Paid balance to TA, Credit Card statement says name of TA?

[Alberich]

Surely to God it shouldn't be so difficult to get a fair deal without all this research and to-ing and fro-ing between TA and credit card company. I despair I really do.

Gari

 

The difference in conditions are significant. However I believe that we are better protected over here, but pay for the privilege.

 

You can book in the US if you wish. Ask young James to point you in the right direction.

[ocngypz]

I've been reading this thread with a growing sense of bewilderment and confusion. Poor simple me has just been booking through one or other of the well advertised and popular travel agents specialising in cruises (no names, no packdrill) here in the UK. I see what I think is a deal for when I want to go. I pays my (NON-REFUNDABLE) deposit plus the outrageous impudence of the 2% credit card charge, I've NEVER had OBC, NEVER and I am a repeat customer. I have had, it is true, an upgrade, just once. Now quite by chance I read this thread and it's a whole new world of what appears to me to be a financial jungle. Surely to God it shouldn't be so difficult to get a fair deal without all this research and to-ing and fro-ing between TA and credit card company. I despair I really do.

Gari

 

Proper US booking methods are thus:

 

You call the ta, reserve your voyage. Ta runs your cc through Cunard. Deposit is fully refundable from Cunard should you cancel 91 days prior to sailing. At 90 days, your final payment is due at Cunard. You tell your ta to make final payment. Ta runs your credit card for final payment through Cunard.

 

No 2.5% cc transaction fees. Cunard has your money. If the ta went bankrupt.. doesn't matter.. Cunard has your money....you have your vacation. Too bad about the ta.

 

If the cruiseline went bankrupt.. OH MY.. that would mean Carnival Corporation!!!!!!!! I shudder to think....... then your credit card would take care of you.

 

We also have travel insurance policies available through the US for citizens of the world which cover supplier default eg... the cruiseline.. which offer additional protection for not much money.

 

Travel agencies are paid their commissions from the cruiselines upon actual sailing.

[garigoun]

Proper US booking methods are thus:

 

You call the ta, reserve your voyage. Ta runs your cc through Cunard. Deposit is fully refundable from Cunard should you cancel 91 days prior to sailing. At 90 days, your final payment is due at Cunard. You tell your ta to make final payment. Ta runs your credit card for final payment through Cunard.

 

No 2.5% cc transaction fees. Cunard has your money. If the ta went bankrupt.. doesn't matter.. Cunard has your money....you have your vacation. Too bad about the ta.

 

If the cruiseline went bankrupt.. OH MY.. that would mean Carnival Corporation!!!!!!!! I shudder to think....... then your credit card would take care of you.

 

We also have travel insurance policies available through the US for citizens of the world which cover supplier default eg... the cruiseline.. which offer additional protection for not much money.

 

Travel agencies are paid their commissions from the cruiselines upon actual sailing.

 

Many thanks for that ocn. I must confess I have never looked who the cc was debited to, didn't know it made any difference. Maybe I will look into booking in US. The refundable deposit is very attractive. Two years ago I lost £800 deposit for a cruise I couldn't take for a reason which wasn't covered by my travel insurance. And also that 2.5% CC charge mounts up. Why do I have to pay to spend my own money?

Gari

[lord of the seas]

I pays my (NON-REFUNDABLE) deposit plus the outrageous impudence of the 2% credit card charge, I've NEVER had OBC, NEVER and I am a repeat customer.

 

And you call yourself a Yorkshireman.:eek:

[Norfolk Brit]

And also that 2.5% CC charge mounts up. Why do I have to pay to spend my own money?

Gari

 

The usual 2% credit card charge is actually a bit of a bargain if you view it as insurance and only pay £100 of the deposit by credit card, paying the rest by debit card or cheque. Should the company then not deliver the goods for whatever reason, this then covers you for the entire amount, including the balance if you've subsequently paid it by whatever means, for the modest amount of 2% of £100, ie £2.

 

Greatly enjoyed your review, by the way:).

