Questions and Answers

In February I was travelling in India. I made an online airline booking with a Travel Company with an Australian address. I paid for the SPICEJET flight from Jaipur to Jaisalmer with my Australian VISA card. I received confirmation from the Travel Company that my payment had been successfully processed.

On presentation at the Jaipur SPICEJET counter, the counter assistance asked for the credit card I used in the booking. Naturally, I presented my VISA card. I was unbelievably shocked and stressed to be told that SPICEJET records showed that the credit card used in the booking was a MASTERCARD and, unless I could produce the card, then my reservation would be cancelled. Luckily I had sufficient INRI to buy a new ticket.

I furiously wrote an email to the Company, and the reply stated that they used their credit card with a spurious excuse about protecting my privacy. From your knowledge, is the my experience a common practise?

I would consider that pretty unusual. Did they refund your booking?

[QUOTE=”William Small, post: 63486″]In February I was travelling in India. I made an online airline booking with a Travel Company with an Australian address. I paid for the SPICEJET flight from Jaipur to Jaisalmer with my Australian VISA card. I received confirmation from the Travel Company that my payment had been successfully processed.

On presentation at the Jaipur SPICEJET counter, the counter assistance asked for the credit card I used in the booking. Naturally, I presented my VISA card. I was unbelievably shocked and stressed to be told that SPICEJET records showed that the credit card used in the booking was a MASTERCARD and, unless I could produce the card, then my reservation would be cancelled. Luckily I had sufficient INRI to buy a new ticket.

I furiously wrote an email to the Company, and the reply stated that they used their credit card with a spurious excuse about protecting my privacy. From your knowledge, is the my experience a common practise?[/QUOTE]

The Company was refunded by SPICEJET. However, the Company wrote saying they would only give a refund if I did not dispute the original purchase with my credit card provider. I thought this response was somewhat dubious and I then disputed the purchase. My credit card company gave a chargeback yesterday after receiving invoices and the chain of emails with the Travel Company.