RIAA Says Merely Making Files Available Is Illegal

Be Careful When Asking Priceline For A Refund

from the don't-ask-for-rain-checks-either dept

Wed, Jan 25th 2006 9:40am — Carlo Longino

Priceline.com had a concert pianist thrown in jail after he called the company asking for a refund of a $953 plane ticket he says he never purchased. Okay, the guy called them 215 times, but Priceline getting police to slap him with 215 charges of harrassment -- one for each call -- seems a little over the top, as does the guy having to spend 40 hours in a holding cell before a judge dismissed the charges. The real kicker, however, is that Priceline's general counsel says all of the guy's calls forced them to install an automated customer-service system. Uh, yeah. Guess that's what they spent the $953 on, so they can't return it.

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72 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 25 Jan 2006 @ 10:13am

No Subject Given
So I assume he will be tacking wrongful prosecution onto his fraud suit?
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Joe Snuffy, 25 Jan 2006 @ 10:56am

Get em'
If I was this guy, I would take everything I could from Priceline.com Companys think they are above everyyone (consumers) else and they need to be knocked down a notch.
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neptune612, 25 Jan 2006 @ 11:05am

No Subject Given
I have never used Priceline again after I was charged for a mistake a made... it's just easier to not use that POC website. I have never seen Priceline have the best prices EVER.
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Mars, 25 Jan 2006 @ 11:16am

Re: No Subject Given
Where do you reccommend that people shop for cheap tickets then? Honest Answer please.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Jan 2006 @ 11:26am

Re: No Subject Given
I've always found the cheapest ticket by using the websites of the airlines. And I've researched tons.
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Campeon, 25 Jan 2006 @ 11:30am

Two sides to every story...
This guy was an idiot and an ass for calling over 200 times... no one seems to be mentioning that. There are more effective means of resolving fraudulent credit card charges. I'm sure Priceline probably informed him of that and he just kept harassing them. That's probably why the moron spent 40 hours in the tank. Use some common sense. BTW, I travel every week and use priceline to book $60 luxury 4-star hotel rooms in a major US city. Can't beat that anywhere...
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lala, 25 Jan 2006 @ 11:32am

Re: No Subject Given
www.orbitz.com www.travelocity.com www.expedia.com are a few I use.
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frankc, 25 Jan 2006 @ 11:35am

Some Questions....
You must purchase with a credit card on Priceline. If there is legit fraud involved, why bother calling Priceline so many times? Call the credit company, report fraud, file a police report. Its over.
As for Priceline, say what you want about the model, I have gotten stays at the Hyatt in SF for $50 a night. Someone pls show me where you can you get that someplace else. If you don't like the model, shop someplace else. If you have fraudulent activity on your credit card, call your bank. His 4 hours in the holding cell was just desserts for being such a fool. Stupidity is often expensive - whether you are dealing with corporate titans, or just your wife!
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jimjimbobim, 25 Jan 2006 @ 11:38am

Re: Two sides to every story...
This guy sounds like a shill for priceline.

Imagine the amount of frustration that Priceline must have created in this person to get him to call over 200 times...
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Don Gray, 25 Jan 2006 @ 12:21pm

Clarification...
Just so no one else is confused (or maybe I'm the only one)...

The guy wasn't trying to get over on Priceline by getting a refund for a ticket he claims to have purchased but actually did not (which is what I thought it meant)

He's trying to get a refund for a ticket that showed up on his bill that he did not buy.

The wording just seems ambivalent...
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okaay, 25 Jan 2006 @ 12:25pm

Re: Two sides to every story...
Thank you for clearing that up, Mr. Priceline Rep!!! :D
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Tyshaun, 25 Jan 2006 @ 12:30pm

Re: Two sides to every story...
Campeon, how much priceline paying you?

The problem isn't that he called 200 times, the problem is that he had to call more than once. If their customer service provided any "service" it could have resolved a situation like this easily, over the phone, even if its as simple as saying "we'll be contacting your credit card company to get this resolve", then follow through!

I understand this dudes frustration. Customer service for most of these online sites is a joke a lot of times (I spent 30 minutes on the phone last week waiting for a Dell rep only to be told the system was down and to call back tomorrow!). They want you to resolve eveything over the web and therefore, I suspect, don't spend a lot of money or time training their support staff to deal with customers well. I love computers but sometimes there's nothing better than talking to a real person!

Anyway, priceline may have cheap rates but keep treating customers like criminals (especially ones that are alleging the fraudulently charges his credit card) and I don't think folks will keep going there, if for nothing else in fear they may be thrown in jail for a mistake made by the company with their personal information.

