Refund Roll Call

[Paulchili]

Just an update and FYI.

I was expecting a refund of taxes to my CC in the amount of $2,556. After not receiving it for 90 days I filed a dispute with my CC (Citibank).

In the mean time SB posted a curious credit to my card of $2,196 (on day 92) which was a number that I did not recognize. Citi has now resolved the dispute in favor of SB apparently accepting this amount as the legit refund without any further explanation or documentation from SB as to how they arrived at that number.

While the difference is relatively small ($360) I challenged Citi about their decision with copies of my invoices - all indicating that the amount of taxes I had paid was $2,556.

Let SB show them and me how they arrived at $2,196 as the correct amount.

Principle at play here.

Edited June 24, 2020 by Paulchili

[jozi]

29 minutes ago, Paulchili said:

Just an update and FYI.

I was expecting a refund of taxes to my CC in the amount of $2,556. After not receiving it for 90 days I filed a dispute with my CC (Citibank).

In the mean time SB posted a curious credit to my card of $2,196 (on day 92) which was a number that I did not recognize. Citi has now resolved the dispute in favor of SB apparently accepting this amount as the legit refund without any further explanation or documentation from SB as to how they arrived at that number.

While the difference is relatively small ($360) I challenged Citi about their decision with copies of my invoices - all indicating that the amount of taxes I had paid was $2,556.

Let SB show them and me how they arrived at $2,196 as the correct amount.

Principle at play here.

That's so weird. Such an easy thing to document!

[MightyQuinn]

2 hours ago, Paulchili said:

While the difference is relatively small ($360) I challenged Citi about their decision with copies of my invoices - all indicating that the amount of taxes I had paid was $2,556.

Let SB show them and me how they arrived at $2,196 as the correct amount.

Principle at play here.

 

It really shouldn't be this difficult to get back what you are rightfully owed.  I hope you prevail Paulchili.

[Paulchili]

2 hours ago, MightyQuinn said:

 

It really shouldn't be this difficult to get back what you are rightfully owed.  I hope you prevail Paulchili.

Thank you.

It should be a clear cut case. I cancelled the entire cruise -i.e. I did not take a part of it like some people did on the Encore out of Sydney on 3/8 that had to be terminated in Adelaide 1/2 way through the cruise.

[cruzluvers]

17 hours ago, jozi said:

That's so weird. Such an easy thing to document!

When we called Seabourn (after getting our refund for the cruise itself), we were given a different figure (less) than our actual total for fees & taxes.  After waiting 15 minutes while they checked, they said our figure was correct.  But, they couldn't give us a date when we would received it as a credit even they have it in their records.    Another 90+ days???

[Paulchili]

1 hour ago, cruzluvers said:

When we called Seabourn (after getting our refund for the cruise itself), we were given a different figure (less) than our actual total for fees & taxes.  After waiting 15 minutes while they checked, they said our figure was correct.  But, they couldn't give us a date when we would received it as a credit even they have it in their records.    Another 90+ days???

How and why would this happen? Do they just make up a number from the top of their head.

It clearly states on the invoice how much we paid for taxes and fees. How difficult is it to refund that number and avoid all this extra work on our part and on part of SB staff.

I've received several refunds (4 from Oceania alone) and all were correct.

Edited June 25, 2020 by Paulchili

[whystayhome]

I got less than half of the compensation On the card I paid for the cruise on.  And then the next portion a day later on a card I did NOT use to pay for that cruise.  Go figure.

 

so much for refunds processed in original form of payment...

 

linda

[JPH814]

Well folks, I am heading on vacation to get some beach time with the family (and celebrate the LIVERPOOL championship!!!)  

So here is the last update - at least for two weeks and maybe - who knows.  It's been interesting.

 

Feel free to "talk amongst yourselves"

 

