On April 11, 2007 I a purchase through Priceline.com. I tried to book a travel package from PriceLine.Com in the amount of $648.82 for airline travel and lodging in Mid July, 2007.
While making the transaction, I noticed their subscription procedure does not allow one to check or verify the travel arrangements until the transaction is complete, including giving all credit card information. I assumed there would be an opportunity to say or no to the travel arrangements if they did not suit the customers needs.
After completing the transaction, I noticed that the return flight time was too soon to allow me to complete the business for which I was traveling in the first place. I called PriceLine to ask for a change in the return flight for the reason stated above, but they insisted they could not and would not change the flight schedule, even though there were other available flights on the day of the return flight.
I attempted to cancel the transaction immediately, in fact within minutes of the attempted online purchase. The online process used by Priceline does not afford the consumer the opportunity to be fully informed about the purchase they are seeking to make. Additionally, the way their setup works is that the consumer must furnish all credit card details before they can actually know what is being purchased. The configuration of the web page makes it very easy to inadvertently confirm a purchase without actually intending to do so. Once a computer click is registered, the sale is made and final.
I explained that the return flight, which required me to be at the airport at 4:00 am would not allow me to complete my business dealings on that day, and that a later flight would be preferable. Although the PriceLine representative understood my dilemma, she refused to accommodate me. I informed her that I wished to cancel the reservation because I needed to make other plans since she could not help me. When I insisted on a change because the arranged flight was counterproductive, she hung up the phone. I then immediately called CapitalOne to lodge a complaint and to request a stop payment on the transaction.
I tried unsuccessfully to reason with Priceline, and thus resorted to my credit card company for protection and relief. In the meantime, the time for travel and lodging came and went by with Priceline giving me absolutely no information about the purchase, the reservations, or any concession whatsoever for the $648.82 of which they have robbed me. How is it that they can get away with taking consumers money and giving absolutely nothing in exchange?
The Federal Truth in Lending Law allows a customer to cancel any contract within three business days of a purchase. I informed the PriceLine representative of this during our conversation, but to no avail. I exercised this right immediately after the completion of the online transaction. No merchandise or service was rendered by PriceLine, and no tickets or vouchers of any kind were ever issued by PriceLine. I have heard absolutely nothing regarding this transaction from PriceLine, any airline, or hotel since the day of the transaction until now by email, U. S. Mail, or phone. For all intents and purposes, PriceLine in fact considered the transaction null and void but kept every cent of my money.
Marshall
New Orleans, Louisiana
U.S.A.