Campeon, I hope their not paying you too much because you're not that good a shill.
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Wealthy Coward, 25 Jan 2006 @ 1:58pm

No Subject Given
I hate these discount sites. I'm willing and able to pay top-dollar for a premium hotel experience and then I see some obvious Priceline customer in the lobby in shower shoes, acid-washed cutoffs, and a NASCAR wifebeater. It makes me physically ill. If I wanted to be around those types, I'd stay at the HoJo's by the bus station.
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Lord Earl Higginbotham III, 25 Jan 2006 @ 2:25pm

Re: No Subject Given
agreed. poor people should just die. they should not be allowed around wealthy people like myself. they are products of inferior genetics. dont fuck with the master race.
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Anonymous Coward, 25 Jan 2006 @ 3:00pm

Re: No Subject Given
www.allcheapfares.com
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Campeon, 25 Jan 2006 @ 3:34pm

No Subject Given
You guys are paranoid. Priceline isn't paying me. It's just obvious to anyone with a girlfriend that any loser that has the time to call a customer service line 200 times when he could get his money refunded with ONE call to his credit card company has too much time on his hands and DESERVES to spend 40 hours in jail. And just to prove I'm not a shill, I'm willing to go on record as saying that "Tyshaun" is a gay-ass name. Now, could a shill (whatever the hell that is) do that?
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kevin, 26 Jan 2006 @ 8:26am

Re: No Subject Given
AAA has pretty good prices.
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Rick, 26 Jan 2006 @ 10:59am

Re: Two sides to every story...
Never worked at a call center have you? More likely this person bought the ticket and decided to not take the trip, then he decided that he wanted his money back DESPITE AGREEING TO NO REFUNDS by buying the ticket online. So he commits fraud by saying he never purchased the ticket, which is why he never reported it to the police or his credit card company. Customer service is not always saying "oh you agreed to a pre-paid non refundable, but what the hell, we'll give you the money back".

"The problem isn't that he called 200 times, the problem is that he had to call more than once. If their customer service provided any "service" it could have resolved a situation like this easily, over the phone, even if its as simple as saying "we'll be contacting your credit card company to get this resolve", then follow through!"
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Trav, 27 Jan 2006 @ 12:32pm

Re: No Subject Given
Okay, I see all of these comments and its the standard case of children yelling about something they can't understand.

I work for a large company that uses priceline alot, not on a corporate basis, but alot of us within the company do. I can't tell you how many times one of my collegues has said they were "Wronged" by priceline.

Anyone who was wronged by priceline is ither and idiot or an ignoramus.

Have any of you ever been to the website? Booked a reservation with them?

They say on ALL of the contracts, that they make you put your Initals in that you read and understood, that the reservations are non-changeable, non-cancelable, and non-refundable.

So one Piano freak from Hell's Kitchen who thinks hes high and mighty decides that contracts don't apply to him, hes too good to follow the rules, and goes off on a tiff about how he wants his money back.

I use priceline alot, and I have saved untold sums of money with it. I'm no priceline advocate however, the website does take some knowlege to use, and a decent bit of internet savy.

But it does indeed tell you everything that will happen before it happens.

The problem is we live in this soft world of "Oh you made a mistake? Oh nevermind well just give you a slap on the hand and let you go."

I'm glad theres a company out there that holds to its rules. If I make a mistake with priceline, I pay for it, no doubt.

But one reservation I booked was done incorrectly, and priceline was at fault. They credited me for the reservations AND accomodated me that evening in the city I was stuck in for free!

In short, if you screw up with this company, you pay, but their willing to do the same.

Ronnie should have paid more attention to what he was putting his initals on, and read what he agreed to, and we wouldn't have this problem.

Personally I hope hes still just as unread and foolish, because i've got a contract here for a bridge in brooklyn i'd like to sell him...

-Trav
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Trav, 27 Jan 2006 @ 12:32pm

No Subject Given
Okay, I see all of these comments and its the standard case of children yelling about something they can't understand.

I work for a large company that uses priceline alot, not on a corporate basis, but alot of us within the company do. I can't tell you how many times one of my collegues has said they were "Wronged" by priceline.

Anyone who was wronged by priceline is ither and idiot or an ignoramus.

Have any of you ever been to the website? Booked a reservation with them?

They say on ALL of the contracts, that they make you put your Initals in that you read and understood, that the reservations are non-changeable, non-cancelable, and non-refundable.

