Visa!!!

[epcotfan]

Over a year ago my mom, aunt, uncle and cousins were stranded in Orlando when Canada 3000 (airline) went under. Canada 3000 got them down there but went under a few days before they were to travel home. (They ended up having to pay more on Air Canada/United to get home. My mom paid for the C3000 tickets on her Visa and disputed the charges) She only asked to be compensated for half the fare since she did get down there. She sent in all the documentation, etc...Visa approved it and ended up giving her the FULL fare back...

Fast forward to yesterday. Visa calls and says since Canada 3000 is going through bankruptcy they want half the fare back! Now my mom is fuming. First off she didn't ask for the full amount and it seems to me it is Visa's mistake that they credited her too much. So Visa wants to recharge her $1000.00. The dispute had been cleared for over a year.
I guess my question to you folks is can Visa do this?
This is an akward situation for my mom since she gave back the original credit to my aunt since most of the refunded fare was hers. Now she's going to have to ask for it back.
I know she will definitely cancel the card. Is there any way for her to dispute this? Any advice is appreciated.

(I'm starting to think Amex is the way to go. On that same trip Disney double billed her for someone else's trip and Amex was much nicer in regards to investigating the charges, etc...)

**edited for my typos**

 

[SilverLily]

I don't know what Visa can and cannot do legally, but I think your mom owes them $1000. She did get a one-way trip out of it, and she should pay for it.

 

[epcotfan]

I know she got a one way trip and that is the only amount she asked for in her claim.

She didn't make any money on this refund-nor was she looking to. Their last minute return tickets were more expensive than the half she was over credited. We figured they were giving the full amount for services not rendered. She paid for a round trip for 7 people and wasn't provided with one.

 

[SilverLily]

I guess I just don't understand why your mom seemed ok with only getting half her money back (you said that was all she asked for), but has since changed her mind.

I think the most fair thing would be for the airline to pay for the return tickets that your mom had to purchase at the last minute. Your mom should only be responsible for paying for the equivalent of round trip tickets, and anything over that should be the bankrupt airline's responsibility, so Visa should go after them. However, since they are bankrupt, I am sure Visa sees no way to get money from them so Visa is going after your mom.

 

[binny]

I dont think its right at all for them to demand the money back!

Yes she got a trip home but Im assuming it wasnt free because she had paid for it with C3000?

It doesnt make any sense to me that can come back after a year and make demands. I dont think they can legally ( though its just a guess on my part )

Sounds like they are fishing for someone to blame. I would Say no, what could happen? They cant charge your account unless you give them the OK.

 

[CarolA]

Don't know the answer, but wanted to warn you that Amex is no better at times. I had a hotel charge for over $1,000 show up a year late. The hotel had no clue where it came from and Amex just kept telling me to call a different dept. NONE of their various departments actually talk to each other! I have never had good service from them!

 

[annemariec]

Originally posted by binny
I dont think its right at all for them to demand the money back!

Yes she got a trip home but Im assuming it wasnt free because she had paid for it with C3000?

It doesnt make any sense to me that can come back after a year and make demands. I dont think they can legally ( though its just a guess on my part )

Sounds like they are fishing for someone to blame. I would Say no, what could happen? They cant charge your account unless you give them the OK.

I agree!

Annemarie

 

[epcotfan]

It is a frustrating situation.
A couple of other things. She bought the tickets directly from the airline-not a travel agent. The airline went bankrupt while she was in Orlando. Those that paid in cash were * out of luck. Those that paid via travel agencies has some recourse. Those that paid with a cc (like my mom) were advised on placing a chargeback for services not rendered.
I guess we're freaked out because we thought this situation was over and now all of a sudden, *boom* they want to recharge $1000.00 bucks.

 

[minnie56]

whether they can just blatantly charge her account for the $1,000 but I had something 'similar' happen to me. I had paid a deposit on a cruise with a local travel agent along with 3 other couples. They all, for various reasons, found it necessary to cancel. After thinking it over for a couple of weeks we decided also to cancel and re-think our plans and perhaps reschedule for a later date...which ultimately we did.

Well, the travel agency decided to assess me a $200 'cancellation' fee! Only me...none of the others that cancelled were charged a penny. I vehemently disputed it and was basically told "Sorry, we determine this on an individual basis and the charge has been debited to your Mastercard account. I was livid to say the least!I was penalized for being 'last one out the door' and I suppose the agency felt they had to make something for their efforts which up to this point were extremely minimal I assure you!

So, I resolved to follow up my objection with Mastercard. I was informed that once you give your account number to anybody...you have given them permission to charge your account at any time and any amount. This makes absolutely no sense to me but it is the way it is. I was not informed of the 'possibility' of this charge if the agency 'felt like it' and certainly would not have agreed to a booking with this condition and at the end of the day...the charge went through and Mastercard stood behind a shoddy tactic by a travel agent and not me, a good customer.

I closed my Mastercard account after pursuing all avenues to have this reversed to no avail and make sure that this agency (Cruise Holidays on Lakeshore in Oakville, Ont) gets their $200 worth of advertising!!!!

Buyer beware...It seems once you give your credit card number it's up for grabs for whatever they feel like charging you!