Would this be considered as a threat?
Posted in Law & Ethics on 09/26/2009 07:59 am by admin
I recently booked an international flight for my son through an internet discount airfare company. Yesterday, my son realized that he will not receive his passport in time for the departure on Sunday, June 21st and called the company to change his departure date to either June 24th or June 25th. The eticket he received states that airline penalties and a processing fee by the company will be charged in the event of changes.
The company told my son the airline penalties would be $247.00 and the company fee would be $100.00 — but then they placed him on hold and returned to tell him his ticket would cost an additional $5,000.00. My son was terribly upset, hung up and called me. I immediately called the company, was on hold for 45 minutes before speaking with a customer representative. When I tried to change the departure date, I was told the airline penalties would be $350.00 and the processing fee would be $100.00. The customer rep placed me on hold for 5 minutes, then returned and told me there would be an additional charge of $7,000.00.
I read to her the statement on the eticket about changes, we argued about this for a little bit, then I insisted on speaking with her supervisor. Again, went through the same ordeal with the supervisor. It was difficult to understand the supervisor and the customer rep — they are with a call center in India.
I am preparing to call the toll free number now, hopefully talk with someone in the U.S.. This morning, I have investigated this company’s practices and discovered it is fraud.
My question is if I tell customer service that I am prepared to file charges and complaints with all authorities if this cannot be resolved reasonably, will my statement be considered a threat?
HARVEY
09/28/2009 at 8:02 pm
CESAR
Yes, it is a threat. Are you asking if you could get into legal trouble for your threat? The answer is no.
You are simply telling them how you are going to proceed if they do not give you satisfaction. Call it a friendly warning instead of threat.
It’s like telling a store that you won’t buy things there anymore if they don’t correct some situation. You have every legal right to do that, so you have every legal right to tell them before you do.
.
09/28/2009 at 10:46 pm
MAURICE
threat of legal action is not illegal. so, hope it is taken as a serious threat.
but this doesn’t look good. these people are not in the united states. what legal action do you have in mind?
even many of the best online travel brokers are barely a step away from being scammers. one needs to be very careful when spending this sort of money online.
09/29/2009 at 11:53 am
JOHNNIE
why would advising someone of what your legal rights are be considered a threat?
09/30/2009 at 2:35 am
BURTON
In todays world, it might be. Just go ahead do what is needed in a completely legal way according to the US standards.
10/03/2009 at 10:17 am
MACK
m Wow that is totally unreasonable and they need to be ******* financially for all they put you and your son Thu.He goes to Iraq to fight so they may have freedom’ and come home to get abused and told that he needs thousands more to pay extra to fly on their stinking plane.I had to call net zero one day to see about internet service and they were in India and i was having hard time understanding’ and this guy went off on me yelling and i said excuse me but i cannot understand you .please can you talk Slower.I went to another service that’s in my city .I think you can sue these jerks and call the better business bureauu’ and if you have a TV station who handlers fraud for the viewers call asap’ as this is fraud in the worse way.They need to apologize and get your free tickets for your son and yourself..Good luck Tracy and hope all works out for you.
10/04/2009 at 8:07 pm
DONALD
I think so under those circumstances, but that’s just my own thoughts . Especially since they are a fraud to begin with I don’t see why you can’t threaten them with legal action for unreasonable demands. but you are not threatening them with bodily harm or and anything unlawful