So one Piano freak from Hell's Kitchen who thinks hes high and mighty decides that contracts don't apply to him, hes too good to follow the rules, and goes off on a tiff about how he wants his money back.

I use priceline alot, and I have saved untold sums of money with it. I'm no priceline advocate however, the website does take some knowlege to use, and a decent bit of internet savy.

But it does indeed tell you everything that will happen before it happens.

The problem is we live in this soft world of "Oh you made a mistake? Oh nevermind well just give you a slap on the hand and let you go."

I'm glad theres a company out there that holds to its rules. If I make a mistake with priceline, I pay for it, no doubt.

But one reservation I booked was done incorrectly, and priceline was at fault. They credited me for the reservations AND accomodated me that evening in the city I was stuck in for free!

In short, if you screw up with this company, you pay, but their willing to do the same.

Ronnie should have paid more attention to what he was putting his initals on, and read what he agreed to, and we wouldn't have this problem.

Personally I hope hes still just as unread and foolish, because i've got a contract here for a bridge in brooklyn i'd like to sell him...

-Trav
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brakken, 28 Jan 2006 @ 5:22am

It's your right
When a normal person (not a company) is in debt why can't they press charges against the bill collectors that call every single day? Why can't you press charges againt the courts wanting money you owe them when they call all the time? Why can't you press charges against getting interroupted during the holidays when people constantly call trying to sell you something? I don't see how 1 call or 200 would stand up! I personally have been ripped off by ehostpros.com and been told I would be refunded for services not used on Oct 19th, 2005. If I keep calling them asking for my money could I be put in jail for harrassment? Sounds to me like priceline is the criminal entity here. They let someone get over on the poor guy. I would of called 5,000 times!
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HighDecibel, 28 Jan 2006 @ 5:49am

Re: No Subject Given
"Anyone who was wronged by priceline is ither and idiot or an ignoramus."

Not bad for someone who posted his comment twice...

"They say on ALL of the contracts, that they make you put your Initals in that you read and understood, that the reservations are non-changeable, non-cancelable, and non-refundable."

Thats all well and good for someone who bought a ticket...but for someone who claims they never booked a ticket thats interesting to say the least.

Its again like the RIAA sueing a customer on the grounds they "illegally" downloaded music. Then later find out that actually they never even owned a computer.
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Susan Jacobs, 28 Jan 2006 @ 6:09am

Re: No Subject Given
Check out this this on how to get "bumped" airline tickets to travel for free.
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CraZoo, 28 Jan 2006 @ 6:12am

Bad publicity
Stupid of them to do that, especially if he didn't make the purchase.
Talk about negative publicity.

I'm wondering if they'll drop the suit and just settle with him, giving him the money back and a bit more maybe.

Is this legally possible? Just say I don't pay my bills and I start charging the bill collectors for harrasement each time they call me =D
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CraZoo, 28 Jan 2006 @ 6:17am

Re: Some Questions....
I'll agree with you there.

If he had simply called the credit card company they would have launched an investigation and gave him his money back.

I'm just wondering what Priceline told him each time...if anyone at Priceline even told him to try doing that?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jan 2006 @ 6:19am

Re: Two sides to every story...
I agree with you... good for Priceline for pressing charges on the dude. I would've, too.
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Prot0col, 28 Jan 2006 @ 6:24am

Re: No Subject Given
http://farechase.yahoo.com
in beta but it checks the airlines sites and you book with them no third party. Oh, you don't have to sign into Yahoo! to use the service and it is FREE!
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moracity, 28 Jan 2006 @ 6:43am

Re: It's your right
You CAN press charges against bill collectors. You can press charges against anyone who calls you after you have told them to not call. It doesn't matter if you are business or a private citizen. The same laws apply to both.
As others mentioned, all he had to do was call his credit card company and dispute the charges as fraudulent. They would chargeback pending their own investigation.
This man had no legitimate to reason to call priceline more than once or twice. He got exactly what he deserved.
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ki6amd, 28 Jan 2006 @ 6:48am

Re: Two sides to every story...
this guy is an idiot for calling more than once. Don't credit card companies cover for things like this? If not he made a $900+ "mistake".

As far as Priceline to say this one person was a reason they needed an automated phone system is exaggeration at best, purgury at worst. Kinda like the RIAA saying you owe $10,000 for a single song download.

