Uncle Fester
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 929
- Name
- Danny
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Modern life is rubbish.
I yearn for the days when if you had a problem, you could call the organisation concerned directly, not wait too long for a human being to answer the phone – instead of waiting for an eternity in a queue listening to muzac – and the person you spoke to would sort your problem out or put you through to someone who could.
Recently modern life seems to have decided to try to reduce me to a nervous wreck and raise my blood pressure to lethal levels.
Incident One
Earlier this month my wife and I went on our first cruise with P&O. All went reasonable well; except for the fact that my folder of documents was accidentally removed from our cabin when the bedsheets were changed. Boarding passes for our return flight and train tickets were missing. Despite searching high and low; they were not found. The ships staff eventually sorted the problem out – fine.
Then, a few weeks ago, I receive a strangely worded e-mail from P&O to say; that their credit card processor had notified them that there was a ‘problem’ with certain historic card transactions and that I was affected. I checked my credit card statement and could see nothing amiss. A few days later; I noticed that quite a substantial debit had been charged to my card. The first thing I did was to contact my credit card company (Nationwide) to tell what happened. They seemed to be aware that there was a problem with P&O but were surprised that I had been charged. I opened (by e-mail) a disputed transaction. I also wanted to know how my card had been charged; without my consent.
Some days later I had another e-mail from P&O saying that the problem was being dealt with. A few days later; I checked my card statement to find there was now a credit to my account equal to the original amount charged.
I still have had no reply from Nationwide though. Not even a quick message to say ‘we see the charge has been cancelled’ and certainly no explanation of how the charge happened and some reassurance that it could not happen again.
Incident Two
At the end of February I joined (actually re-joined) the AA. Part of the deal was that I would receive £20 of either M&S or Boots vouchers as a ‘thank you’.
My AA membership card arrived. A constant stream of e-mails from the AA followed trying to flog me additional services began.
M&S/Boots vouchers – nothing, nada – zilch.
I phone up and complain. I‘m told that this will be dealt with.
But still nothing happens.
I phone up at least six times, and although I’m always told, this will deal with immediately – nothing happens.
Finally; I call to cancel my membership.
I’m told that if I don’t receive the voucher within 24 hours that I could either cancel and get a full refund of my membership.
Just over 24 hours later, still voucherless, I call the AA to ask for £20 to be credit to my credit card.
Guess what – that was well over a week ago and still no refund has materialised.
Incident 3
My wife informs me that she can take a few days off work next month and could we take a mini break to Prague. Fine I say, as long as we can do it cheaply, as were still recovering from the earlier holiday.
So a quick Google for ‘Prague Minibreaks, brings up a number of possibilities.
I look on the EasyJet Holidays site as they fly from Stansted; something I prefer.
Ah; this looks good:
£246 for a couple of days in Prague; great! I’ll book it. I press the ‘continue’ button.
Then this window pops up:
WTF? The price is now £660! More than double! Did I not put my dates in the search box? I did; so why on earth is the first price £246? If it really does cost £660 why did the website not quote that first!
Aaargh!
Modern life is rubbish!
I yearn for the days when if you had a problem, you could call the organisation concerned directly, not wait too long for a human being to answer the phone – instead of waiting for an eternity in a queue listening to muzac – and the person you spoke to would sort your problem out or put you through to someone who could.
Recently modern life seems to have decided to try to reduce me to a nervous wreck and raise my blood pressure to lethal levels.
Incident One
Earlier this month my wife and I went on our first cruise with P&O. All went reasonable well; except for the fact that my folder of documents was accidentally removed from our cabin when the bedsheets were changed. Boarding passes for our return flight and train tickets were missing. Despite searching high and low; they were not found. The ships staff eventually sorted the problem out – fine.
Then, a few weeks ago, I receive a strangely worded e-mail from P&O to say; that their credit card processor had notified them that there was a ‘problem’ with certain historic card transactions and that I was affected. I checked my credit card statement and could see nothing amiss. A few days later; I noticed that quite a substantial debit had been charged to my card. The first thing I did was to contact my credit card company (Nationwide) to tell what happened. They seemed to be aware that there was a problem with P&O but were surprised that I had been charged. I opened (by e-mail) a disputed transaction. I also wanted to know how my card had been charged; without my consent.
Some days later I had another e-mail from P&O saying that the problem was being dealt with. A few days later; I checked my card statement to find there was now a credit to my account equal to the original amount charged.
I still have had no reply from Nationwide though. Not even a quick message to say ‘we see the charge has been cancelled’ and certainly no explanation of how the charge happened and some reassurance that it could not happen again.
Incident Two
At the end of February I joined (actually re-joined) the AA. Part of the deal was that I would receive £20 of either M&S or Boots vouchers as a ‘thank you’.
My AA membership card arrived. A constant stream of e-mails from the AA followed trying to flog me additional services began.
M&S/Boots vouchers – nothing, nada – zilch.
I phone up and complain. I‘m told that this will be dealt with.
But still nothing happens.
I phone up at least six times, and although I’m always told, this will deal with immediately – nothing happens.
Finally; I call to cancel my membership.
I’m told that if I don’t receive the voucher within 24 hours that I could either cancel and get a full refund of my membership.
Just over 24 hours later, still voucherless, I call the AA to ask for £20 to be credit to my credit card.
Guess what – that was well over a week ago and still no refund has materialised.
Incident 3
My wife informs me that she can take a few days off work next month and could we take a mini break to Prague. Fine I say, as long as we can do it cheaply, as were still recovering from the earlier holiday.
So a quick Google for ‘Prague Minibreaks, brings up a number of possibilities.
I look on the EasyJet Holidays site as they fly from Stansted; something I prefer.
Ah; this looks good:
£246 for a couple of days in Prague; great! I’ll book it. I press the ‘continue’ button.
Then this window pops up:
WTF? The price is now £660! More than double! Did I not put my dates in the search box? I did; so why on earth is the first price £246? If it really does cost £660 why did the website not quote that first!
Aaargh!
Modern life is rubbish!
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