Questionable action by TA

[amesharpe]

So I'm just wondering if this has happened to anyone else.

We are using a TA to book everyone's trip who will be travelling for our wedding. We booked our trips back in March without travel insurance (stupid idea I'm now well aware of). Since then the room prices have come down in price significantly twice. My TA took it upon herself to rebook our rooms each time there was a price change which cost us $180! ($45 per person per change) without calling first.

I only found out about the price change through a friend of mine who booked with travel insurance. They received a letter from the TA notifying them of the price change.

Still not knowing that $180 was taken out of my deposit, I called my TA to inquire about the price change and the possiblilty of just upgrading the room instead of having a lesser balance due.


This is what I received from her

"Well this is where it is confusing, cause I didn't know you were upgrading and I "captured" the savings 2 times for you, so technically you don't have the same deposit... sort of my fault, cause I didn't explain it very good originally and I wanted you to have the lower price, so I just did it... You originally were booked at 1822.00 per person, then I got it lower at 1748.00 per person and now it is 1625.00 per person..... I feel bad about that - so I will make the change fee - 180.00 total good for you guys at the end OK? I thought I was doing you a favor by making it lower but didn't realize at the time, it would have just been better and cheaper to upgrade!!!"




I was speechless and still haven't responded. I'm I wrong for being upset?
I have no idea how to respond without freaking out.

Any insights ladies?

[Maura]

you really ought to tell her that she should not be making changes to anything without informing you first, IMHO.

so can you not upgrade now?

[amesharpe]

Oh yeah! I upgraded which I'm happy about. It just seemed careless to me that she would make those changes with out checking in first?

Every little penny counts now that we're getting to the home stretch.

[lauren]

i agree with maura. she needs to tell you these things first. i think she should be responsible for that $180 now...or some kind of credit to the hotel for around the same amount...

[ashrose]

Uh... that's not how I would run my business... I'm not a TA, but I have done things like that for customers (getting them in on a special) -- but I always called them first... especially if it was going to result in me charging them for making the change.

Maybe one of the TA's on here can chime in...

You have reason to be angry - absolutely.

[Hartyt509]

Yeah I wouldn't have been happy either but she has obviously realised her mistake which is why she has agreed to sort out the $180 for you. I would have initially been annoyed but as she's made it right i'd let it go

[amesharpe]

She's offered to try and upgrade me again upon check-in. Maybe I'm naive but I kinda thought that was the norm with DW's. I mean come-on. We're taking 50 people with us and paying a gagillion dollars for the wedding with all of the extras. I would imagine that hotel would gladly try and upgrade us if they had the rooms available.

I just need to figure out how to nicely explain to the TA that I didn't authorize it so I'm not paying for it.

Wouldn't you know it though she's a friend of my FI's family so I have to be nice. I would love to go "BRIDEZILLA" on her you know what

[Maura]

she needs to make up the difference at the very least, and you should inform her she is not to make a single change to your contract without calling you first from now on

[amesharpe]

Originally Posted by Hartyt509

Yeah I wouldn't have been happy either but she has obviously realised her mistake which is why she has agreed to sort out the $180 for you. I would have initially been annoyed but as she's made it right i'd let it go

No I know, you're right. It's just so hard to keep track of everything lately

[Hartyt509]

Originally Posted by amesharpe

I feel bad about that - so I will make the change fee - 180.00 total good for you guys at the end OK?

Does this not mean she is going to pay that for you? I thought it did!