Corprate idiots, gotta love it!
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Anon, 28 Jan 2006 @ 7:01am

Re: Two sides to every story...
WE GOT A PLANT
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nottapricelinerep, 28 Jan 2006 @ 7:16am

Re: It's your right
I can understand his frustration. ALOT of big companies think they're above the law and don't care about an individual customer. I don't think I would have called them 200 + times but not everyone is as credit card savvy as you.
Oh yeah, that's not exactly how the whole credit card fraud thing works in the REAL WORLD. For example, I had $600 + charged to my account over a 2 month period, by AOL for services I did not ask for or authorize (I did have a basic subscription at the time). I called them each time it appeared and they initially refused to do anything so I canceled my subscription. I called my credit card company and they said, "since you had an account with AOL, we cannot help you". My credit card company refused to help me file credit card fraud charges or block any new AOL charges. I was forced to cancel my credit card. I called back AOL and explained what my situation was and mentioned I would file fraud charges, spoke with ALOT of people over a long period of time, until finally they removed the charges. In the mantime, AOL had collections people calling me about the phantom $600.00 + , it negatively affected my credit, forced me to cancel one of my credit cards, and took up alot of my valuable time.
My point is, you make it sound easy but in the REAL WORLD, it's not always as simple as you make it sound. I know alot of people that have problems like this from big companies.
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Thuggie, 28 Jan 2006 @ 9:13am

Re: No Subject Given
Who said Campeon is a gay assed name. They are wrong. Google it and you will see it is a formal name for camel dung in the middle eastern countries.
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John Brown, 28 Jan 2006 @ 9:48am

Monday's should be "call priceline" days
Everyone should give priceline a call on monday. Just one phone call, you wouldn't want to get a harassment charge. Spend about 10 minutes asking for help on using the website.
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Brady Hauth, 28 Jan 2006 @ 9:57am

Re: No Subject Given
"Anyone who was wronged by priceline is ither and idiot or an ignoramus." - Trav

"I'm willing and able to pay top-dollar for a premium hotel experience and then I see some obvious Priceline customer in the lobby in shower shoes, acid-washed cutoffs, and a NASCAR wifebeater." - Wealthy Coward

"[Campeon] is a formal name for camel dung in the middle eastern countries." - Thuggie

I betcha these are all SOCKPUPPET SHILLS.

>to call a customer service line 200 times when he could get his money refunded with ONE call to his credit card company has too much time on his hands

Yes.

>DESERVES to spend 40 hours in jail

No.

If the guy is in the right, I wish him luck with his fraud suit.
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Brady Hauth, 28 Jan 2006 @ 10:05am

Re: No Subject Given
I spend enough time in Spain for me to know that's Spanish.

And oh, Mr. "Queerkiller," just a heads up, all of my gay friends have concealed carry's.
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IvyMike, 28 Jan 2006 @ 10:11am

215 calls shouldn't result in 215 charges
If he called 215 times, he should AT MOST get charged with 214 counts of harassment. The first call doesn't seem like it should count.
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herman, 28 Jan 2006 @ 10:26am

Re: Two sides to every story...
Youre an idiot. A corporation cant be harrassed. they F'ed for a grand, and he had every right to call them repeatedly until they figured it out.
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Matt, 28 Jan 2006 @ 10:36am

Re: It's your right
Maybe if you stopped wasting your time championing rediculous causes and did some work you'd be able to pay your bills and the courts and collection agencies would stop calling you.
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Matt, 28 Jan 2006 @ 10:41am

Re: It's your right
"You CAN press charges against bill collectors. You can press charges against anyone who calls you after you have told them to not call."

That's not true, unless you make a valid arraingment or provide an alternate number that you can be reached at agencies and businesses can keep calling you if you owe them money.
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Michael Giraldo, 28 Jan 2006 @ 10:52am

Re: It's your right
Check http://www.kayak.com
The site can help you with your travel needs. I now use it for my travels

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Joe, 28 Jan 2006 @ 10:56am

Re: Two sides to every story...
Oh wow a 60 $ dollar luxury hotel, OH please I Know you did not go to any Taj Mahal, or the Trump Palace!! Sometimes you have to go to the source!! You go to a Bank, they do their research and then what? Yea they might give you a charge back on your card, but hey Priceline Charged this dude almost a 1000.00 Some people get killed for that kind of money in the U.S.!! OH and I highly doubt you get it for 60.00 especially a 4 star hotel!! Get a life
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None of your Damn Business, 28 Jan 2006 @ 11:24am

