My money is in Neverland...

[ChristyJ]

2 weeks ago, I had over $650.00 paid off on our hotel rooms, now I'm down to a little over $200.00.

Last week we changed our ressies from 4nightsWL/4 nights Poly GVC to all 8 nights at the WL. Rather than transfer the money (over $450.00) I had paid on the room at the Poly to the new WL ressie, they refunded all of that money back to origional sources. (I specifically asked for the money to be transferred and talked to 4 different people on 2 different ocassions who told me it would be transferred, not refunded).

Now here's the problem...it was refunded...part of the money I paid I used those Mastercard gift cards ($200.00). I no longer have those gift cards...they each had a set amount of money, I used it & once I saw the credit on my room, I got rid of the card. So $200.00 has been refunded to I don't know where(???). The rest of the money is back on credit cards and I can just redo all of that as soon as the credits actually show up on my account.

I did speak to a great CM today who gave me her personal extension and said she would take care of things, but I still feel sick about it all. I have worked hard to pay for this vacation, and it just bums me out to deal with this.

 

[*Flower*]

 

[Kimberle]

Yup! Same thing happened to me.

Their accounting dept cannot transfer money. I don't know why they can't, I'm in charge of a similar dept at my company and it's no problem. And, their acct dept does NOT accept phone calls.

Call back in the morning when the acct dept is open. Ask the CM to speak with them and have them re-charge your cards. They should still have the numbers and experiation dates. If they can't help, keep asking to "elevalate" the call to a Superior.

Hon, I'm in charge of this info in my company. The A/R dept MUST have your info.

Keep being nice, firm, and persistant. Don't hang up until they help.

P.S. Next time, don't throw away your cards until after the trip or you know you won't return what you've bought.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

Hope you are able to get it straightened out! Surely they have the card numbers still on file. I just made my room deposit on a visa gift card and yelled at my husband for this very reason when he went to throw it out. The gift card is nice to have but it is a bit frustrating to use with this sort of situation.

Hopefully they can take care of it for you easily.

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

Ugh. I'm sure Disney can help you get things resolved. But I know you'll feel better once everything is done. I'm like that too!

I received a $100 Visa giftcard from my boss for my b-day and I used it for our MNSSHP tix. I figured I couldn't return the tix so I wouldn't have to worry about having a credit issued to the gift card.

Debbie

 

[Certifiable WDW Nut]

I don't see why they wouldn't have the info. They needed it to process the refund. If they tell you they don't have the info, ask them how they issued the refund.

 

[ChristyJ]

Thanks for the hugs & tips!!

I'm sure they have my info.-the card numbers, etc. I've already checked and the money I had paid using the credit card has been refunded to my account-it's just those darn gift cards. I spoke with the company that issues the gift cards and they said it looks as though WDW tried to refund the money, but the cards are no longer activated, so the money did not get refunded. So I'm not sure what happens now...??


Maybe this is some weird blessing in disguise...

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

Maybe Disney will just issue you a refund check since it sounds like they won't be able to apply a credit to the (inactivated) gift card? Do you know what the expiration was on your gift card? Maybe it's expired, thus, inactivated. Or, does a gift card become inactivated once the entire available balance is used?

So confusing! Let us know what happens!

Debbie

 

[Sammie]

I can certainly relate, as I had this happen to me. I never prepay anything with Disney, as they are horrible at refunding or transferring money.

I make my deposit, take the money I was going to prepay with put it in savings, draw interest on it and pay it off when I get home.

 

[heffalump9]

I guess now you know you are not alone, when it comes to WDW poor handling of credits, etc. I had the same problem in 2003 at AKL, I found no help in the acct. department but had much better luck with guest relations (Carlos was great), even after you get everything straighten out on the phone make sure you bring a list of names, dates and times of who you spoke with plus any copies of paperwork, credit card statements, letters from gift card companies,etc. it will help when you speak with supervisors and general managers. In 2003 it took me over a hour and a half to check in and get the book keeping right, but with all my paperwork and phone logs they couldn't argue with me.

 

[CaipiraBob]

UGH!

I don't have anything constructive to say so I will simply send "Good Vibes" out in all directions and hope this works out perfectly.

 

[Luv2Roam]

If they cannot refund the gift card, I would ask for Disney Dollars instead.

 

[ChristyJ]

The CM I spoke with in Customer Services is supposed to call me back by Thurs., so hopefully I'll have some encouraging news by then.

When I spoke with the gift card company, they said that because the card amount was for a specific amount and the total amount had been used, the card was deemed inactive. I believe that these cards are often given an expiration date, but I don't know if that even affects us.

I am now writing down all names of CMs I speak with about this (and the jist of the conversation)-keeping track of all receipts, etc.

My husband is doing the big "I told you so dance." He wanted to pay the deposit, let the money earn (a tiny bit) of interest in the bank, and pay when we get there. I just thought being able to say "our vacation is paid off" before we got there would be better. Oh well...

Thanks again to all of you! I love the Dis boards!

 

[thumpersfriend]

This is good information. I have been sending money every month to pay ahead for our stay at GF. We were thinking maybe we would stay at the Poly instead but they really can't just transfer the money we already paid toward the Poly? I only sent checks.

 

[JayBee]

Can I ask.....why pay ahead of time? I put down a deposit(first night) and pay the remainde at checkin. I just deposit monies in a certain savings account dedicated to my WDW trip.

 

[Kimberle]

Originally posted by JayBee
Can I ask.....why pay ahead of time? I put down a deposit(first night) and pay the remainde at checkin. I just deposit monies in a certain savings account dedicated to my WDW trip.

When you have a package, it must be paid in full 45 days before your trip.

I think people like to pay a little bit at a time because then they don't get "hit" with 1 big payment. Disney is pretty "safe" . If you cancel, they will refund your money with no problem. Keeping your $$ in a dedicated savings account really isn't going to earn you any money these days, with the interest rates so low....

 

[thumpersfriend]

I like to pay ahead, it is kind of a game with me. If I don't buy something I didn't need anyway I just save what I would have spent on that and send a check every month. This helps me with not buying so impulsively which I am known to do. Then it doesn't seem so expensive if I don't have to write off a big check when we get there. Just my crazy way I guess.

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

Originally posted by thumpersfriend
This is good information. I have been sending money every month to pay ahead for our stay at GF. We were thinking maybe we would stay at the Poly instead but they really can't just transfer the money we already paid toward the Poly? I only sent checks.

Last year I originally booked a room-only reservation. I had made some payments towards this reservation using both my credit card and checks.

When the 7-for-4 Package came out I cancelled my room-only reservation and booked the package. The payments I had already made by check ("cash") could be transferred from the room-only reservation to the package but the credit card payments had to be refunded. I was told CRO & WDTC can transfer cash transactions but not credit card transations.

I'd think if you are just changing resorts and not changing from non-package to package (or vice versa) all your payments should transfer. (?)

Debbie

 

[darlene walker]

Oh my god, this is what happened to me! I had paid $718.00 in full for our trip, AAA rate. Then got an email rate and saved $189.00 which was to be refunded back. After a few days had passed I called to check on my resv. and they couldn't find it at first and the cm told me our resv. was lost in neverland but not to worry she would fix it and send out the refund. I called again later when the new Confirmation letter said I now owed $326.00 for our stay when it should be paid in full. I am SO MAD at CRO! The CM credited our credit card which is now closed the $326.00. Why did she do that? I got an apology call last night from Disney and before I hung up I was asked " so do you want to pay your balance right now"? How bad is that.
Darlene

 

[thumpersfriend]

Thanks, that's a relief!