 

Mary

[Alberich]

Proper US booking methods are thus:

 

You call the ta, reserve your voyage. Ta runs your cc through Cunard. Deposit is fully refundable from Cunard should you cancel 91 days prior to sailing. At 90 days, your final payment is due at Cunard. You tell your ta to make final payment. Ta runs your credit card for final payment through Cunard.

 

No 2.5% cc transaction fees. Cunard has your money. If the ta went bankrupt.. doesn't matter.. Cunard has your money....you have your vacation. Too bad about the ta.

 

If the cruiseline went bankrupt.. OH MY.. that would mean Carnival Corporation!!!!!!!! I shudder to think....... then your credit card would take care of you.

 

We also have travel insurance policies available through the US for citizens of the world which cover supplier default eg... the cruiseline.. which offer additional protection for not much money.

 

Travel agencies are paid their commissions from the cruiselines upon actual sailing.

 

I was thinking more of ATOL and ABTA. But in practice if one has a reputable US agent (I have the best) one is as safe as one can realistically be.

 

If we are better protected, that doesn't mean that US bookings are unprotected.

 

And, for the record, I will continue to book through the US when it is better for me. Which is likely to be most of the time.

[garigoun]

The usual 2% credit card charge is actually a bit of a bargain if you view it as insurance and only pay £100 of the deposit by credit card, paying the rest by debit card or cheque. Should the company then not deliver the goods for whatever reason, this then covers you for the entire amount, including the balance if you've subsequently paid it by whatever means, for the modest amount of 2% of £100, ie £2.

 

Greatly enjoyed your review, by the way:).

 

Mary

Are you certain about this Mary?? I ask because I've always thought that the entire bill had to be paid by CC for the protect clause to click in.

Gari

[Norfolk Brit]

Absolutely positive, Gari. Provided at least £100 is shoved onto the jolly old credit card, the lot is covered. In fact, the experts will tell you that provided you use a Visa debit card, you are covered by that: personally, I wouldn't take the chance.

 

Link here from Which, a pretty reliable organisation: http://www.which.co.uk/advice/your-rights-when-paying-by-credit-card/your-rights/index.jsp

 

Mary

[mcc8206]

My first post after reading through much of the forum. So much helpful information as I will be doing my first cruise later this year. Actually, a crossing, to be correct, on the QM2. Thank you all for your wonderfully informative posts!

 

As to protection, the protection is provided by Visa or Mastercard, so if you pay the remainder with a Visa or MC branded debit card you should still be covered. I'm not sure if any portion was paid by check (or cheque), that this portion would be covered. You should really check with your bank first.

 

I wonder, though, if there still wouldn't be a transaction fee if you used a UK-issued card with a US TA? At least in the reverse, if I use my US-issued debit or credit card for a non-US dollar transaction, both Visa and my bank add on a transaction fee which totals anywhere from 2-3% (I don't recall the exact figure, offhand). Is the UK TA charging you in USD and so the 2.5% fee is for the currency conversion?

 

Just thoughts to consider. There may be other advantanges to using a US TA that outweigh the fees for a foreign currency transaction.

[Alberich]

I wonder, though, if there still wouldn't be a transaction fee if you used a UK-issued card with a US TA?

 

There is no fee using my UK Amex with a (great) US agent.

[southwestie]

I dont pay a transaction fee to any TA, using any card at all, when I spend that amount of money a year I expect my TA to do a deal when it comes to paying, its up to your TA ow much or IF they charge you, if like me your loyal to your TA, they get you a great deal and wave the card fee:)

[southwestie]

Are you certain about this Mary?? I ask because I've always thought that the entire bill had to be paid by CC for the protect clause to click in.

Gari

 

 

You have to pay of the account with a CC for protection, most cards it is a purchase over £100 though, also your covered for fraud protection.

 

I would never book through a USA agent, I like the backing of ABTA, ATOL,

[jonmar]

Babette, is the final payment due date the same for group space? This TA is telling me the balance will be paid to Cunard within 76 days of the voyage. They claim that is when the group space final payments are due.

[ocngypz]

Babette, is the final payment due date the same for group space? This TA is telling me the balance will be paid to Cunard within 76 days of the voyage. They claim that is when the group space final payments are due.