Re: Priceline Employee
I used to work for Priceline when they outsourced all their telephone tech support to Calltech in Columbus, Ohio.
1. Priceline physically is allowed to yell and scream at the customers. We would swear at customers who swore at us. It was a unstated policy.
2. The second policy was NEVER, under any circumstances give any money back no matter what. In fact during my time of 2 years there I was never even taught how to give a refund, even the manager above me only knew how to switch to another package.
3. We used to get people calling all the time, I want my money back, "I didn't make this charge!" and for the most part I believed them. We'd even have people call from the bank (back before credit card fraud was HUGE) and we'd tell them there was nothing we could do, and that we "knew" they made the charges and would use every means possible to pursue them if they didn't pay.
4. We were told to threaten customers with lawsuits and that we we would put marks on their credit report if they somehow cancelled with their bank.
5. Priceline never refunds no matter what. Family member die? Sorry no refund. Sure you could get a good deal, but their are plenty of places to get good deals. EVEN EMPLOYEES wouldn't use priceline, after working their you knew to much.
6. Everyone hated working for Priceline, it feels like a giant scam, and at the end of the day you usually end leaving your job upset, and angry at yourself for all the people you hurt.
I say to anyone who continues to use Priceline to get cheep deals, stop. One day it will come back to bite you in the ass and you will be sorry. There are plenty of other sites with better deals and better customer service. Even though you haven't been screwed by priceline yet, in the words of AT&T "You will."
Obviously this guy was very angry, and didn't want to just charge it off with his credit card company, it HAS ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING to do with him being "sneaky" and just wanting to cancel his trip. The judge investigated and dropped all charges, BECAUSE the persons credit card was FRAUDULENTLY USED. Why don't you read the case for yourself?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Jan 2006 @ 11:25am

No Subject Given
FU Digg spammer
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Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2006 @ 10:09am

Re: No Subject Given
What world do you live in???

I just experiece priceline CS dept which was useless
-They can't on saying sorry can help you at all.
-And yes you have CS dept.
-Yes we have manager, but they so talk with customers..

I guess this is my fault having about 4 windows open to work
and my finger were faster then I thought and come to relaize that I did want this area which f-- 1hr away where I need to be.
And now have rebid again blindly and get charge $25.
NOw I got figure out how still save money on what I thought was going to a cheap trip..

I agree with 80% of unhappy ex priceline customers- NEVER USED THEM AGAIN for any travel arrangements.
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D. DeSha, 30 Mar 2006 @ 2:28pm

Re: Two sides to every story...
Be Careful using priceline for hotel rooms!!!!!!!!! I got my 21 year old daughter and her friend a nice room in Hilton Head Island, SC for three nights during spring break. They drove 5 hours to get there at 8:00PM to find out they had no room. The clerk at the desk talked to a rep from priceline and he spoke with my daughter telling her the reservations were never made and he was sorry for her inconvenience! She asked him if they would help her get a room and he said he couldn't but, he would return the money to my account. (Which they did) The clerk then took the phone back and told him they better get their act together because this was the third customer this happened to that day. All this with a suspected rapist running around the area. I was fit to be tied with worry, thank God for hotwire.com. We got them a great suite at a resort for less money and they loved it. I've used Priceline many times and never dreamed I would get stranded somewhere. Now I will never use them again because I will expect to be stranded with nothing but an "I'm sorry for your inconvenience" from them. This is unexcusable and terrible business ethics! You don't sell rooms that you can't book! I feel bad about that guy that called so many times, maybe he didn't know he could go the the Better Business Bureau, his bank and or credit card company, or the Attorney Generals Office. I'm not wasting my time calling them, I'm reporting them to the Better Business Bureau. BEWARE OF PRICELINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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D. DeSha, 30 Mar 2006 @ 2:38pm

Re: Re: No Subject Given
I'm glad you got a room when they stranded you! They simply told my daughter "I'm sorry for the inconvenience it has caused you because we did not reserve your room." How's that for service? They did, however, return my money promptly, guess I should just be thankful for that, huh? Well, the hotel clerk told the priceline rep to get his act together because my child was the third person that day that they did this to. Hows that for service? Yes, I've used priceline many, many times and have been very happy with them, until now. However, this is unforgiveable! They stranded these girls almost 300 miles from home, how about their safety?
Just be careful, check with the hotels before leaving home and again when on your way, God forbid you end up in this situation.
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Kolleen, 1 Apr 2006 @ 10:30pm