As of Date:	6/26/2020
Cruise Fare	Cruise  Date	Refund Request  Date	Refund Received Date	Days since Request	Days between Request and  Refund
TV24	3/28/2020	3/15/2020		103
Pilotapat	3/22/2020	3/16/2020		102
Ramses	3/14/2020	3/20/2020		98
Foyt	7/25/2020	3/23/2020		95
remember66	4/5/2020	3/26/2020		92
Gilligan840	5/23/2020	4/14/2020		73
Laylam	5/23/2020	4/16/2020		71
Whystayhome	7/31/2020	5/6/2020		51
Whystayhome	10/24/2020	5/6/2020		51
labate	8/14/2020	5/7/2020		50
TV24	10/3/2020	5/7/2020		50
Klolson	4/8/2020	3/9/2020	6/17/2020		100
cruzluvers	3/22/2020	3/9/2020	6/16/2020		99
Mauzac	4/5/2020	3/14/2020	6/19/2020		97
Plane7c	4/5/2020	3/14/2020	6/18/2020		96
canadalin	4/8/2020	3/15/2020	6/17/2020		94
rgaudet	3/28/2020	3/15/2020	6/16/2020		93
Jodiandfrank	7/18/2020	3/16/2020	6/14/2020		90
Reefknot	4/5/2020	3/17/2020	6/15/2020		90
Not Jaded	12/20/2020	3/20/2020	6/13/2020		85
Mark56	5/9/2020	3/16/2020	6/8/2020		84
Laylam	5/9/2020	4/1/2020	6/23/2020		83
Sunburned Tongue	3/22/2020	3/9/2020	5/31/2020		83
Wire	12/20/2020	3/22/2020	6/13/2020		83
Daliowner	5/5/2020	3/11/2020	5/31/2020		81
joc123	4/29/2020	3/31/2020	6/19/2020		80
Flaminjune	3/14/2020	2/24/2020	5/13/2020		79
Scottie920	4/5/2020	3/16/2020	6/3/2020		79
Mauzac	4/20/2020	3/30/2020	6/15/2020		77
SF Voyage	4/17/2020	3/9/2020	5/24/2020		76
Teamflames	4/15/2020	3/10/2020	5/25/2020		76
Rambo Trout	3/22/2020	2/27/2020	5/12/2020		75
Sunburned Tongue	4/17/2020	3/9/2020	5/23/2020		75
Bobal	5/6/2020	3/11/2020	5/24/2020		74
jkwestlake	3/21/2020	3/27/2020	6/8/2020		73
Hoosier74	7/18/2020	3/18/2020	5/29/2020		72
JRS51	6/27/2020	3/25/2020	6/5/2020		72
astride	4/29/2020	3/30/2020	6/9/2020		71
Marazul	4/22/2020	4/2/2020	6/12/2020		71
Phillipahain	4/22/2020	3/30/2020	6/9/2020		71
DC Traveler	5/2/2020	4/13/2020	6/22/2020		70
Sueweldon	3/14/2020	3/15/2020	5/23/2020		69
Happyhoppies	3/22/2020	3/17/2020	5/23/2020		67
swaxxy	4/29/2020	3/30/2020	6/5/2020		67
jenudallas	4/20/2020	3/30/2020	6/4/2020		66
Westport	7/18/2020	4/3/2020	6/8/2020		66
Hencol	4/20/2020	3/31/2020	6/4/2020		65
Twinkles	3/28/2020	3/15/2020	5/18/2020		64
Clou	9/16/2020	3/27/2020	5/29/2020		63
crudoll	6/27/2020	4/15/2020	6/17/2020		63
MJN1	6/23/2020	4/13/2020	6/15/2020		63
Wire	6/27/2020	4/16/2020	6/17/2020		62
Jcrobinson48	8/12/2020	4/5/2020	6/1/2020		57
DuffyMcDuffy	5/31/2020	4/14/2020	6/9/2020		56
mhf	5/6/2020	3/26/2020	5/21/2020		56
ON Cruiser	5/31/2020	4/14/2020	6/9/2020		56
Astride	5/16/2020	4/15/2020	6/9/2020		55
chessie	5/23/2020	4/13/2020	6/7/2020		55
oceanaire365	5/16/2020	4/14/2020	6/8/2020		55
Jcrobinson48	5/23/2020	4/15/2020	6/8/2020		54
jph814	5/23/2020	4/17/2020	6/10/2020		54
Zimflyer	3/22/2020	3/17/2020	5/10/2020		54
DFW	5/23/2020	4/16/2020	6/8/2020		53
barcrab	10/10/2020	4/9/2020	5/30/2020		51
Flyfishingwidow	6/3/2020	4/15/2020	6/5/2020		51
Wyattsaubt	6/6/2020	4/15/2020	6/4/2020		50
Zelker	5/23/2020	4/15/2020	6/4/2020		50
Clou	12/22/2020	4/13/2020	5/29/2020		46
Mmastell	1/13/2021	4/9/2020	5/25/2020		46
Average					70.1

 

 

[MightyQuinn]

Hi JPH - It may not matter in the overall scheme of things, but I think you missed that the 2nd entry on your spreadsheet has been refunded.  Have a great vacation!

 

On 6/13/2020 at 9:17 AM, Pilotapat said:

 

Jodi and Frank,  Hope you woke up to the the same good news that I received this morning. Full refund received on my cc today. It was issued May 29th (Seabourn "Frank" misled you) and posted June 12th.

