, that's crazy OP. Hope your money is back where it belongs quickly! I had something similar happen last time I went to pay my credit card. I had clicked "pay statement balance" but by the time I got to the final page, I noticed it was now clicked on the box that said "pay entire balance". Don't know why it automatically changed but I luckily I saw it and was able to correct it. I don't like to give them my money before it's due.

Haven't been to Disney in a few years but just this week booked a trip for November. There are two parties going and we are both doing a split stay, so four total reservations. I've gotten ONE emailed confirmation. It also took them four entire days before the deposits showed up on my credit card. On the other hand, I also booked air and bought tickets and both generated confirmation emails immediately, plus I've already received the tickets. I called back to request paper confirmations just to be safe, but I'm not impressed with how their system works.

 

[Pembo]

Perfect example of why you shouldn't use debit cards to pay for any major purchases.

That is exactly what I was thinking. I'd rather transfer the money to the CC from my checking then have that happen. Sorry OP..hope your money comes quickly.

 

[ajk912]

http://talkers.com/online/?p=71

Clark Howard is the 2nd highest rated non-political talk show host in the nation (and the highest rated just quit radio). He's a self-made millionaire who retired in his thirties, took up consumer advice as a hobby then turned it into a 2nd career. Dave Ramsey doesn't even make the list. If you've never heard of him you may want to check out his website clarkhoward.com it's loaded with resources and tips. If you ask around in this forum you will also see that Clark is highly regarded and recommended by Disboard folks.

I think it's better to learn to manage and save your money rather than stash it in envelopes because banks are bad. Just kidding, no disrespect meant to anyone, but I never could understand the Dave Ramsey envelope system and why it was better than a good ol' budget and living within your means.

 

[cm8]

I think it's better to learn to manage and save your money rather than stash it in envelopes because banks are bad. Just kidding, no disrespect meant to anyone, but I never could understand the Dave Ramsey envelope system and why it was better than a good ol' budget and living within your means.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think it's better to learn to manage and save your money rather than stash it in envelopes because banks are bad. Just kidding, no disrespect meant to anyone, but I never could understand the Dave Ramsey envelope system and why it was better than a good ol' budget and living within your means.

Sigh. You don't "stash" your money in envelopes because "banks are bad". You do it because, for some people, it is harder to spend cash than it is to just whip out a credit card. If I only have $50 on me when I go to the store, I won't throw everything that looks good into my cart. I will keep careful track of how much I am spending. With a credit card it would be easy to spend an extra $5 or $10 every time I shop. But that extra $5 or $10 a time adds up.

It is the essence of living within your means, not putting stuff on plastic and paying for it later. Plus interest. Maybe some people can be good and pay off their credit cards every month, but the vast majority of people cannot.

 

[Green Tea]

Thanks for the sympathetic well wishes everyone! I was just trying to get some GRRRRRRRR out online

That is REALLY bad. I would call my bank to.

 

[PatsMom]

I've never heard of Clark Howard and I personally think Dave Ramsey is useless. But many people follow Dave and find he helps them manage their finances. There really probably isn't a right way or a wrong way to do these things.

You can make partial payments by sending in an old fashioned check can't you? I haven't booked through Disney in ten years but that would seem to help those who have debit cards and no credit card. I never pay on line with debit and I am trying to get my daughter out of the habit. She doesn't have a credit card (college student) so I've been having her buy pre-paid American Express cards to do her on line shopping.

I suspect both Dave and Clark would disapprove of going to Disney World when you don't have an emergency fund. Which the OP must not or she wouldn't be borrowing to pay bills due to an $1,800 overdraft. Just saying.....

 

[pixiewings71]

OP try contacting your bank to see what the status is, with a refund once the charging companies processes that refund it's up to your bank.....and this is why they say it can 7-10 days...altho personally I've never had it take more then 2......

Sorry this happened, I hope you get it sorted out quickly.

 

[scribega]

There isn't a right or wrong way to pay for ones vacation.

Paying at once works for you. Paying bit by bit works for others.

I like to make payments. Pay a deposit when I first book. Then each pay day I make a payment until the balance is paid. May not work for others, but It works for me.

This way works for me to.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

Yikes! Hope it gets sorted out soon.

I'm having the opposite problem. I usually make online payments w/ my credit card (transfer from bank account to cc, then do the online payment w/ credit card.). I had three instances where it seemed everything went through fine, but checking on the invoice a couple of days later, it didn't show up. Wasn't on my cc either. So I had to do it again. This happened three times.

I'm just hoping it's not floating around in cyber space somewhere and I'll end up having extra payments going onto my credit card.

Honestly, I think the Disney website isn't very user friendly - all aspects of it!

 

[Purseval]

I've never heard of Clark Howard and I personally think Dave Ramsey is useless.

Clark Howard is the financial strategies of a Dave Ramsey with a massive dose of frugality thrown in. He squeezes dollars until George Washington begs for mercy.

I suspect both Dave and Clark would disapprove of going to Disney World when you don't have an emergency fund. Which the OP must not or she wouldn't be borrowing to pay bills due to an $1,800 overdraft. Just saying.....

I can't even imagine Clark Howard planning a trip to WDW. Be interesting to see how he would do it.

 

[Swimalie]

Clark Howard is the financial strategies of a Dave Ramsey with a massive dose of frugality thrown in. He squeezes dollars until George Washington begs for mercy.


I can't even imagine Clark Howard planning a trip to WDW. Be interesting to see how he would do it.

Perseval, you are so right about Clark squeezing George dry. Like using a razor for 3 years to save money. Only shopping for clothes at Costco. He is the ULTIMATE budgeter. No one can be more frugal than him. That's how he became a millionaire in his 30's. His books are awesome, too. I met him in 2003 and he's really nice in person as well.

How would he plan a trip to Disney? Stay in a condo off site, book the cheapest car and get a free upgrade, bring his own cooler in to the parks for lunch, cook breakfast and dinner at the condo and probably do a 5 day trip for around $1200 for his family of 5. Seriously, he treats his whole staff to an over seas trip each year as a gift. He does it frugally but can do it because he saves all the time.

Oh and for those who have never heard of him, not only is he on the radio, he's on CNN. He's very big and worth listening to. He's not one to teach you how to "get control of your money" or learn financial "self control". He is for those that want to "save more, spend less and avoid being ripped off" (his own motto).

 

[Blue Skies]

OP, I feel your pain....

A few years ago I made a payment on-line for $1,300. Disney's wonderful system did a double payment of $1,300 ($2,600 total).

I took about 3 weeks to get our money back from Disney.

I now no longer make any on-line payments; we pay in full when we book.

 

[annmarieda]

wow, this definitely is a cautionary tale. This trip is the first one that we ever made the deposit and then payments. I ran into a couple of snags with their online system where the payment never got deducted from my bank account and never was applied....but that is nothing compared to your experience. I wonder if I will ever use their automated system again after my little troubles and reading about yours. YIKES!

 

[Green Tea]

Clark Howard is like a smart friend who lives next door. I love is tips on CNN HLN in the mornings.

 

[ohlas]

my question is why dont you have a limit on you debit card like we have 750 credit card transaction, and 500 atm cash daily ??????

if someone ever steals your card or you lose it they could wipe you out.

bad disney there website for the vaction end truely suck butt freeze all the time.