Royal Caribbean Card issues threatened with arrest

[bUU]

My CC company told me the last time I called about going on vacation that it was no longer necessary to do this. So, apparently, this is changing.

This likely varies from credit card issuer to credit card issuer. What I do like is how my credit card issuers allow me to provide notification online.

 

Complete this form to notify us of any travel plans you have in the next 90 days. This information may help to prevent you from encountering issues using your credit card during your travels.

[Algebralovr]

Back to the issue at hand.

 

Threat of arrest when you've run up $7000 in on board charges makes absolute sense to me. Turning off the pre-paid packages does seem extreme - until one considers that the OP said he had run up $7000 in on board charges that the hotel side must now consider may not be paid.

 

 

I cannot even imagine traveling with only one credit card. An image of a card us, quite frankly, useful only for calling the credit card company to say there is a problem and the card was stolen.

 

 

Even if you call or fill out the online form you'll be traveling the credit card can still be shut off. That is why you travel with two cards, if not three, that allow charges as a just in case.

 

 

Oh, and it never hurts to have a couple hundred in cash as a just in case.

[Lookingforfacts]

The OP doesn't belong the rc employees who told him the ship terminals won't process manual entry, card not present.

 

He said he spent 7,000 in two days? Is he counting his cruise fare? Casino losses? Ship store purchases?

 

RC should have assisted OP in talking to his bank. Sounds like OP was only interested in using his cell phone picture of a card

[sfaaa]

Would you let someone who owes you $7k to walk out on you? Darn right I would call the cops.

[CPT Trips]

deleted

Edited June 20, 2017 by CPT Trips
thought better of it

[sfaaa]

ise line could explain how the OP boarded the ship without a valid CC on file?

 

Sounds like cc was valid but got declined after the ship sailed.

[navybankerteacher]

I disagree. And I am a millennial. OP is def one. The assumption that a photo of a card is the same as a card. This isn't a lack of tech understanding, it's a lack of business understanding. The entitlement that even though OP found himself in a situation where they couldn't pay the several thousand dollar bill they racked up but the threat of arrest for non payment was outrageous.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Just what is so "outrageous" about threatening arrest for a perceived attempt at theft of service. Cruise lines have to play hardball given their reasonable expectations that at least a few of the several-thousand passengers on a given itinerary would rip them off if at all possible.

[champagne123]

deleted

Smart man 😂😂😂

[AmeliaAtSea]

I disagree. And I am a millennial. OP is def one. The assumption that a photo of a card is the same as a card. This isn't a lack of tech understanding, it's a lack of business understanding.

 

The entitlement that even though OP found himself in a situation where they couldn't pay the several thousand dollar bill they racked up but the threat of arrest for non payment was outrageous.

 

Just what is so "outrageous" about threatening arrest for a perceived attempt at theft of service. Cruise lines have to play hardball given their reasonable expectations that at least a few of the several-thousand passengers on a given itinerary would rip them off if at all possible.

I think the issue here is the way the sentence was written. If I'm right, then sanger meant:

The entitlement that OP found himself in a situation where they couldn't pay the several thousand dollar bill they racked up and yet thought the threat of arrest for non payment was unjustified was outrageous.

[DirtyDawg]

I'm in the process of setting up a casino and a high end, rip off, watch store and a very expensive spa/bar for all the RC cruisers who want to drop 7 grand in two days.

 

No worries, Mr. and Mrs. Whale, my little organization will take your physical credit card, your non-physical credit card and the deed to your house. Hey, if RC doesn't want your business, I do! :D

[lax18stx]

That is fair enough and if he was the one to escalate it you would be correct. I was going by the original posters first comment that makes it seem that the cruise line threatened him very early on or right away. If he was the aggressor I agree but I can tell you as an owner of a business that it is generally a very very bad decision to threaten a customer, much less threaten them with criminal

Prosecution. I have to imagine that rc has a policy on how to handle this as it happens on a fairly regular basis. I can't imagine that threatening your customer with arrest is in their handbook.

there was no escalation... the threat of arrest was made over the phone when I first saw the message on my tv.... I am prior military and LE and kept my composure.I realize the person I was talking to directly had no control over the situation ... I just want to make it clear at no point did I become "belligerent" or caused a scene at any point. All I wanted was to clear the situation.

[lax18stx]

For everyone making entitlement and scam comments... the bill was paid promptly as soon as I reached port. There was no sense of entitlement there was a mistake that I tried to correct. I did not dodge hotel services or not pay my bill. I immediately went to guest services to resolve the situation. My only point in all this it was. difficult process and the threat of arrest is completely unnecessary especially when you have a customer who is doing everything in their power to remedy the situation. Long story short RC customer service needs some improvement and I learned a valuable lesson.

[lax18stx]

I place the blame on this entire thing on the OP. Clearly a mellinial who chooses to use the latest gadgets instead of traditional methods of payment. RCCL was correct and fully within its rights to suggest that Op would be detained if he did not pay the bill. It is the OP's fault that he failed to notify his CC company that he was traveling and would be using the card on a cruise ship. It is the OP's fault that he neglected to physically carry more than one CC. RCCL has chosen not to implement ApplePay, as have a vast majority of merchants around the world. Op was foolish to rely on new technology. Shame on OP.

 

I may be in the minority but I applaud RCCL, actions like theirs make the banking system safer for all of us.

I assure you I am far from a millennial I made a mistake of not calling my bank. Lesson learned. I just find it hard to believe there was no other way of handling it. They asked me to call family... how would that of worked without a physical card?

[lax18stx]

It is a fine line...splitting hair so to speak...I work at a hotel in a resort town and we would not take it this way either. And as someone stated before you can get real-time authorization over the phone when you call into the place.