I will never use priceline again. I never received confirmation about trip so I booked a car with ez rental. I will tell everyon I know about this. They cut me off twice when I called customer service. i will call my credit card on monday. if I get my money back I am stil NEVER using them. They are unethical and they will be out of business soon. And I hope the CS people have to go on unemplyment for being so rude.
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beth, 25 Apr 2006 @ 4:56pm

Re: who do you think you are?
I know people who dress that way that are millionaires. Maybe you should stay by Hojos so you could see that all people are real people and maybe you would not act so snooty. It makes me physically ill to listen to people who think they are better than other people.
The point is that these discount sites take advantage of people and if a situation arises they absolutely do not give refunds under any circumstances. We recently have learned the hard way.
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Beth, 25 Apr 2006 @ 5:09pm

Re: Re: where to get cheap rates
I have actually researched several cheap airline ticket places for the flight that best fits what I need with the price and then find out what airline its on....then go to that airline web address or call them directly. If you call sometimes they can search for the best deal for you. You also do not have to worry about if something came up and you had to change it. Priceline takes your money and if you accidently miss it or something came up and you have to change it....THEY DO NOT REFUND....PERIOD. In fact, My husband missed the flight so he rented a car to go to where he was supposed to go. And then they would not let him use the ticket on the return trip, nor would they refund him, nor would they allow him credit for a future ticket. DO NOT USE PRICELINE!!!!!
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Beth, 25 Apr 2006 @ 5:56pm

Re: Re: where to get cheap rates
I have actually researched several cheap airline ticket places for the flight that best fits what I need with the price and then find out what airline its on....then go to that airline web address or call them directly. If you call sometimes they can search for the best deal for you. You also do not have to worry about if something came up and you had to change it. Priceline takes your money and if you accidently miss it or something came up and you have to change it....THEY DO NOT REFUND....PERIOD. In fact, My husband missed the flight so he rented a car to go to where he was supposed to go. And then they would not let him use the ticket on the return trip, nor would they refund him, nor would they allow him credit for a future ticket. DO NOT USE PRICELINE!!!!!
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Jul 2006 @ 7:30pm

PRICELINE
PRICELINE, NOT FAIR ON REFUNDS AT ALL.
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Greg, 4 Jul 2006 @ 10:23am

Priceline
This story is going to be on Inside Edition on July 4, 2006

I don’t care what the Priceline guy said. In the US the Credit Card company must charge back if it is fraudulent. Especially, if you don’t have a priceline account.

You need to write the credit card company not call them to dispute the item. That what I would of done. His card was obviously compromised. Credit card companies do not call the company. They write them. Saying they made charge is not an excuse.

Another thing you could claim in the U.S. is the zero liability protection for either MasterCard and Visa.
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Angela, 19 Nov 2006 @ 4:13pm

Priceline Customer Service
i have tried for more than an hour to reach a "real person" to assist in a booking error. (I booked one ticket instead of two for a flight to Vegas.....guess my hubby goes w/o me if I don't get this fixed!) Anyway it is clearly my error, yet I cannot get a real person to HELP. When I dial the number given on the trip info, Im asked to give the Itinerary number, my phone, blah, blah, then when they ask "Do you have further questions?"...I press "1" for yes, and get circled back around to the original question.....Please provide the itinerary and phone nubmers......YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chiz, 21 Jan 2007 @ 7:04pm

Re: Re: No Subject Given
I don't see how these customers "accidentally" placed a Name your own price order. You have to sign a contract and initial it before you commit to buying, and it clearly states Non refundable, non transferrable, etc.
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lawdog, 26 Apr 2007 @ 1:39pm

Priceline Class Action Lawsuit?
Priceline is a scam. No ifs ands or butts. BTW, I put an extra "b"in there on purpose. They won't refund even if they screw up. Stay away from United Airlines and their terrible customer "support" as well. Just because someone speaks "English", it doesn't make them understandable. If I need an interpreter, IT ISN'T ENGLISH! We, my new wife and I, got married in Vegas. We are EMT's and provided medical services to people on the plane and instead of a thank you, got stranded at O'Hare and United sent our refund to Priceline, in their name. This was months ago and when I call they make no bones about the fact that they do not care. They lost our luggage on the way there and the way back. We were lied to and misled. I guess that I assumed that the "no refund policy" was to protect Priceline if I screwed up. It is obviously there to boost their bottom line. Don't use either of them unless you have lots of extra cash lying around and enjoy being disappointed. We never signed any contract with either. Call an honest airline and book direct.
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kram, 15 Jun 2007 @ 10:31pm

