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March Refunds Only - is there a "big black hole"

cellfree

By cellfree,
in MSC Cruises

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notme2012

notme2012

Posted
Posted
22 hours ago, drsel said:

this is ridiculous!  the travel agent has no right to hold your money.

The risk of a travel agent defaulting is much much higher than that of a multi-billion dollar company.

 

All money should be paid directly to the cruise line and not to the travel agent, so that the cruise line can refund money directly to the customer.

 

The travel agent gets paid commission directly by the cruise line, not from any customer.

When a client pays by cash or check, the agency transmits that to the cruise line. In some instances the agency withholds their commission. Now, if the client pays with a credit card, the agency gives that CC# to the cruise line. So the cruise line processes the charge. Then 2 weeks after the client completes their cruise, the cruise line sends the agency their commission.

 

This is the process that has been in existence for 30+ years.

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drsel

drsel

Posted
Posted
21 minutes ago, notme2012 said:

When a client pays by cash or check, the agency transmits that to the cruise line. In some instances the agency withholds their commission. Now, if the client pays with a credit card, the agency gives that CC# to the cruise line. So the cruise line processes the charge. Then 2 weeks after the client completes their cruise, the cruise line sends the agency their commission.

 

This is the process that has been in existence for 30+ years.

Exactly, then how did that TA get hold of the  refunded amount?

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heatherb1958

heatherb1958

Posted
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, notme2012 said:

When a client pays by cash or check, the agency transmits that to the cruise line. In some instances the agency withholds their commission. Now, if the client pays with a credit card, the agency gives that CC# to the cruise line. So the cruise line processes the charge. Then 2 weeks after the client completes their cruise, the cruise line sends the agency their commission.

 

This is the process that has been in existence for 30+ years.

 

2 hours ago, drsel said:

Exactly, then how did that TA get hold of the  refunded amount?


Here in the UK different systems in operation . You rarely will have a singular person operating as an agent , mainly online agencies or shops on the high street . We have ABTA protection and ATOL for holidays involving flights .

We have already had our money paid back  , in full ,  via consumer protection for a holiday booked  at a high street travel agent for a company that went into receivership in 2020.  It was a scenario when we had paid in full when it wasn’t necessary, could have just paid the deposit , it took a few months to get the money back but we did .

It is frustrating that we have not had our money paid back in a timely manner but IT WILL BE PAID.  I am not getting my knickers in a twist over it, just wringing my hands of the companies who will not get any future business .

 

Edited by heatherb1958
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mamaneedsavacay Great Review Rare

mamaneedsavacay

Posted
Posted

 

On 3/4/2021 at 8:00 AM, shipgeeks said:

Did the taxes and fees show up on your credit card statement?

Not sure  if you were asking me, but we did get our taxes and fees really quickly, if I recall. Then, eventually an incorrect FCC and the TA has been working on it ever since. 

 

On 3/7/2021 at 6:30 AM, Bluewake said:

 

We are a few days away from waiting one full year for MSC to issue the FCC for which we've been assured we are entitled.  The initial email said it would take "two weeks".   We've gone through multiple escalations, repeatedly been asked to "be patient", and given a variety of reasons for the lack of action.  

 

On 3/7/2021 at 10:03 AM, dexddd said:

Us too.  Sent simple letter to Miami a week ago and nothing yet.  TA also not happy with excuses and errors,  They are a large agency too.

 

Cancelled three YC b2b last week before final.  Told 60 days for that, we'll see.

 

I'm considering at day 366 to resurface this thread each day with a +1.

 

"happy" anniversary Bluewake and dexddd. My one year mark is 3/15. Good luck to us all.

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shipgeeks

shipgeeks

Posted
Posted

The reason why I asked about refund of taxes and fees on credit card:  When we received ours, the FCC amount appeared to equal only 100% of what we had paid, but it was, in fact, 125%, since we also received $$ on credit card.

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mickey89

mickey89

Posted
Posted
17 hours ago, heatherb1958 said:

 


Here in the UK different systems in operation . We have ABTA protection and ATOL for holidays involving flights .........

 

ABTA is a worthless guarantee, don't ever rely on them.  Reflect on their resent performance when they let down thousands upon thousands of customers.   ATOL only covers flights not holidays when the carrier goes AWOL. The best cover is Section 75 of the Consumer Credit act and I'm sure our cousins across the pond have a similar scheme.

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dexddd

dexddd

Posted
Posted
15 hours ago, mamaneedsavacay said:

 

Not sure  if you were asking me, but we did get our taxes and fees really quickly, if I recall. Then, eventually an incorrect FCC and the TA has been working on it ever since. 

