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I Was Overwhelmed Last Week

Everything hit me left and right last week. Big things.

I am great at priortizing and multi tasking, but I have to admit I got overwhelmed. I am usually pretty patient and don't snap, but when I received the 5th notice that my trip had been cancelled, I lost it.

It is really tough to travel now. Smaller companies are struggling. They refuse to give refunds. Travel insurance makes up excuses to not pay or makes you wait for months.

I contacted UTO Vacations on this last cancellation and it was not pretty. I demanded my money back. I told them I would not pay a penny more. I told them I was contacting Travelzoo,which I did and sent them all of my emails.

I think it is terrible that a person has to resort to being nasty to get resolution on a problem that is not theirs in the making. After things were resolved, Travelzoo said they are still looking into the problems I had.

And what do you know? They found me a spot and I am scheduled to go on time, but out of God forsaken Miami.

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Heartlander · 80-89, M

What happens in s0me businesses where pe0[le pay in advance f0r g00ds 0r services, th0se wh0 have already paid are sent t0 the back 0f the line and preference is given t0 new m0ney at the d00r. Depending 0n what type business, there may be FTC restricti0ns f0r d0ing that, but th0se restricti0ns determine h0w l0ng they can sit 0n y0ur purchase, and n0t that they can r cant.

Y0u might want t0 check what FTC has t0 say ab0ut prepaid travel purchases. My 0wn reference c0mes fr0m mail 0rder sales where FTC has definite guidelines ab0ut when the cust0mer has t0 be 0ffered a refund.

akindheart · 61-69, F

@Heartlander they force you to pay a deposit, then the remainder 6 months in advance. i was originally supposed to go to china to see the terracotta warriors. and Thailand China closed down and I still couldn't get my money back. i had a credit and had to use. the travel insurance said that a country closing down was out of their control.

Heartlander · 80-89, M

@akindheart Your upfront deposit becomes their operating capital and gets used to make their payroll and give bonuses to their executive officers for doing a great job :)

I have an old insurance policy taken out by my dad when I was born, 80 plus years ago. I found it in his things when he died. Me as the beneficiary was to receive $100 upon his death. Not a trace of where I'm to get that $100 from. The address on the policy is now a vacant lot. The company non existing, even to Google. My dad probably paid $5 for the policy, $5 that probably got spent 79 years ago and not held in trust for future claims. Had it been held in trust that $5 would have compounded to well over $500 in today's money.

akindheart · 61-69, F

@Heartlander i had that happen when my brother died. his policy was taken out in 1983. Mom was the beneficiary and she passed. what I had to do for the 2000 was unbelievable. many policies are bought up. i bet it is still viable

PoetryNEmotion · F

Good for you. I find that I have to be rather aggressive in the past year when it comes to getting things done. Even via the cell. People have poor customer service. Some do not care. Itbis what has to be done. Never had to before. A sign of the times. * sighs*

akindheart · 61-69, F

@PoetryNEmotion everything is a challenge

Heartlander · 80-89, M

@PoetryNEmotion I remember an old saying in the US during an era when customer service for most companies was transferred from an uncaring individual to a network of circular computers:

'I'd rather have a reason to call the IRS than to call the phone company"

PoetryNEmotion · F

@Heartlander You know so much. Thank you for sharing that.

SW-User

Good for you!

akindheart · 61-69, F

@SW-User thanks my friend. I will never use UTO again.

SW-User

@akindheart well sometimes it’s good to let them know how upset you are though.

akindheart · 61-69, F

@SW-User it started one destination and that got cancelled more than once. I just picked a destination to use the money...and that got changed many times. I had enough.

GJOFJ3 · 61-69, M

Hopefully all goes well from here on.

akindheart · 61-69, F

@GJOFJ3 i sure hope so...thank you

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

Paris is a mess right now, are you still planning on going there?

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PoetryNEmotion · F

@akindheart Why are there riots?

akindheart · 61-69, F

@PoetryNEmotion Pension riots. Macron has pushed retirement age from 62- 64

PoetryNEmotion · F

@akindheart Geez. The dictators are always screwing things up. Here there is talk of raiding it from 65 to 67. We get tired. Weary. Let us retire do we may still have time to enjoy freedom. Do they make changes, you think by protesting?

Lilred2289 · 36-40, F

I’m so sorry sweet friend. Keep your head up. It gets better.

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