I'm not an ignoramous
I booked a hotel on priceline.....I read the contract....know the rules.....but what the hell are ya supposed to do when there is a gang partying outside your room....once you get into your room...the a/c does'nt work....toilet overflows.....bed has stains of who knows what on it?? roaches all over the place....the room smelled like hell......I would not stay in that room for free.....It should have been rented out by the hour....I was on hold with priceline for 2 hrs before talking to a representative..who said I have to call back in the morning and ask for customer relations.....it is 1AM and I am scared shitless.....I checked out....the motel said they did not charge my credit card.....stayed in a cheaper...nicer motel down the road....but yes...you are right....priceline refuses to give any refunds.....I do not have the patience to call 200 times...but I will exhaust my resources to get my refund....there has to be a procedure in situations like I had.....Am I the only one who has experienced this?
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Lenny, 25 Jun 2007 @ 8:54am

Priceline SUCKS!
They've done it again!

Priceline has not changed and never will!!!

I have named my own price on a hotel in a specific location at Myrtle Beach, SC (you can make a selection when you place a bid), and they accepted. Once I looked at the location of the hotel that they gave me it was no where near the location that I selected. After fighting with them for an hour over the phone and not being able to talk to a supervisor, because they are there only for administrative purposes, I was told to write an e-mail, which I did. They do not guarantee the location yet there is a selection for it. Well once again another unsatisfied customer. Buyers be ware!!!
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Crystal, 9 Oct 2007 @ 11:53am

Priceline will do anything to make a profit!!!
and yet again, another unhappy priceline customer. I am aware of the No refund policy, but I expect that when I name my own price that the amount I paid actually be given to the hotel and not for Priceline to pocket the spare change.

I paid $167 for a hotel stay, but was suprised, when I checked out, to see that the hotel was only paid $140.

Priceline refused to even address the issue and no, there are no managers willing to talk to you as the Customer Resolution Rep is apparently the highest paid staff memeber in that center!!!

DON'T USE PRICELINE!!!!
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Esther Fox, 18 Oct 2007 @ 11:41am

Priceline Refunds
I did not directly log onto priceline, I was directed there by another rental car web site I entered in the information of how much and what I wanted. Because information was entered wrong I was advised that Priceline would not be able to make changes, instead they offered me a refund. I have yet to receive this refund. It has been two and a half months ago with countless phone calls and emails asking where my refund is.
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s. crewed, 31 Jan 2008 @ 12:14am

Re: Re: Priceline Employee
I wish to god i'd seen this before i just got F-ed by priceline, 2 days ago.

I love that I'm going to China and back before I'm headed for my final destination.

F-priceline.
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Darr, 30 Jul 2008 @ 3:20pm

Re: Re: No Subject Given
Trav, I really respect your guts in this blog. I mean, reading your message, I was so impressed. Next time my company fucks over a customer, will you please vouch for me? I could really use a slimy greaseball like yourself to stand up to those whiny little humans demanding compensation for mistakes they made. I mean, everyone knows those "electronic signatures" on websites are even more concrete than signing your name on a contract or piece of paper. but overall Trav, I like your attitude. When you make a mistake, you get hit hard for it, but man, thank God for priceline and this country for giving me the freedom and opportunity to at least be able to get raped.
BTW, did you sell that bridge yet? Arrogant prick.
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MM, 30 Sep 2008 @ 3:55pm

PRICELINE SUCKS !!!!
OH MY GOD, DO I WISH I'D SEEN THIS SITE BEFORE I USED PRICELINE !!! My problem almost seems tiny in comparison to the stuff I've read here ! Of course, my departure date is a week away, so...basically, I'm terrified now!!! My immediate problem is this: I booked air/hotel/car through Priceline, and I used a debit card, because I don't have a credit card. BIG MISTAKE ! As it turns out, despite the fact that Priceline.com states that the rental car agency will put a "hold" on an additional $200 of your account in case of damages (despite the fact that I have more than enough insurance to cover it), the car agency website says it will be at least $300-$500 ! If I had known that, I would have planned for it. MORE IMPORTANTLY AND EXTREMELY DISTRESSING: another thing Priceline "forgets" to mention is that using a debit card also means the car agency will pull your credit report when you arrive to pick up your car, and if it isn't a high enough score, they will simply refuse to give you a car ! They do, however, keep the money you paid for the car you aren't getting !!! THIS IS NOT MENTIONED ANYWHERE ON PRICELINE.COM THAT I CAN FIND ! A simple pop-up or quicklink would have been nice. They don't tell you which car company it is til you book it, and it's too late, so I suppose your only option is to read the fine print at each car agency's website, but come on !!! Now I just have to sit here for a week, wondering if I'm going to have a rental car or not when I arrive at my destination. Naturally, when I called Priceline Customer Service (and I use the term loosely), they could do nothing for me except transfer me and keep me on hold for an hour until I gave up. I don't even want to think about what's going to go wrong with my hotel and air reservations. And before the rich jackass comments...yes, I know I screwed up my own credit rating, and while that does give them the right to refuse service to me at AVIS, it DOES NOT give Priceline the right to "bait and switch" me out of $200. What kind of scam artists are these people??? Yeah, I know...the rich kind. William Shatner should be humiliated to be associated with these thieves...isn't there a pro-Hitler youth group or a chapter of N.A.M.B.L.A. he could be fronting for that would be less degrading to him?
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Anonymous Coward, 30 Jan 2010 @ 8:01pm