 

 

 

"happy" anniversary Bluewake and dexddd. My one year mark is 3/15. Good luck to us all.

I checked and we got our...your fcc will be issued in 60 days... was 3/21.

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Bluewake

Bluewake

Posted
Posted (edited)
4 hours ago, dexddd said:

I checked and we got our...your fcc will be issued in 60 days... was 3/21.

Forgive me for feeling so but it's helpful to know we are not the only ones still waiting. 

Edited by Bluewake
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notme2012

notme2012

Posted
Posted
On 3/12/2021 at 1:51 PM, heatherb1958 said:

 


Here in the UK different systems in operation . You rarely will have a singular person operating as an agent , mainly online agencies or shops on the high street . We have ABTA protection and ATOL for holidays involving flights .

We have already had our money paid back  , in full ,  via consumer protection for a holiday booked  at a high street travel agent for a company that went into receivership in 2020.  It was a scenario when we had paid in full when it wasn’t necessary, could have just paid the deposit , it took a few months to get the money back but we did .

It is frustrating that we have not had our money paid back in a timely manner but IT WILL BE PAID.  I am not getting my knickers in a twist over it, just wringing my hands of the companies who will not get any future business .

 

I did not state "agent". Agencies can be any size or ownership. When one pays cash, those monies are remitted to the travel suppliers. For example: airline tickets, agencies deposit the money into a special bank account that is held with the airlines' settlement company. After the clients complete their travel, funds are released back to the agency, etc.  Now the cruise lines themselves, act as their own clearing house. The agency pays the cruise line. When the cruise line refunds a sailing, the cash is sent back to that agency. Paying cash or check to any agency or travel supplier is a big NO-NO! You have very little recourse if that agency absconds with you money. Much better to have the credit card company, Visa and your bank, (Chase, for example) working towards your recovery of hard earned funds.

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notme2012

notme2012

Posted
Posted
On 3/12/2021 at 11:21 AM, drsel said:

Exactly, then how did that TA get hold of the  refunded amount?

If you paid cash/check to the agency, the refund goes back to the agency. Then the agency refunds cash/check back to the client.

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drsel

drsel

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, notme2012 said:

If you paid cash/check to the agency, the refund goes back to the agency. Then the agency refunds cash/check back to the client.

My credit card payment always goes directly to MSC or the cruise line.

Only once for P&O, the agency took the deposit, because it was a group discount.

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notme2012

notme2012

Posted
Posted
16 hours ago, drsel said:

My credit card payment always goes directly to MSC or the cruise line.

Only once for P&O, the agency took the deposit, because it was a group discount.

Exactly! When you pay by credit card, even using an agency, the cruise line processes the credit card payment. When refunds with credit cards occur, they go right back to the clients' credit card. The agency gets nothing, in a cancelled cruise situation. Now, if the client does sail, 2 weeks after the cruise ends, the cruise line sends the agency their commission, by check. Paying by CC is the safest way to purchase travel. Never use cash or check!  But, if you pay by cash or check, at an agency for your cruise, you get your refund from the agency.

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drsel

drsel

Posted
Posted (edited)
21 minutes ago, notme2012 said:

Never use cash or check!  But, if you pay by cash or check, at an agency for your cruise, you get your refund from the agency.

you could consider yourself very lucky if the travel agency refunded your money paid to them, by cash or cheque.

Edited by drsel
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notme2012

notme2012

Posted
Posted
21 hours ago, drsel said:

you could consider yourself very lucky if the travel agency refunded your money paid to them, by cash or cheque.

Me?  I don't pay for travel with cash or checks. I receive bonus points on my credit card for all travel. A bigger risk is one of these cruise lines going bankrupt. I don't think MSC will, as they are a privately owned company. But I can't imagine may travel agencies are doing well.

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versuco

versuco

Posted
Posted
14 hours ago, dexddd said:

Happy one year anniversary MSC for our fcc request acknowledged 3/21/2020.

 

BOO TO YOU!

Yep, that's how they operate!  A year later and we are still waiting for the rest of our refund.  They already refunded taxes and fees and our initial deposit, but have still not refunded the rest of the final payment.  Never again will they get a penny of our money!

 

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dexddd

dexddd

Posted
Posted
9 hours ago, versuco said:

Yep, that's how they operate!  A year later and we are still waiting for the rest of our refund.  They already refunded taxes and fees and our initial deposit, but have still not refunded the rest of the final payment.  Never again will they get a penny of our money!

 

We haven't even seen refund of taxes and fees.  Only prepaid shorex.

 

BOO +1 MSC!

 

You say on the ships how you value guests and cruise critic but what do your actions show??

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