What?

My original complaint is here.


Thursday, April 26, 2007

But now Papillon can't be bothered to reply

From: duncan@example.com
Subject: Re: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 26 April 2007 22:36:43 BDT
To: becky@papillon.com
Cc: john@Papillon.com

Dear Ms Wirth

I have not received a reply to my last email.

If it is, perhaps you would confirm that this is your last word on the matter, as my credit card company would like to see the full correspondence.

Yours sincerely

Duncan McGregor

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Maybe John Becker can help?

From: duncan@example.com
Subject: Fwd: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 19 April 2007 23:59:31 BDT
To: john@Papillon.com

Dear Mr Becker

I understand that you're an influential man around there. Perhaps you could put a stop to this madness?

Yours sincerely

Duncan McGregor

My angry reply

From: duncan@example.com
Subject: Re: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 19 April 2007 23:56:39 BDT
To: becky@papillon.com

Dear Ms Wirth

I would be a lot less angry than I am now if you had even bothered to read my original email. How seriously can you be taking this? To quote my first complaint verbatim:

> After checking-in I asked for receipt - girl printed it and
> disappeared out the back. Receipt said $992. Then spent 10 minutes
> at desk trying to find girl to confirm actual price. She had
> disappeared. Another woman finally took over and said total price
> $634.
>
> I query - say agreed $584 over phone. Am not happy - first you
> welch on a confirmed web booking and now you welch on agreed price.
> Am told Joanne made mistake - didn't include surcharge. I say she
> confirmed included surcharge - show notes - insist you honour
> price. Woman says please go watch safety brief, get me out of
> queue, will talk after. After brief says no dice - total price is
> $634.
>
> Now I've a wife, 2 children and 2 friends ready to board - I can
> hardly back out now. So we go ahead.

In the check-in queue, after weighing my children and my guests, after they had been through the safety brief - only then did I discover that you were not honouring our agreement. What would you do? The less you show any sign of remorse and continue this appalling treatment the more I am forced to the conclusion that this is deliberate bait and switch.

As you may have noticed by the amount of time I have spent over such a paltry sum, not being swindled is a matter of principle with me. So in preparation I have:

1. Received the dispute form from my credit card company

2. Just registered papillonsucks.com

I also plan to:

3. Post these emails to papillonsucks.com, set up a forum for other victims to air their complaints, and offer the community the chance to help me pursue my grievance by voting at reddit and digg.

4. Post these emails with your other bad publicity at http://las-vegas-hotels.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g45963- d553004-Reviews-Papillon_Grand_Canyon_Helicopters-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html

5. Submit the Arizona Attorney General Consumer Complaint Form at http://www.azag.gov/consumer/complaintformintro.html

6. Address my complaint to each of the associations listed on your website at http://www.papillon.com/popris/show_article.aspx?article_id=16

I do not wish to be vindictive, but you are leaving me no reason not to be. Your continued refusal to take this matter seriously is making me more frustrated and angry than I was at the beginning, and believe me I was pissed off then. We are getting to the point where I have nothing to loose, and the only way I can think of salvaging something from the situation is to take out my frustration in practical action.

So, stepping back from the brink, can we be reasonable? You have until Monday evening my time to confirm that you have refunded your overcharging in full. Should you wish to discuss the matter in the meantime I can be contacted on +44 7811 276953, GMT+1.

Yours sincerely

Duncan McGregor

Becky refuses

From: becky@papillon.com
Subject: RE: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 19 April 2007 22:21:59 BDT
To: duncan@example.com

Mr. McGregor,

I have not received a reply back from Joanne, but I have conferred with our Vice President Director of Operations who was the gentleman you referred to in your earlier email. Blanca who is the Assistant Manager offered to cancel your reservation due to the misunderstanding of the amount quoted to you. You at that time chose to pay the additional $60 fuel surcharge and continuing with the flight instead of cancelling and receiving a full refund. Due to this information, we do not feel that any further refund will be due to you.

Sincerely
Becky Wirth

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Trying to keep some momentum

From: duncan@example.com
Subject: Re: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 18 April 2007 04:16:53 BDT
To: becky@papillon.com
Cc: john@Papillon.com

Dear Ms Wirth

Thank you for your reply.

I hardly think your organisation can deny the charge of not responding promptly. My first email was sent on the evening of the 5th, and I think its tone prompted a swift reply. By the evening of the 6th no-one had responded at all, hence my first enquiry as to whether anyone had received my mail. On the 8th I was told someone would get back to me on Monday (the 9th).

It looks like you did respond on the Monday; you just failed to send the email to me. Only after my prompting on the evening of the 11th was your mail dated the 9th finally forwarded to me on the 13th.

