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OT: airfare scam, or partly a scam. Experience? Posted by bender [Email] (#268) [Profile/Gallery] (more from bender) on Wed, 4 Jun 2014 09:37:28 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
So I used one of those airfare search engines, this time, "Momondo." I assumed that everything they point you to is "safe." Even I, who works in tech, fell for it. Not a complete scam, I don't think or maybe?
Basically it led me to this site "bookairfare.com" and I input my information without checking it out much. They then called me the following day saying the "price has increased due to taxes" or something to that tune. I argued and argued and they agreed to "honour me the original price." It was around 777 USD. I got the bill in USD and paid with a US credit card.
I then get charged on my credit card 800 and 24 bucks for conversion (from the bank). Furthermore, the company that charged me is "United Air ####." So, it wasn't even them. I called United and it looks like I actually have a reservation; good, at least I have a ticket. Then I thought, how could it be? They input my credit card information on my behalf? Who are they? I can't even dispute this; I'd be doing so with United.
Then I googled these people and it seems like *everyone* has the same story about the price increasing and the conversion story. I called them and argued and yelled at them like I never did to someone on the phone. "Just give us 24 hours." ..."Okay, give us an hour and we're looking into it now." I got nothing from them and sort of gave up. That's probably what they want, although, the guy on the phone never hung up on me. They charged me in CAD (so the price was never in USD though my receipt is in USD....) and I got a conversion fee due to that.
Anyway, I'm out 50 bucks and though it sucks, it's more a matter of principle here. I'd hate for them to get away with it and continue doing it. I don't know how they make money but there sure is some scam happening. It happens to the best of us too. I should get my credit card replaced; I don't know what they can do with my information.
Any thoughts on what I can/should do? It took a lot of energy and time to call them and I don't think it's worth my time for the 50 bucks. The price of the ticket has now even gone down (BTW, two one way tickets *can* actually be cheaper). I don't think disputing it with the bank and getting another ticket would make any sense. I phoned them and I'd be disputing it with United. I'm of course considering just letting this go and, if anything, I hope some of you will learn from my experience.
Really annoying few days but sometimes you learn the hard way.
_______________________________________ bender 2001 9-3 Viggen Laser Red 5 door 44k miles 2000 9-3 SE Midnight Blue 5 door (Sold)
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