ITN performed an invaluable service for travelers in publishing the reader’s letter entitled “Mystery Charge on Credit Card” regarding Internet hotel reservations (Dec. ’03, pg. 30).
I, too, made a reservation over the Internet with a hotel in Dublin. This was in 2001. After returning home I got a bill from an unknown “travel arranger” in England. I was billed in pounds for my hotel in Ireland, which at the time used punts. I had paid the hotel directly in Ireland.
When I refused to pay my credit card company for this bill, I received an outstanding piece of fiction from the travel arranger. They claimed a John Doe in their office spoke with me directly and offered several hotels in Dublin from which I picked the one in which I stayed. I never spoke with any person at the travel arranger’s, nor was I offered any other hotels. I e-mailed directly the hotel of my choice.
The upshot was the travel arranger threatened to take legal/criminal action against me. I e-mailed them that I expected the bobbies to arrive at my door with truncheons at any time. That was the last I ever heard from these rascals.
Since then, I have been careful in making e-mail reservations and determine first that no stranger is going to bill me. Internet users, beware!
BRUCE STARK
Seal Beach, CA