Travel Agent rant - any advice please?
Discussion
Getting married in July, and have spent the last two weeks hunting down an ideal honeymoon destination. Last Friday the wife-to-be found this ace little villa in Crete, it ticked every box so she reserved it and said we would confirm soon. We then thought about it some more, and then spent the next couple of days researching it. Yesterday afternoon went to book it, their computer system was down. It was held for the next 24 hours, I said that I would probably call back after 5pm.
I forgot to call at 5pm, thought not a problem as its held for 24hours, and rang back today. Credit card in hand, I was told that seeing as I hadn't rung back at 5 they assumed I was not interested and had sold the holiday first thing in the morning!! Naturally I got ruddy angry and reminded them that I had reserved it, they basically said tough titty because the other bookers had paid money and their flights had been booked...
The missus is utterly distraught, we spent ages looking and then had it swept away. They clearly acknowledge that I had reserved it and their std policy is to hold a reservation for 24 hours. I am going to call back tomorrow and complain to the highest person I can get hold of, does anyone know if I have any rights?
(and yes I know it's a poor quality rant, will try harder next time)
I forgot to call at 5pm, thought not a problem as its held for 24hours, and rang back today. Credit card in hand, I was told that seeing as I hadn't rung back at 5 they assumed I was not interested and had sold the holiday first thing in the morning!! Naturally I got ruddy angry and reminded them that I had reserved it, they basically said tough titty because the other bookers had paid money and their flights had been booked...
The missus is utterly distraught, we spent ages looking and then had it swept away. They clearly acknowledge that I had reserved it and their std policy is to hold a reservation for 24 hours. I am going to call back tomorrow and complain to the highest person I can get hold of, does anyone know if I have any rights?
(and yes I know it's a poor quality rant, will try harder next time)
TallTony said:
Getting married in July, and have spent the last two weeks hunting down an ideal honeymoon destination. Last Friday the wife-to-be found this ace little villa in Crete, it ticked every box so she reserved it and said we would confirm soon. We then thought about it some more, and then spent the next couple of days researching it. Yesterday afternoon went to book it, their computer system was down. It was held for the next 24 hours, I said that I would probably call back after 5pm.
I forgot to call at 5pm, thought not a problem as its held for 24hours, and rang back today. Credit card in hand, I was told that seeing as I hadn't rung back at 5 they assumed I was not interested and had sold the holiday first thing in the morning!! Naturally I got ruddy angry and reminded them that I had reserved it, they basically said tough titty because the other bookers had paid money and their flights had been booked...
The missus is utterly distraught, we spent ages looking and then had it swept away. They clearly acknowledge that I had reserved it and their std policy is to hold a reservation for 24 hours. I am going to call back tomorrow and complain to the highest person I can get hold of, does anyone know if I have any rights?
(and yes I know it's a poor quality rant, will try harder next time)
You've got the right to have a moan but seriously, you've reserved something, told them you'll call back but then haven't. Lots of people reserve things and never call back to actually book them and in the current economic climate a person wanting to spend money > person thinking about spending money.I forgot to call at 5pm, thought not a problem as its held for 24hours, and rang back today. Credit card in hand, I was told that seeing as I hadn't rung back at 5 they assumed I was not interested and had sold the holiday first thing in the morning!! Naturally I got ruddy angry and reminded them that I had reserved it, they basically said tough titty because the other bookers had paid money and their flights had been booked...
The missus is utterly distraught, we spent ages looking and then had it swept away. They clearly acknowledge that I had reserved it and their std policy is to hold a reservation for 24 hours. I am going to call back tomorrow and complain to the highest person I can get hold of, does anyone know if I have any rights?
(and yes I know it's a poor quality rant, will try harder next time)
So what exactly do you want from them when you ring tomorrow?
I know what you are saying Nic, and I do understand that many people ring up, say yes, and then never complete the deal. I just seriously hacked off becuase they said it was held for 24 hours after a point when they coudn't take the booking because their computers were done. It wsn't like I said please reserve it and I shall think about it. I wanted to pay the deposit and book the holiday.
As to what I can expect from a conversation with them, I would have hoped that they would stand by the original booking made, which was by me. I realise that 'word of honour' means less and less these days, but is it too unreasonable to have waited till the 24 hr timeframe had expired.
As to what I can expect from a conversation with them, I would have hoped that they would stand by the original booking made, which was by me. I realise that 'word of honour' means less and less these days, but is it too unreasonable to have waited till the 24 hr timeframe had expired.
so the OP reserves it with no cash, thinks about it for a few more days and then confirms that it will be paid for within 24 hours, but then "forgets". In the meantime another couple want to book and pay upfront on a CC...
Who would you give it to ?
The OP who forgot to phone back to pay
or
The couple on the phone who want to pay ?
No rights and tough luck, when you find a place you like, research it before and then pay for it
Who would you give it to ?
The OP who forgot to phone back to pay
or
The couple on the phone who want to pay ?
No rights and tough luck, when you find a place you like, research it before and then pay for it
Scraggles said:
so the OP reserves it with no cash, thinks about it for a few more days and then confirms that it will be paid for within 24 hours, but then "forgets". In the meantime another couple want to book and pay upfront on a CC...
Who would you give it to ?
The OP who forgot to phone back to pay
or
The couple on the phone who want to pay ?
No rights and tough luck, when you find a place you like, research it before and then pay for it
As I said, it was held for 24 hours and I rang before the 24 hour period had expired, to be told it had sold.Who would you give it to ?
The OP who forgot to phone back to pay
or
The couple on the phone who want to pay ?
No rights and tough luck, when you find a place you like, research it before and then pay for it
Nolar Dog said:
I was that interested I'd have left a returnable (credit card?) deposit with the agent and confirmed it and paid the balance ASAP.
Too late now but maybe next time?
I would have paid but their computer was down, ie they could not take the payment I wanted to make.Too late now but maybe next time?
That I have no rights is a growing assumption, just bitterly disappointed.
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