So....I need to fire my Travel Agent/Old Thread...New Update

[zulaya]

So what exactly does "reconciling your payments" mean?

Was this gal even remotely sorry about it...since I'm guessing she was not in the know about your particular reservation? Or was just just non-chalant, business as usual.

I'm guessing this means there is NO money on your reservation? How is that even possible?

Any word for DCL? Hopefully they are sitting on your reservation.

Is she going to call up DCL and pay over the phone TODAY?

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

So what exactly does "reconciling your payments" mean?

Was this gal even remotely sorry about it...since I'm guessing she was not in the know about your particular reservation? Or was just just non-chalant, business as usual.

I'm guessing this means there is NO money on your reservation? How is that even possible?

Any word for DCL? Hopefully they are sitting on your reservation.

Is she going to call up DCL and pay over the phone TODAY?

I'm not sure how much she knows, but she was very "business as usual".

 

[HiddenMickeys]

I'm not sure how much she knows, but she was very "business as usual".

I have to say I truly admire you for your patience. I would probably be in jail by now for SOMETHING (probably hitting craig). This drives me nuts just reading it, but if it was ME? Just giving you kudos for keeping the chin up and getting through it. You're a better man than I.

 

[MagicMe]

Oh my gosh...so they haven't even sent in payment yet??? What exactly are they going to do to "reconcile" your payment???? Are they sending a check (YIKES)??? When do they expect to get this reconciled?

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I have to say I truly admire you for your patience. I would probably be in jail by now for SOMETHING (probably hitting craig). This drives me nuts just reading it, but if it was ME? Just giving you kudos for keeping the chin up and getting through it. You're a better man than I.

I'm entirely bald now from pulling out my hair.

 

[TiaMaria]

Oh Tom, I have such a sour stomach over this...I can only imagine how you feel.

Why on earth would they not have "reconciled" payments before the due date? As you said, they have lied.

Document, document, document.....call DCL also and let them know what she said. In fact, every conversation from this point on, I would put them on hold and get a DCL rep on the line so they can listen and document as well. That way CA cannot play "He said, she said". I would also forward a copy of any further emails to DCL as well.

Do they have any idea how much further you have taken this - i.e. local news, national internet advocates, States Atty Gen?

Sending out prayers for you....

 

[zulaya]

So when is she supposed to get back to you? I hope today.

 

[Amlee]

I haven't been on here is a while, but boy did this one cause me to come out of the wood work!

CA has some major travel laws. Check with your Attorney Generals office to see if this TA is by chance breaking any laws in your state. If they can cause you trouble, you can cause them trouble.

 

[thecooley]

So what exactly does "reconciling your payments" mean?

Reconciling payments involves looking at all the money you've taken in, then subtracting out and making payments for all your obligations. In a lot of corporate accounting I've seen, companies will sit on payments until the very last minute in order to continue drawing interest on that money in the bank as long as possible. The accounting department will keep track of what payments are due when, and the payables clerk will write those checks in one big batch at various times during the month. What probably happened is that the payment voucher did not make it into the stack for last month, so the accountant is just now writing the check for it. Of course, not charging your credit card for something from last year is unacceptable. Their accounting is a crock.

Either way, they lied, screwed up, then lied more. But I'm willing to bet they are going to try to blame it all on a clerical error. At least it sounds like someone is taking action on it now.

 

[NancyIL]

Well, good news, bad news, worse news.

Good news: I heard from the TA, of course Craig didn't call. He had one his flunkies call.

Bad news: She is reconciling the payments on our six reservations, which means they lied (duh). They haven't mailed in the payments.

Worse news: There is a $750 payment on our reservation from 09/03/07 that never got charged on our credit card and they're just discovering it now!

The level of incompetence of these people is just staggering! I sure hope you have only good news to report very soon.

 

[TiaMaria]

Reconciling payments involves looking at all the money you've taken in, then subtracting out and making payments for all your obligations. In a lot of corporate accounting I've seen, companies will sit on payments until the very last minute in order to continue drawing interest on that money in the bank as long as possible. The accounting department will keep track of what payments are due when, and the payables clerk will write those checks in one big batch at various times during the month. What probably happened is that the payment voucher did not make it into the stack for last month, so the accountant is just now writing the check for it. Of course, not charging your credit card for something from last year is unacceptable. Their accounting is a crock.

Either way, they lied, screwed up, then lied more. But I'm willing to bet they are going to try to blame it all on a clerical error. At least it sounds like someone is taking action on it now.

Regardless, you don't wait to reconcile the payments until the DAY AFTER final payment is due!!!!

 

[thecooley]

Regardless, you don't wait to reconcile the payments until the DAY AFTER final payment is due!!!!

You are absolutely right - very poor accounting practices. This is completely unacceptable, expecially when you hold someone else's vacation in your hands.

 

[dredick]

so where does this leave Tom's cruise?

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

It leaves it in the hands of the Travel Agent.

I just got off the phone with Pat, a Reservations Manager. She said that DCL is "unable" to step in.

Here's his response from the email I sent yesterday:

Tom, I just got your e-mail this morning, sorry I was not able to get back to you sooner. I have spoken to Christine in my office this morning about this matter and she indicates to me that the payments are due to Disney today and she has processed them this morning and is in contact with our Disney Rep regarding them. I also understand from her she has spoken to you regarding the reservations. We will not release the bookings to Disney Cruise Line, we did a sizable amount of work on these bookings, and therefore we earned the commission so I will not be printing these letters and faxing them to Disney.

I tried to explain to you the pluses of our office and the way which we do business, however it seems you do not feel that we are of any importance to you, for that I am truly sorry. You will be able to continue to get information as you have from Disney Cruise Line, and we will contact you once your Documents are available for Pick-up. Please feel free to speak to Christine about any further concerns you might have.

Thank You,

Craig Mungary
Central Valley Cruise Adventures
7676 N. Blackstone Ave.
Fresno, CA 93720
559-438-7447
559-438-7450 Fax

He is still lying, because, according to DCL payments have not been made. Unless of course "the check's in the mail" again.

 

[poohfriend]

No, you don't see the value in what the agency has done for you.

Sounds to me like you've done the work...and they are getting the commission. But c'est la vie --if they'll go ahead and pay off your cruise.

Now everyone and their brothers can book excursions...but not you!

What's the value in that???

I still think that you should see if DCL will let you cancel the cruise and give you the same pricing moments after it is canceled.

Is he in business to make money or just to feel powerful?

I just hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[zulaya]

OH MY GOSH. I can't believe this guy thinks he EARNED his commission.

 

[Mozart]

Notice that he asked you to speak with Christine regarding the issue.

Personally, I would be in his office asking him to explain his actions. Then, don't leave until you've spoken to that guy's boss. And then that guy's boss. Etc...

You are the customer. They are trying their hardest to forget that. Make sure everybody you know is aware of how they are to deal with.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Personally, I would be in his office asking him to explain his actions. Then, don't leave until you've spoken to that guy's boss. And then that guy's boss. Etc...

Um, Craig is the owner. There's no one above him.

 

[Fizzgig]

Notice that he asked you to speak with Christine regarding the issue.

Personally, I would be in his office asking him to explain his actions. Then, don't leave until you've spoken to that guy's boss. And then that guy's boss. Etc...

You are the customer. They are trying their hardest to forget that. Make sure everybody you know is aware of how they are to deal with.

The guy is the owner of the shop. Therefore, he can throw one of his employees under the bus and go golfing.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Tom, what if all of us, email Chris Elliott, about this matter? There is over 1000 people who are watching this thread. Even if half email Chris, he might do something, about this to expose this agency?