 

 

 

 

This don't mean anything...unless it is something like applepay and the company is able to take applepay! Most business's want the card to swipe because you could get mad and call and dispute the charge on your card and because it was not swiped the company (Discover in this case) could say that it was stolen and will not pay it. Where I work, even though the card is on file, if you do not have the physical card then we can not and will not charge that card.

Sorry they threatened you with arrest...however thinking they should give you more then 300.00 and that they ruined your vacation is going overboard!!! Because in all reality YOU were the one that ruined your vacation because you did not call your credit card company to let them know that you were traveling with your card and where you would be traveling too. And I understand that you did not want the Discover card stolen, but there is a safe in the cabins on the ship that you could have left it in. You are blaming RC are you demanding compensation from your bank also for freezing your card, because by your accounts it is everyone else's fault so they ruined your vacation also????

 

it was apple pay along with the pictures in attempt to cover all bases... and yes I see how it is my fault for not taking preventative measures... all my point is that maybe RC should review their policy and update their system to communicate with Miami the be able to resolve these issues .... and my apologizes for even posting this apparently I'm just an arrogant fool and should chastised for an honest mistake

[lax18stx]

Would you let someone who owes you $7k to walk out on you? Darn right I would call the cops.

$5500 of it was paid before the card was frozen ... the issue was the remaining 1500..... and no the balance is not including cruise fare... some on board purchases and some nice bottles of wine and champagne

[lax18stx]

Just what is so "outrageous" about threatening arrest for a perceived attempt at theft of service. Cruise lines have to play hardball given their reasonable expectations that at least a few of the several-thousand passengers on a given itinerary would rip them off if at all possible.

"perceived" is the key word I have multiple cruises with RC and was planning another ... sorry for sharing an experience and end up being crucified for it

[CruiseGal999]

For everyone making entitlement and scam comments... the bill was paid promptly as soon as I reached port. There was no sense of entitlement there was a mistake that I tried to correct. I did not dodge hotel services or not pay my bill. I immediately went to guest services to resolve the situation. My only point in all this it was. difficult process and the threat of arrest is completely unnecessary especially when you have a customer who is doing everything in their power to remedy the situation. Long story sho rt RC customer service needs some improvement and I learned a valuable lesson.

 

To be sure, no one accused you of dodging a hotel bill or trying to commit fraud or of not wanting to pay your bill. All of those scenarios were stated as a possible viewpoint of the cruise ship/line. Yes ... some did say entitlement. Not a nice thing to say, but many of us have come across this attitude from millennials and we are SO over it. But that's another topic/discussion.

I did say it 'COULD HAVE' been your attitude. I did NOT say it was. Just seemed like a piece was missing.

Glad it's done and over with and hope you have a good cruise in the future, if you ever go on one again.

[lax18stx]

To be sure, no one accused you of dodging a hotel bill or trying to commit fraud or of not wanting to pay your bill. All of those scenarios were stated as a possible viewpoint of the cruise ship/line. Yes ... some did say entitlement. Not a nice thing to say, but many of us have come across this attitude from millennials and we are SO over it. But that's another topic/discussion.

I did say it 'COULD HAVE' been your attitude. I did NOT say it was. Just seemed like a piece was missing.

Glad it's done and over with and hope you have a good cruise in the future, if you ever go on one again.

yes I understand mistakes happen ... just seemed like a lot of ppl were attacking me for my mistake... lesson learned and yes I will be cruising again .... but I will be prepared for. a situation like this .... and again def not a millennial lol

[bUU]

just seemed like a lot of ppl were attacking me for my mistake...

Maybe one or two. Most of the negative reaction you received was due to your reaction and resistance to the informative advice you received and your misdirection of blame, not your mistake.

 

 

 

This message may have been entered using voice recognition. Please excuse any typos.

Edited June 21, 2017 by bUU

[Lookingforfacts]

I assure you I am far from a millennial I made a mistake of not calling my bank. Lesson learned. I just find it hard to believe there was no other way of handling it. They asked me to call family... how would that of worked without a physical card?

You still don't get it. Manual entry without a card present isn't allowed on the ship. A family member might have been told how to wire funds, or ACH transfer, into your cruise account.

 

Did the ship assist you in contacting your credit card? Why wouldn't the bank remove the hold? Could you have made a payment via transfer from a linked bank account.

 

 

Maybe the ship could have done a better job with suggestions. Sounds, based on your posts, your insistence on using a photo of your credit card stopped you from considering alternatives.

[DirtyDawg]

You still don't get it. Manual entry without a card present isn't allowed on the ship. A family member might have been told how to wire funds, or ACH transfer, into your cruise account..

 

I think the question the OP has, as well as I is why manual entry is not allowed on a ship. Is it a systems issue? Is it a secured communications issue? Why is the ship different than at Head Quarters in Miami, or the call centre location where manual entry is accepted?

[Lookingforfacts]

Fraud issues and credit card policies with respect to merchant liability.

 

Different procedures at a call center where a physical card is never used.

[DirtyDawg]

Of course its all about fraud issues and merchant liability but what makes a ship so different than other departments at the same company? Are there technical issues? Communication issues? Legal issues? Perhaps the ship, if it is incorporated as a separate foreign subsidiary, will have different legal issues regards to CC payment or prosecution of CC fraud.

[MicCanberra]

I suppose the lesson here is beware of Credit card fraud and also have a back up plan for paying your bills in case a card is stolen or blocked.

[Lookingforfacts]

In person a customer is expected to produce a physical card . The card is swiped or inserted in a slot so the chip can be read.

 

I've never asked a merchant to manually type my credit card number from a cell phone picture. I guess some might.