• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • 2
    CommentGo Back
Download
 
Tips to avoid being scammed by online travel sitesI will use EXPEDIA as an example since they tried to scam me (man, they wentthe extra mile to try to steal 1,254.95 U$D from my credit card for a service theyfailed to provide).1) Never trust what an EXPEDIA agent, supervisor or customer advisor tell to you by phone. When you call EXPEDIA you will hear a voice telling that "for quality purposes, your call might be recorded". This is a trick because you think that youare covered and that you might have a chance to use these recording in the futureif you have to dispute something. The fact is that EXPEDIA will probably usethose recording only if it is for EXPEDIA's benefit. Otherwise they will tell you"We random record conversations" and you will not have any chance to provewhat someone from EXPEDIA told to you by phone.2) If you have a recording machine try to record the conversation by yourself. Iknow this is not useful because few people have this kind of devices. In addition,EXPEDIA will put you on hold for hours before they actually talk to you.3) Ask confirmation by e-mail of anything EXPEDIA tells to you by phone. Thisis the only way you can have some document to fight at the legal level.Remember that most of the times the agents will tell you that they will send an e-mail to you but they actually lie.4) Never use the web-based e-mail system EXPEDIA provides in their "customer support" web page. You will not have any copy of the messages you sent to them by this system. Most of the times (if you are complaining about something)EXPEDIA will simply ignore your messages. More important, since you don'thave a copy of the message, EXPEDIA will probably deny receiving your messages.5) Contact EXPEDIA from an e-mail address that allows you to keep a copy of the message you sent to them (like yahoo, gmail)6) Always try to talk to a "customer specialist advisor". This is the highest levelyou can reach at EXPEDIA. When you call for the first time an "agent or representative" will talk to you. According to my own experience, these agents or representative most of the times are not going to solve your problem and they will put you on hold for hours until you can talk to a "supervisor". This second level isalso non useful since "supervisors" have almost no authority and they will put youagain on hold for hours until you talk to a "customer advisor specialist". Thesespecialists will try to do anything to keep your money. They will lie to you. Theywill deny information. They will tell you it is your fault. Even if you show tothem evidence that EXPEDIA's employees at the lower level made the
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
02 / 14 / 2011This doucment made it onto the Rising List!
Yoda2

Thank you!! Very helpful.

reply06 / 17 / 2007
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...