 

[MightyQuinn]

From the newly appointed President of Seabourn.  Not much new here but at least he's communicating:

 

We would like to share an update on refunds, which we know has taken some time for requests to be fully processed and paid on cancelled voyages. Over the past four months, we’ve all learned how we are in unprecedented times that are unlike anything we’ve seen in years or even in our lifetime. Pausing our global ship operations across the entire portfolio of Carnival Corporation brands has created a volume of cancellations and subsequent refunds unlike anything our systems have ever had to process. Our team has been working tirelessly to expedite the processing of both refunds and Future Cruise Credits using manual processes while working remotely. Under the circumstances, we are grateful to them for handling each booking accurately and as efficiently as possible. The majority of requests have now been completed and those remaining are on track to be done in the coming weeks. Thank you for your increased levels of patience along the way.

 

[zimflyer]

8 hours ago, MightyQuinn said:

From the newly appointed President of Seabourn.  Not much new here but at least he's communicating:

 

We would like to share an update on refunds, which we know has taken some time for requests to be fully processed and paid on cancelled voyages. Over the past four months, we’ve all learned how we are in unprecedented times that are unlike anything we’ve seen in years or even in our lifetime. Pausing our global ship operations across the entire portfolio of Carnival Corporation brands has created a volume of cancellations and subsequent refunds unlike anything our systems have ever had to process. Our team has been working tirelessly to expedite the processing of both refunds and Future Cruise Credits using manual processes while working remotely. Under the circumstances, we are grateful to them for handling each booking accurately and as efficiently as possible. The majority of requests have now been completed and those remaining are on track to be done in the coming weeks. Thank you for your increased levels of patience along the way.

 

Gee, that would have been a nice reply email -  back in March...!

Glad we are mostly being recompensed.

 

We are still awaiting SB for airfare, hotel refunds from our March Sojourn itinerary change and then cancellation,  to add to the horror we had these and other flights with Virgin Australia air, now in administration...

 

It is such an uncertain time,  I would probably hold off any new bookings till 2022 at this stage,  rather than face this again.

 

Lets hope the cruise companies learn well from this.

 

Thanks to JP814 et al for our combined efforts to wake the sloppy giant.

 

Happy travels!

 

[Swaxxy]

Zimflyer...

 

I also had money out with Virgin Australia and other hotels in Australia that would not refund my money. I filed a claim on my Amex and got all of my money back. I told them I had not received the services. 

 

Good luck. 

 

 

 

[tv24]

Thanks JPH.  I guess I am the big winner here, 103 days and still counting and still waiting for our refund that we requested March 15. 

 

I received the blast email from the new CEO today and read it with great interest, especially the paragraph regarding refunds and the promise that all will be resolved within a few weeks.  A few more weeks?  Will that put me past 4 months?  NOT luxury cruising.

[cruzluvers]

Before we got our main refund for our March cruise after 99 days, we had registered a dispute with our credit card - that may have "hastened" our refund.  Still waiting for our refund of fees & taxes which Seabourn said could come in the next 30 days.

???

[Paulchili]

On 6/24/2020 at 12:31 PM, Paulchili said:

Just an update and FYI.

I was expecting a refund of taxes to my CC in the amount of $2,556. After not receiving it for 90 days I filed a dispute with my CC (Citibank).

In the mean time SB posted a curious credit to my card of $2,196 (on day 92) which was a number that I did not recognize. Citi has now resolved the dispute in favor of SB apparently accepting this amount as the legit refund without any further explanation or documentation from SB as to how they arrived at that number.

While the difference is relatively small ($360) I challenged Citi about their decision with copies of my invoices - all indicating that the amount of taxes I had paid was $2,556.

Let SB show them and me how they arrived at $2,196 as the correct amount.

Principle at play here.

Well, well - after 124 days the missing $360 (difference between $2556 & $2196) has appeared on my credit card as coming from Seabourn after I challenged a prior settlement by CC in favor of SB.

I don't have a formal decision from Citi but the $360 is from SB.

The drama finally ends and justice is served.. Shouldn't have to be that difficult or take as long as it did nor require  2 disputes from the CC company if SB did the right thing from the start.

[Swaxxy]

   On 6/24/2020 at 12:31 PM,  Paulchili said:

Well, well - after 124 days the missing $360 (difference between $2556 & $2196) has appeared on my credit card as coming from Seabourn after I challenged a prior settlement by CC in favor of SB.

I don't have a formal decision from Citi but the $360 is from SB.

The drama finally ends and justice is served.. Shouldn't have to be that difficult or take as long as it did nor require  2 disputes from the CC company if SB did the right thing from the start.

 

Glad you finally settled this matter but you are correct, it should not have taken so long. 

 

 

 

[Rambo_Trout]

On 6/30/2020 at 7:04 PM, Paulchili said:

Well, well - after 124 days the missing $360 (difference between $2556 & $2196) has appeared on my credit card as coming from Seabourn after I challenged a prior settlement by CC in favor of SB.

I don't have a formal decision from Citi but the $360 is from SB.