Nevertheless I am prepared to accept a plea of cock-up rather than conspiracy, and we are now in correspondence. Given this please tell me when Joanne is due to return, and so when I can expect your reply.

Thank you in anticipation,

Duncan McGregor

Becky stalls

From: becky@papillon.com
Subject: RE: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 18 April 2007 01:02:37 BDT
To: duncan@example.com

Mr. McGregor,

The very first contact I had with you was dated by your email April 6th, I responded upon reading it for the first time on the 9th which is a Monday, the first I would have been back in the office. I have a call in to Joanne to hear from her exactly what she said to you, for on the website it states the fuel surcharge is paid upon checkin. She was currently out of the office and has a note to contact me upon her return. Once I get all of the pertinent facts, I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Becky Wirth

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Why has Becky not helped?

From: duncan@example.com
Subject: Re: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 14 April 2007 13:45:38 BDT
To: becky@Papillon.com
Cc: john@Papillon.com

Dear Ms Wirth

Finally a reply. Still better 7 days and 2 reminders late than never, thank you.

Reading your email, firstly my treatment at your check-in desk, poor as it was, is a bit of a red-herring. I can't remember the girls name, but a man and a woman claiming to be managers were involved in trying to find her. Perhaps they can help you.

As for the rest of your mail, I'm afraid that after all this time you fail to address the salient points of my complaint.

1. That your web site accepted a reservation for an Imperial Air Tour that you then chose not to honour, despite my party filling a helicopter, so that you could have run the tour at only the cost of turning away some people who had not yet booked flights.

2. That Joanne confirmed that the price of $584 included the surcharge. I specifically asked if it did "include the fuel surcharge", and she said "yes". Later I read back my notes, saying $584 all up including surcharge, and she said yes. Attached is my note of our conversation, made in the Best Western as we were talking.

3. That whether or not your company's calculations were correct, to fail to honour the agreement we had, especially after failing to honour my initial booking, is reprehensible.

This email is my affidavit that Joanne twice confirmed that the price of $584 included the surcharge. If Joanne is prepared to sign a statement saying that she did not say that the price included the surcharge then please forward it to me (a PDF or JPEG or TIFF scan will be acceptable). Otherwise I suggest that you have no case, and common decency should lead you to honour our agreement.

So it comes down to a simple question. Are you

a. Denying that Joanne said that the price quoted included the surcharge, and accusing me of lying;
b. Accepting my account and refusing to honour our agreement; or
c. Going to do the honourable thing and refund the money.

Yours sincerely

Duncan McGregor

Friday, April 13, 2007

Finally, a reply from Becky

From: res@papillon.com
Subject: Re: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 13 April 2007 00:38:32 BDT
To: duncan@example.com


----- Original Message ----- From: "Becky Wirth"
To: "'Papillon Reservations'"
Cc: "'John Becker'"
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 1:17 PM
Subject: RE: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055


Dear Mr. McGregor,

I apologize that you had such a time with our reservation department, we were experiencing technical difficulties at that time, no one was actually hanging up on you, our phone system kept shutting off.

I checked with the notes that Joanne put into your reservation, she stated that due to the difficulties you had had she agreed to give you the internet discount on the North Canyon, which came to $584.00. This is the internet rate for the North Canyon, it does not include the fuel surcharge and in the bottom print on the internet it says it will be collected at the counter. Joanne stated that due to the static on the phone, she could not hear you very well and she had posted the $584 for the rate and the $10 per person fuel surcharge for a total of $684.00. She then faxed to our corporate office a refund request of $348.02 (which is a miscalculation on her part and was processed on the 4th) which left a balance paid $643.98.

You stated that after giving you your receipt the girl at the front counter disappeared into the back leaving you waiting for over 10 minutes until another girl assisted you. Could you please give me a description, I assure you that disciplinary steps will be taken as that type of behavior is not tolerated nor allowed in our establishment.

Again I apologize for any inconvenience, but at this time I cannot justify another discount and refund. If you have your confirmation stating the total for $584 including the fuel surcharge, please fax it to me and I will then forward to our corporate office for your refund.

Sincerely,
Becky Wirth
CSR Manager
928-638-9330 ext 233
928-638-9349 fax

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

But still no reply

From: duncan@example.com
Subject: Re: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 11 April 2007 16:38:11 BDT
To: res@papillon.com

On 8 Apr 2007, at 08:52, Papillon Reservations wrote:

> Hello, We did received your email . Someone will be getting back to on Monday.

Nobody did, nor Tuesday. Needless to say I am not getting any happier.

Please give me the name and email address of the person I should be directing this to so we can get it sorted.

Thank you

Duncan

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Ah, someone is alive

From: res@papillon.com
Subject: Re: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 8 April 2007 16:52:41 BDT
To: duncan@example.com

Hello, We did received your email . Someone will be getting back to on Monday.

