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

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

My heart is beating a mile a minute. I just sent a final demand email to the TA.

May 12, 2008

Central Valley Cruise Adventures
7676 N. Blackstone, Ave
Fresno, CA 93720

Re: Reservation #s 228*****, 228*****, 228*****

Mr. Mungary,

It has now been two (2) weeks since I first spoke with your office and notified your agents that we were unable to book excursions because Disney Cruise Lines had not yet received payment in full for our reservations. Payments made to you by check had been cashed, but not forwarded to Disney Cruise Lines. As of this morning (05/12/2008), this matter has not yet been resolved. According to the reservations agent I spoke to a few minutes ago at Disney Cruise Lines, our reservations are still unpaid

This is our final request for resolution of this matter. Please ensure that payment in full is made to Disney Cruise Lines by 12 noon (PDT) today by whatever means necessary.

Furthermore, I’ve attached a letter that I expect you to print on company letterhead, sign and fax to Disney Cruise Lines by 12 noon today that releases all six (6) of our reservations back to Disney Cruise Lines.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.


Sincerely,

Tom Bell

 

[poohfriend]

I so want you to have an excellent cruise.

Good luck!

 

[outlander]

I still have my fingers crossed! Please let us know if you hear from it...er....him.

Good luck!

 

[global_mom]

We are all here for you!

 

[Shoshie]

Sending cruise vibes

 

[Tuffcookie]

Tom, Excellent letter!

It is possible they may say they did not get your e-mail. Do you have a fax number you can send it to, as well?

TC

 

[disneylaurie]

Tom,
I just want to say that I'm sorry you have been treated so poorly! I work as a travel agent part time and I honestly cannot believe this agency is still in business. ( I would have gone crazy if I would have received the letter you did!) If they want people to book direct with Disney, what do they do all day?!?!

I hope you are able to transfer your reservation away from this agency so they do not receive commission. I'm hoping the DCL people you are speaking with are understanding about this...what a headache.

Best of Luck! Please do let us know how this is resolved.

 

[Joan1]

i am amaxed at how many of you internet savvy guys still use Travel Agents! We book direct with DCL, have made several room changes, all of which was accomodated without fuss online. The customer service team are fantastic. The prices are the same...somethime less (out of interest we had a quote for our upcoming cruise from DU and it was cheaper to do it direct- much cheaper than the room credit offered!)...so why involve 3rd parties?

Not all travel agents are bad. I have used one for the last 4 years and have had wonderful experiences. It works for me because I don't always have the time to research and be available when special itineraries, discounts for WDW, etc are available to book.

I am suprised that your quote from DCL was less - something must have been priced differently because usually places like DU or other online Disney related travel agencies are either the same or less then DCL

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Tom, Excellent letter!

It is possible they may say they did not get your e-mail. Do you have a fax number you can send it to, as well?

TC

Great idea. Thank you.

 

[zulaya]

Hoping you hear something positive. When you talked with DCL, if they receive a paper check from the TA, does DCL know how long it takes for that to be posted to your reservation?

 

[MrsJobba1]

I just wanted to send you some

I have been following this thread from here in the UK.

I can honestly say if this was me - I would be a total wreck.

I really hope you get this sorted ASAP.

Good luck with the final demand letter

I'm thinking of you and your family

 

[rantnnravin]

if i didn't receive anything from them by noon, I'd be standing in their office by noon02 with the papers for them to sign.

seriously, prayers and pixie dust for ya, Tom.

 

[neonurse]

Sending someand positive vibes!!
Good luck Tom
Hope this nightmare is over soon for you and your friends.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

No response by noon.

I filed a complaint with the local BBB, I sent an email to the Consumer Watch reporter at the local ABC station and I sent an email to a nationally syndicated Travel Troubleshooter.

Now I have to work for a little while.

 

[Buckeye Gal]

Good for you, Tom! I'm so glad to hear that you're not sitting back accepting this crap after giving them several opportunities to try and rectify the damage they've done to their reputation and your vacation plans. You're certainly making an effort to prevent this from happening to other honest travelers, and I commend you for that!

 

[TiaMaria]

OMG!

Well - maybe it will post at DCL by the end of business today - we can hope, right?

Tom, you never said - did the TA indicate to you the manner in which he sent his check payment to DCL? If indeed he did send it - it sounds like it went snailmail. If he claims he expedited it - demand proof of that also for your protection. I'm sure he will use the old "lost in the mail" trick now that the "check's in the mail" trick is up.

I would also go to the local newspapers so they can alert the public to this rip-off artist, as well as any neighborhood papers or newletters. The best way to save others (and hopefully run this jerk out of town) is to tell your story on every medium you possibly can.

Heck, since you're taking it national, doesn't Conde Nast Traveler have the "Ombudsman" advocate? Contact them also. Chris Elliott does a travel column for MSNBC and I frequently see him go to bat for consumers that have been wronged.

Keeping you in my thoughts.....

 

[dredick]

WOW! I'm getting nervous for you!! Keep us up to date! Best wishes!!!

 

[zulaya]

I'm glad you are sticking up for yourself. I hope it all works out in the end.

 

[Jestocost]

Based on how this TA has handled things to this point, I'm guessing that he's going to make the payment at the last possible minute just to be a jerk. It wouldn't surprise me if he overnight mailed a paper check just so he could be sure it got there as late as it could be without getting the reservation cancelled. If he actually is late with the payment, you have some recourse and I suspect he's sneaky enough to realize that and want to avoid it. So he'll just make the payment as late as he can without any real risk to him and never contact you one way or another. At least you'll be done with having to deal with him at that point.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

OMG!

Well - maybe it will post at DCL by the end of business today - we can hope, right?

Tom, you never said - did the TA indicate to you the manner in which he sent his check payment to DCL? If indeed he did send it - it sounds like it went snailmail. If he claims he expedited it - demand proof of that also for your protection. I'm sure he will use the old "lost in the mail" trick now that the "check's in the mail" trick is up.

I would also go to the local newspapers so they can alert the public to this rip-off artist, as well as any neighborhood papers or newletters. The best way to save others (and hopefully run this jerk out of town) is to tell your story on every medium you possibly can.

Heck, since you're taking it national, doesn't Conde Nast Traveler have the "Ombudsman" advocate? Contact them also. Chris Elliott does a travel column for MSNBC and I frequently see him go to bat for consumers that have been wronged.

Keeping you in my thoughts.....

I've been in contact with Chris Elliott. He wanted me to give DCL a chance to fix and to see if the TA would send payment. I gave him an update this afternoon.

I couldn't find a Consumer Affairs-type reporter for the local newspaper, so I sent a general email to the business department.