Little Birdie

I wasted no time in squashing their pitiful excuse for a response:

I understand what the Message 1800 says, and I understand what a soft charge is. My Master Card is not a debit card, it is a U.S. card, I have a U.S. address, and I have ample funds available. It seems to me that if CheapTickets can make a soft charge to the credit card to verify funds, etc., and my card has ample funds, there should be no problem charging my card. Therefore, the problem is with your website, and not me.

I am extremely disappointed in CheapTickets “canned” answers to my problem. I simply would have liked customer service to book my flight over the phone for no extra fee because, by their own admission, their website was experiencing problems. Instead, customer service demonstrated that they have no training in how to really solve problems of this nature, and treated me in a manner that put me on the defensive. This email response is further proof that you do not understand my problem and are unwilling to help me.

Meanwhile, I used the same card on Hotwire.com with NO PROBLEMS. Combined with their customer service record as opposed to your unwillingness to understand my problem and resolve it, I will be doing business with them in the future.

You may think I have way too much time on my hands. You’re probably right. But I’m SICK AND TIRED OF OUTSOURCED CUSTOMER SERVICE BULLSHIT.

I will say this for them, they have a fast response time to scathing emails…

Dear CheapTickets Member,

Thank you for contacting CheapTickets®.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.

Please note that the error 1800 means that: “Your credit card number is invalid. Please re-enter the number or try a different card. Please note that some debit cards will not work for online purchases.”

With regards to you query, please note that the $9.98 may be a soft charge, it is a temporary authorization that will automatically drop off your account within seven days, if not sooner. A soft charge is when CheapTickets asks for funds from a credit card / debit card company but
does not actually charge the card. By doing this the funds are taken out of the available credit on the card but not included in the balance that you need to pay to your credit card / debit card company.

Soft charges ‘Fall off’ or are added back to the available credit after 7 - 10 days. For further information, please call your credit card / debit card company.

For your reference, the following credit cards are acceptable on Cheaptickets Web site:
- American Express
- Carte Blanche
- Diners Club
- Discover
- MasterCard
- Visa

The credit card must:
* have a billing address in the United States, Puerto Rico or U.S.
Virgin Islands;
* be issued by a bank or company based in the United States, Puerto
Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands.

For cheap deals on flights, lodging, rental cars, vacation packages, cruises and more, visit www.cheaptickets.com today!

Thanks,

Amreen
The CheapTickets Team

Dear CheapTickets,

Your customer service representatives are unwilling or unable due to poor training and possible language barriers to resolve technical issues that are no fault of mine. I have been trying to purchase tickets on your website for 2 days without success. I receive Message Error 1800, although when I communicate with my bank they are able to verify that CheapTickets can successfully access my credit card and charge the 9.98 test fee with no problems.

When I told your customer service reps this information, they insisted that it was my bank’s fault, and when I assured them I had already talked with my bank, they said their website must be experiencing problems, but they were unwilling to book my reservation over the phone or waive the $25 phone reservation fee EVEN THOUGH I COULD NOT MAKE MY RESERVATION ONLINE DUE TO THEIR WEBSITE.

I will never purchase from CheapTickets again. Not that I had any success the first time. If I find a charge on my credit card after all this mess, I will call my lawyer. I would rather pay him than you.

Warmest EFFING regards,

LittleBirdie

I hate online bullshit, I hate outsourcing, and I HATE HATE HATE automated voice response.

And WTF is Message Error 1800?!?