DC Tours/Alcatraz Media Changed my reservation and refused to refund money even though it was they that made the change. They also told untruths and called me a liar when I tried to fight the charge via my bank. Internet
My family and I scheduled a Twilight Harbor Cruise for Saturday, June 25, 2011. My mom and nephews were flying into DC that morning and we figured a boat cruise would be a nice way to end their first day of sight-seeing in DC.
Unfortunately, a few days prior to the boat cruise, an employee, Andrew, from DC Tours contacted me to say that they could no longer accommodate our party on Saturday the 25th. Since there were two other families (cousin and her family, plus some friends) in our booked tour, we switched it for another day. (Thursday, June 23rd) Unfortunately, my mom and nephews would not be in DC at that time and would not be able to take the tour. Before making the change, I asked Andrew about the 3 tickets. He gave me a number to call so that I could get a refund.
I called the number repeatedly. I left voicemails. I emailed. No one ever responded. DC Tours refused to refund my money even though they were the ones insisting I change my original dates. Again, I tried, repeatedly, to speak to DC Tours so they would have the opportunity to fix the situation and make it right. But they refused to answer my voicemails or answer my emails. They decided to ignore me and hoped I would go away quietly all so they could keep $84 of my dollars that didn't belong to them.
They do have a 'no refund' policy but since it was the company that decided they could no longer accommodate our party, I feel they should've refunded the money for the three unused boat cruise tickets. (1 senior and 2 child tickets)
I appealed to my bank (BOA) and after a few months of going back and forth my bank sided with DC Tours. Since I'm a loyal customer, my bank did refund half of my money but I am still quite angry since DC Tours used unfair business practices to steal my $84.83. DC Tours told them that I was "untruthful" and that there was indeed a tour on the date that I had originally scheduled. DC Tours told my bank that I had missed the boat cruise and that was why they would not refund my money. I still can't believe that the President/CEO of a company would tell such a flat out lie.
DC Tours stole $84 of my dollars and my bank let them. I am sharing my story to keep other people from being a victim to DC Tours. Even if you plan to keep the tour you scheduled, they can cancel *on you* and will refuse to refund your money. Consider yourself warned. Honestly, I would use another company to book a tour as DC Tours (Alcatraz Media as it will appear on your bank statement) is not a reputable company in my book.
And the topper? The tour wasn't anything like they represented. They do not take you on a moonlight tour of the Washington Monuments as they imply from their photographs. You can see the Washington Monument and the Capitol Dome before even stepping foot on the boat. From there, they take you down river to Alexandria and back. They also claim that the Captain of the cruise will tell you great stories and leave you with great memories. Neither of those claims are true. The Captain did not even speak to the passengers. Again...you will not see any moonlight monuments on this tour. For that in itself, people should get a refund. DC Tours is not an honorable company. They misrepresent themselves and what they offer.
Rose, Fairfax, Va.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Alcatraz Media Employee
Atlanta,Georgia,
United States of America
This report is inaccurate - Customer requested date change
#2UPDATE Employee
Wed, November 02, 2011
This customer placed a reservation for the Twilight Harbor Cruise in Washington DC on 4/20/2011 for a departure date of 6/25/2011. We processed and confirmed their reservation as requested for 6 adults and 1 senior, and sent the E-ticket to their email address on 4/21/2011. Please note that we had no communication with this customer prior to receipt of the dispute she filed with her credit card company.
Upon receipt of the dispute, we contacted the supplier of the tour, DC Harbor Cruises, LLC, and were notified by the President of the company that this customer had a confirmed reservation for seven people (as confirmed two months prior to the cruise) and that they had absolutely no sell-outs for any dates during the month of June. He also advised us that they received a call from the customer requesting to change the date, but that only four of the seven people could attend on the new date. DC Harbor Cruises agreed to change the date per the customers request, but no refund was issued, as they purchased final sale no refund tickets, and all seven tickets were confirmed for the originally requested date.
Neither Alcatraz Media nor DC Harbor Cruises, LLC initiated a date change, nor did they advise the customer that we could only accommodate half of their party.
They were confirmed for seven tickets, and all seven tickets were available to them on the originally requested (and confirmed) date. We are sorry that the customer chose to change the date and that their entire party could not attend, but no refund is due. Please also note that this information was provided to the customers credit card company, and their bank agreed that full payment was due for all seven tickets.