ha ha
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John Hodges, 26 Feb 2014 @ 8:42am

Priceline forked me..
I got a hotel reservation in the town I wanted.. When I looked at the confirmation.. The town was 4 states away from the state I had thought I had requested.. Trivago search sent me to priceline ... The state of the town of the same name was not listed .. Or was inconspicuous.. I called immediately and informed them it was an error and a glitch.. I called the hotel manager.. Neither would work with me at all.. Probably 10 calls ... I will never ever ever use them again.... The hotel was not out any booking and priceline said there was nothing they would do...
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John Hodges, 26 Feb 2014 @ 8:46am

Re: PRICELINE SUCKS !!!!
Man!! I really feel for you.. Best thing to do is get the word out to avoid them.. Their policies and prices are the worst ever!!!!
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david, 15 Jul 2014 @ 9:16am

Re: Re: No Subject Given
the airlines are not cheaper, consolidators are who ahve the contracts to be sold to niche sites. and online sites are not allowed to sell these to the public anymore. so best way to find a cheap flight is to call an consolidator. My family operates for 25 years and are are a consolidator for air and sell online as a OTA. i wont say the site to not seem bias but airlines are not the cheapest
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david, 15 Jul 2014 @ 9:18am

Re: Re: No Subject Given
The big name sites are not cheaper for airfare this is pure marketing they are feeding you. they do not even have air contracts, they sell it at retail and then resell a consolidator contract. i know becuase im one of the consolidators selling to big name otas
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david, 15 Jul 2014 @ 9:21am

Re: Re: No Subject Given
The thing is clients lie, and the story of i didnt buy it we have heard many times. See tickets are for the person whos name is on the ticket. whats happens is folks buy a ticket then they cant fly or need to change it for some reason and try to say they never bought.
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david, 15 Jul 2014 @ 9:24am

Re: It's your right
I dont agree, the story of i didnt buy it is used ALL the TIME. tickets are in the name of the traveler. no one else can use the ticket. why would someone buy a ticket for someone else?
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david, 15 Jul 2014 @ 9:29am

Re: Bad publicity
lets cover some details from a agents point of view,

1) priceline doesnt have the $$, the airlines do. priceline makes maybe $12-20 per the sale

2)When folks say they didnt buy it. but the IP address matches the city

3) the name match the ticket, which can ONLY be used by the person whos name is on it.

I have been in air travel biz 25 years, we have heard all the stories and fakes.this just sounds like another fake story trying to get a refund. despite the rules airlines have stated of no refund
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Christine, 30 Oct 2015 @ 9:42pm

Horrible company
They stated the hotel room has Flexible Cancellation and when I booked it, it said the condition is full refund only when I cancel the hotel room 1 day EARLIER than the time I started booking. I thought that it was their website mistake because even if I cancel the hotel 2 seconds after I book it, I still have to pay for the whole day. But then when I could not make the trip and cancel the hotel, they did not refund me. They told me that the hotel charged me, but when I called the hotel, hotel personnel said that they never charged me because I cancel the booking less than 24 hours after I booked. I will never use them again. Be aware!
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Anonymous MIA, 10 May 2017 @ 9:33pm

WORST SERVICE EVER
I called to find out why they were charging me twice for my bags, the representative told me the reason why. When I thanked him for his assistance he offered to book my flight on his end so that I didnt loose the price. HE BOOKED THE WRONG FLIGHT!!! I called to explain what happened to three "supervisors" (they all call themselves that...) They tell you none of the representatives can book over the phon... HOW DID HE? Now they wont refund me the money! THIEVES THIEVES!
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