 

 

OMG....NO.. he is lying. All payments are due 90 days prior whether they are FIT or group bookings.

[southwestie]

Dare we ask who the TA is.

 

have you asked cunard how good they are.

[Norfolk Brit]

You have to pay of the account with a CC for protection, most cards it is a purchase over £100 though, also your covered for fraud protection.

 

Sorry, but your post is not clear. It would be helpful, particularly when writing about topics which could result in misunderstandings and potential financial loss, if you could proof read before posting.

 

Mary

[ocngypz]

Dare we ask who the TA is.

 

have you asked cunard how good they are.

 

 

The OP's agent in this situation has a "D" rating - which is negative- with the Central Florida Better Business Bureau. It also has very bad reviews on tripadvisor.

[southwestie]

Sorry, but your post is not clear. It would be helpful, particularly when writing about topics which could result in misunderstandings and potential financial loss, if you could proof read before posting.

 

Mary

 

Your quite right, rushing as always, you need to a PART of purchase around £100 I think, then your whole purchase is covered, however this may change with different cards

[southwestie]

The OP's agent in this situation has a "D" rating - which is negative- with the Central Florida Better Business Bureau. It also has very bad reviews on tripadvisor.

 

thats a great shame, I hope it can be sorted out then

[garigoun]

OMG....NO.. he is lying. All payments are due 90 days prior whether they are FIT or group bookings.

 

Please clarify, what is FIT and group space?

Gari

[Cosmic Rays]

I dont pay a transaction fee to any TA, using any card at all, when I spend that amount of money a year I expect my TA to do a deal when it comes to paying, its up to your TA ow much or IF they charge you, if like me your loyal to your TA, they get you a great deal and wave the card fee:)

 

Good for you! Does the threat of taking your business elsewhere make them sit up and take notice re CC fee?

[ocngypz]

Please clarify, what is FIT and group space?

Gari

 

 

Group space - is inventory which is blocked either by an individal travel agency or consortium. This space is normally blocked at the time the sailings are first opened for sale.

No one else can book into this space except the individual agency or consortium who is holding this space.

 

FIT - is individual. Inventory is available on the sailing which can be booked by any agency or Cunard itself.

 

In the OP's situation, the category was sold out at Cunard. Other agencies who do a lot of business with Cunard were sold out of the group space they were holding. This one particular independent agent who works in a host agency arrangement, found an agency who still had unsold cabins in their group allotment. Therefore, the OP booked with them.........and well...............now you see what's happened.

 

All Cunard Terms and Conditions are identical whether you are booked through FIT or group allotments held by agencies/consortia.

[southwestie]

Good for you! Does the threat of taking your business elsewhere make them sit up and take notice re CC fee?

 

 

I would like to think that my loyalty as well as the amount of money we spend in any 12 months does have some sway, I cant say for ure, but I always ask them do I really have to pay the CC and they no, its waved, I sure to be honest that anyone can ask there TA to remove or have to reduced can do so, it is up to the TA and how much the bank is charging them:eek:

[SueOverend]

Your quite right, rushing as always, you need to a PART of purchase around £100 I think, then your whole purchase is covered, however this may change with different cards

 

Rob,

 

Have to pay our balances in a couple of weeks, but our agent charges 2.5% for using a credit card. Are you saying that if we put only £100 on our cc, we are protected, paying the balance on a debit card. Or should I suck up the 2.5% and pay it all on a cc. First time we've had this problem, as all other agents we have used do not make a charge for using the cc. Sue

[southwestie]

Rob,

 

Have to pay our balances in a couple of weeks, but our agent charges 2.5% for using a credit card. Are you saying that if we put only £100 on our cc, we are protected, paying the balance on a debit card. Or should I suck up the 2.5% and pay it all on a cc. First time we've had this problem, as all other agents we have used do not make a charge for using the cc. Sue

 

 

hi sue, I would ask your C/C first see what they say, depends who you have booked with but ask them, I think 2.5 % is a lot to pay, worst is they say no, you have lost nothing, if they waive the charge or reduce it to 1% or 1.5 % you have made money.

 

I dont think Cunard are about to end though, your money is safe