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

[lbgraves]

All I can do as I sit here and read the update is shake my head in disbelief. It is unreal how this "person" is treating you the customer. Their concept of good business is so warped that it is a wonder they have any customers at all.

 

[TiaMaria]

Oh dear Lord, Tom - now we have to worry that this clown's check is going to clear! ...if indeed he even really sent one (doubtful).

I thought I had heard it all when you posted Craig's first email...

I thought I had heard it all when you detailed your phone conversations with him and his worthless employees...

I thought I had heard it all when you detailed how he spoke with CM, Rae at DCL...

I thought I had heard it all when his lackey claimed they had to "reconcile" your payments...

But when you said they refused to give you the DHL tracking number.....I briefly lost the sense of vision I was so angry!!!

Tom, keep your chin up (I know how hard that is at this point). DCL will take care of you. As I said earlier, now I am all about revenge. Again, I cannot stress enough how thoroughly you must be documenting every bit of this - and communicating it directly to DCL, the Atty General, and your media contacts as it happens. I mean each and every phone call, email, letter, smoke signal from anyone from that agency. These people have taken your money that you paid in good faith, and by all deadlines, and used it for purpoese other than paying for your cruise. And their actions do not convey any solid basis for us to believe that they intend to rectify this (i.e. lack of tracking number or even an indication if the check was sent 1 day, 3 day, etc.). This is called stealing and it is a crime.

Again, DCL has been kept in the loop and I know they will do right by you - you just keep right on planning with your little one.

BTW, Tom, if by some chance this joker actually sends a check to DCL and it clears, you tell him what he can do with those documents. When is he planning on having you pick them up - the day AFTER the ship sails? You have all the reservation numbers, you go ahead and print your docs online - you can always get luggage tags from the porters - nothing else in those docs that you need that you can't get at the port!!

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Again, I cannot stress enough how thoroughly you must be documenting every bit of this - and communicating it directly to DCL, the Atty General, and your media contacts as it happens.

I don't have to keep notes, I just have to print this thread. It's all here.

MODS: Please don't delete this thread until you read my trip report in August.

 

[vossjemi]

Oh gosh Tom, I'm sooo sorry this is still dragging out for you! I simply cannot believe they didn't wire the $ since it was DUE TODAY! Any decent TA would have at least made sure the $ made it to DCL by the deadline. I hate that this is happening to you and all the people that booked with you. This TA has a lot of your $. I cannot even imagine how much. The fact that the $ wasn't wired by today, they claim to have sent it DHL, but won't give you the tracking # really has me worried for you. I know others have said DCL will take care of you, but I'm not so sure. I don't think DCL will cancel your cruise right away, but if they never receive the $, I'm not so sure DCL will just let you go on the cruise anyway. Will they just say its a civil matter between you and your TA? Or, will they acknowledge that DCL has in fact unwittingly misled you into using one of their "authorized" TA's who has absconded with your $ and take action against the TA on your behalf? I'd sure love that to happen, but I don't know. I've heard of TA's going out of business in the past and cruise customers being left high and dry. I sure hope this doesn't happen to you.

Now, if DCL does get the $ and you are solid, I don't understand why DCL won't let you fire him at that point. DCL could still pay him his commission for services rendered, but let you take it from here. I can see why it would be difficult to just take back the ressie now when he's got your $, but once they've got it, I don't understand the problem. Keeping my fingers crossed for you buddy!

 

[Tuffcookie]

Tom,

I don't work in a detective bureau for nothin'

I was able to uncover the following info:

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BBB Reliability Report for
Cruise Adventures BBB Rating Unsatisfactory

The BBB reports on businesses, both accredited and non-accredited. If an organization is a BBB Accredited business, it is stated in this report BBB Definition:

report - A summary of activity reflected in a company's BBB file. Includes basic business background, BBB Accreditation information, and BBB complaint activity over the previous three years. Also reports may include any known government actions, advertising issues or other information that results from activity conducted by the BBB.
.
Name: Cruise Adventures
Phone: (559) 438-7447
Fax: (559) 683-8436
Address: 7676 N. Blackstone Ave.
Fresno, CA 93720
Website: www.onlycruises.com
Original Business Start Date: January 1988
Principal: Mr. Craig Mungary, Co-Owner
Customer Contact: Mr. Craig Mungary, Co-Owner - (559) 438-7447
Entity: Partnership
TOB Classification: Travel Agencies & Bureaus
BBB Accreditation: This organization is not a BBB Accredited business.


Customer Experience

Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record BBB Definition:

unsatisfactory record - A company has an "unsatisfactory business performance record" with the BBB is based on the experiences reflected in BBB files. This file condition results when the company has failed to resolve or respond to complaints, repeatedly failed to respond or resolve issues in a timely manner, failed to resolve the underlying issues for a pattern BBB Definition:

pattern - More than 2 complaints involving the same allegations usually within 12 months that are significant in relation to the company's size and volume of business.
of complaints, failed to honor their commitment to mediate or arbitrate disputes or honor mediated agreements or arbitrated decisions, failed to substantiate, modify or discontinue false advertising claims that are challenged by the BBB, or failed to discontinue unauthorized use of the BBB name and logo, a Federally protected trademark.
with the BBB due to failure to respond to a complaint. However the business has resolved BBB Definition:

resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
most complaints presented to the bureau.