The drama finally ends and justice is served.. Shouldn't have to be that difficult or take as long as it did nor require  2 disputes from the CC company if SB did the right thing from the start.

 

Paulchili, so glad that you finally got your Refund. 🍾

 

PS. I finally got refunded by Singapore Air, & IHG Hotels said that my refund would take 90 working days. It seems like they are all dragging it out to help cashflow 😒

[Paulchili]

4 hours ago, Swaxxy said:

Glad you finally settled this matter but you are correct, it should not have taken so long. 

 

2 hours ago, Rambo_Trout said:

Paulchili, so glad that you finally got your Refund. 🍾

Thank you both - glad it’s oveer

Way too much effort and time had to be devoted to this relatively simple matter.

Shame on SB. It’s hard to be thankfull that something that should have been taken care of promptly - especially as wE cancelled on 2/27, probably among the very first people - took 124 days.

[tv24]

Paulchili:  So happy for you.  Keep your fingers crossed for us and our March 15 cancellation.  Still waiting for a refund after 109 days.

Tom

[Paulchili]

36 minutes ago, tv24 said:

Paulchili:  So happy for you.  Keep your fingers crossed for us and our March 15 cancellation.  Still waiting for a refund after 109 days.

Tom

Fingers & toes crossed - hurry up 😀

[Mauzac]

Paulchilli.... delighted for you.  Such a relief.

 

And tv24, that is just TOO long.  What are SB or your TA saying?  

[Paulchili]

5 hours ago, tv24 said:

Paulchili:  So happy for you.

 

3 hours ago, Mauzac said:

Paulchilli.... delighted for you.  Such a relief

Thank you both (and others that had to listen to me for all this time).

Now I have another question to which I would like to get an honest, unbiased answer.

I cancelled our 30 day cruise on 2/27 - a little before SB did. At that time there were no other options for me but a 100% FCC for the cost of the cruise.

I would have preferred a refund but I understood the terms & the rules and whether I liked them or not, I accepted them.

Since then I received a refund to my CC for excursion (pretty promptly) and finally the taxes and fees to my CC.

They also offered a compensation for air fare changes. I filled out the required form and submitted it. With a minor deduction they accepted my claim of $2,447 ($240 less than what I claimed). That part was OK with me but they are offering that amount in FCC instead of refund to my CC.

In my opinion this is an extra expense more akin to excursions and not really part of a cruise fare. I believe that I should receive that amount refunded to my CC rather than FCC - especially as they had no objection to the amount of my claim.

Am I right or am I off on this? This is not a matter I can dispute with the CC as SB accepted responsibility for that amount but wants to repay in FCC. I think that they are wrong. What say you?

TIA

[Mauzac]

I am not sure what you mean by air fare changes?  Do you mean cancelled flights?  Was it SB Air travel booked by them? 

 

If you mean that, I received mine back on my CC but I had applied for all refund as opposed to FCC.  If you are filling out a form, I imagine you arranged and paid for them so  yes I would've thought they should go back on to your CC, I can't imagine why SB would offer an expense of yours as a FCC?

Correct me if I'm wrong. 

 

[Swaxxy]

I had an airfare change incurred by me when they told me the cruise was leaving from Auckland instead of Sydney. I received a refund (minus about $30 something) in the form of a check from Seabourn even though I paid for the extra charge. I filled out a form as well. My TA inquired about the missing money but who knows when they will hear back. 

[Rambo_Trout]

4 hours ago, Paulchili said:

 

Thank you both (and others that had to listen to me for all this time).

Now I have another question to which I would like to get an honest, unbiased answer.

I cancelled our 30 day cruise on 2/27 - a little before SB did. At that time there were no other options for me but a 100% FCC for the cost of the cruise.

I would have preferred a refund but I understood the terms & the rules and whether I liked them or not, I accepted them.

Since then I received a refund to my CC for excursion (pretty promptly) and finally the taxes and fees to my CC.

They also offered a compensation for air fare changes. I filled out the required form and submitted it. With a minor deduction they accepted my claim of $2,447 ($240 less than what I claimed). That part was OK with me but they are offering that amount in FCC instead of refund to my CC.

In my opinion this is an extra expense more akin to excursions and not really part of a cruise fare. I believe that I should receive that amount refunded to my CC rather than FCC - especially as they had no objection to the amount of my claim.

Am I right or am I off on this? This is not a matter I can dispute with the CC as SB accepted responsibility for that amount but wants to repay in FCC. I think that they are wrong. What say you?

TIA

 

Hi Paul,

 

I think that we both claimed on the same day.

 

We made a claim for unrecoverable hotel bookings as they were non-refundable.

 

SB offered us Cash or Value + 28 % FCC (which they called 25%) plus $ 250 each on board credit, which we took, as it was by far the best value.

 

They could/should have done better for you.

 

Regards,

 

Kevin