The BBB reviews and rates company complaints for a period of 3 years. The BBB received complaints on this company between January 6, 2004 and December 31, 2004. These complaints concerned Advertising Issues, Billing or Collection Issues, and Refund or Exchange Issues. The following represents specific complaint activity between January 1, 2005 and May, 13 2008

When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.

The BBB processed a total of 6 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period.Of the total of 6 complaints closed in 36 months, 1 was closed in the last year.

Billing or Collection Issues BBB Definition:

Billing or Collection Issues - Claim alleging billing errors, unauthorized charges, or questionable collection practices.

Resolved BBB Definition:

Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.

1 - Company offered a partial (less than 100%) settlement which the consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.
1 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.

Refund or Exchange Issues BBB Definition:

Refund or Exchange Issues - Claim of alleged failure to honor company policy or verbal commitment to provide refunds, exchanges, or credit for products or services.

Resolved BBB Definition:

Resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.

1 - Company resolved BBB Definition:

resolved - The company resolved the complaint issues.
the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB.
1 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.
Administratively Closed BBB Definition:

Administratively Closed - The BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution

1 - BBB determined the company provided proper verification that indicated there was no obligation to resolve the issues of the complaint.
No Response BBB Definition:

No Response - The company failed to respond to the complaint.

1 - Company failed to respond to the BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.



Licensing

BBB records show a license BBB Definition:

license - A permit or accreditation required by the State, Province, County or Municipality where a company is located indicating competence or professional certification that allows the company to provide products or services related to their particular field or industry.
number of 2069482 for this company.

Type: Travel Agencies


Company Management

Additional company management personnel include:

Mrs. Teri Mungary - Co-Owner
Ms. Shirley Lyons - Cruise Specialist


Additional Contact Information

Additional Addresses
40027 Hwy 49
Oakhurst, CA 93644


240 N. 12th Street #105
Hanford, CA 93230
Tel: (559) 583-7447


Additional Phone Numbers
Tel: (559) 683-6868


Additional Fax Numbers
Fax: (559) 438-7450




Industry Tips

Vacation and Travel
Business Travel Costs



Report as of May 13, 2008
Copyright© 2008 BBB®, Inc.


If you choose to do business with this business, please let the company know that you contacted the BBB for a report BBB Definition:

report - A summary of activity reflected in a company's BBB file. Includes basic business background, BBB Accreditation information, and BBB complaint activity over the previous three years. Also reports may include any known government actions, advertising issues or other information that results from activity conducted by the BBB.
.

BBB reports may not be reproduced for sales or

TC

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I filed with them yesterday and received my case # this evening, case #89013026.

He'll probably ignore it, because he thinks by paying off the cruise, everything is okay and I'll just go away.

 

[LeslieG]

I find it outrageous that as a consumer we can't "fire" our travel agent. We can fire every other type of service provider I can think of. Just seems wrong.

 

[dredick]

WOW! I'm still praying this turns out ok! *******************************************ZSzeb001_ZNxpt024MNUS

 

[zulaya]

Out of morbid curiousity, I checked the website of this TA. In reading their "About Us" section, I found it interesting that it says the following:

Our non-comission cruise specialists love selling cruises but never resort to high pressure tactics

And, yes, that's the way "commission" was spelled on the website.

I just about spit on my computer screen reading that.

 

[dursin]

Tom,

I don't work in a detective bureau for nothin'

Maybe I should work there then! I posted a link to this report back on the first page of this thread back when all we knew were a few initials from the TA's name and address!

 

[Tuffcookie]

dursin wrote:Maybe I should work there then! I posted a link to this report back on the first page of this thread back when all we knew were a few initials from the TA's name and address!


I can't believe I missed your post on page 1! Good work, dursin!


TC

 

[CRSNDSNY]

great detective work!

i cannot believe you are going through this, OP. you should be enjoying yourself right now planning your cruise, but you have to endure this bs.

Geesh!

 

[LeslieG]

If they won't give you the tracking number, it seems highly likely they never sent it. I don't know how it works in CA, but in OH I would be contacting my local prosecutor's office. Sounds criminal to me. He stole your money! Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Laurabearz]

I have read this whole thread TWICE!!! And I am in shock.

((hugs))

Someone mentioned already, but it's worth of another comment...

WHAT MAKES SOMEONE A QUALIFIED DISNEY CRUISE SPECIALIST

IMO one of the first rules would be get the money to Disney so you can book Dinsey's Shore excruisions and Palo Dining! So that means by 105 days for Cat 3's and up and 90 days for CC memebers!

Gosh I hope this all works out.

 

[global_mom]

I have read this whole thread TWICE!!! And I am in shock.

((hugs))

Someone mentioned already, but it's worth of another comment...

WHAT MAKES SOMEONE A QUALIFIED DISNEY CRUISE SPECIALIST

IMO one of the first rules would be get the money to Disney so you can book Dinsey's Shore excruisions and Palo Dining! So that means by 105 days for Cat 3's and up and 90 days for CC memebers!

Gosh I hope this all works out.

I am not sure how much of the requirements would be allowed to be posted. Maybe one of the mods could chime in as to what can be "discussed" about having the Authorized status?

 

[dursin]

Maybe it's time to see if there's someone you could hire to help this TA get things moving along....

 

[global_mom]

I needed a good laugh. THanks dursin!

 

[zulaya]

dursin....

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Maybe it's time to see if there's someone you could hire to help this TA get things moving along....

Maybe I should start singing "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey.

 

[dursin]

Maybe I should start singing "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey.

No, that just leads to nothing being resolved....