Thank you

Friday, April 6, 2007

No reply received

From: duncan@example.com
Subject: Fwd: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 6 April 2007 19:04:53 BDT
To: Res@Papillon.com

It would be nice to get some sort of, "we've received your email and are looking into it" response.

Just in case you're wondering, mine is a UK credit card, and a bunch more likely to accept my refusal to pay.

Duncan

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Original complaint email

From: duncan@placeholder.com
Subject: Complaint - Order confirmation #296055
Date: 5 April 2007 18:05:14 BDT
To: Res@Papillon.com

So here's the story. Forgive me if its a little perfunctory, but I'm still angry and frankly don't want to use too much more of my life on this issue.

We travelled up to the South Rim from San Diego via Las Vegas. After seeing the sun set on Monday night I thought it would be cool to take a helicopter flight the next day. Went to your website, looked over the options, chose the Imperial Air Tour, checked availability - it said yes, so I booked for 4 adults and 2 children between 11 and 11:30 - total price $992. A lot of money, but a treat for my family and a thank-you to our friends who had paid for the whole trip so far.

Tuesday morning rang to confirm - got cut off. Rang again, explained I was confirming tour, put on hold, cut off. Rang again, explained, put on hold, and after 5 minutes ended back in the queue and finally talking to another person - Joanne.

Explained I was confirming tour details. 10 minutes later she had found details, but no Imperial Tour available. I said website confirmed availability, but she said no flights available, could do North Canyon tour at 11:55.

I asked for price, was told $584 - she'd give me advance booking rate as messed around. I asked if including surcharge and told yes. I checked with friends, confirmed figures and times with Joanne - read them back from the notes I was making, confirmed total amount including surcharge and said go ahead. Was told refund would be applied to card.

After checking-in I asked for receipt - girl printed it and disappeared out the back. Receipt said $992. Then spent 10 minutes at desk trying to find girl to confirm actual price. She had disappeared. Another woman finally took over and said total price $634.

I query - say agreed $584 over phone. Am not happy - first you welch on a confirmed web booking and now you welch on agreed price. Am told Joanne made mistake - didn't include surcharge. I say she confirmed included surcharge - show notes - insist you honour price. Woman says please go watch safety brief, get me out of queue, will talk after. After brief says no dice - total price is $634.

Now I've a wife, 2 children and 2 friends ready to board - I can hardly back out now. So we go ahead.

Great flight.

But I have still been screwed. I have my contemporaneous record of the price agreed with Joanne, and it says including surcharge. I'm sure this wasn't bait and switch, but the effect has been the same. The flight experience was fantastic, but the rest of my dealings with your company have left a bitter taste.

I have spent 45 minutes on the telephone, 30 minutes at the airport and now 45 minutes at the computer giving you the chance to do the right thing. Please sort it now or I will dispute the charge with my credit card company. Given my records I think I have a good case.

In frustration

Duncan McGregor

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Original reservation confirmation

From: res.las@papillon.com
Subject: Your Order confirmation :Order Confirmation number: 51699
Date: 3 April 2007 07:19:26 BDT
To: duncan@example.com

Dear Duncan McGregor,

Thank you for your recent booking. Our reservationists are working quickly to fulfill your order. We will deliver your E-Ticket and itinerary details to this email address within 48 hours. In the meantime, please check the package and billing details below for any errors. Should you require a change to any part of your reservation please contact our reservations department at your city of departure.

Grand Canyon South Rim, Flagstaff, Sedona, Phoenix/Scottsdale please contact
Local (928) 638-2419 or toll free (800) 528-2418

Las Vegas, Boulder City, Grand Canyon West please contact
Local (702) 736-6322 or toll free (888) 635-7272

Tour/Package Details:
Imperial Air Tour
A photographer's dream come true!
Go further into the heart of the Grand Canyon with this awe-inspiring flight of the Eastern Gorge all the way to Point Imperial! This tour shows you the renowned beauty of the North Canyon Tour combined with spectacular views of the Painted Desert and the mighty Colorado! This tour will surely leave you breathless as the eastern canyon is known for its serene beauty. A photographer's dream come true.

Tour Duration
45 to 50 Minutes (Approximately)
Departure Location
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Full Retail Price
$195.00 per Adult.
Online Discount can be up to 70% off! Use our "Plan Your Trip" to access special discount prices and availability!

A $10 fuel surcharge per passenger is currently in effect.

...

Misc. Info
What Hotel will you be staying at?
Best Western

Tour Info
Departure Date
Departure Time
Number Of Passengers
04/03/2007
---
6




Billing Details:
Payment Type: CREDITCARD
Card Amount: $992.00
Card Type : XXX
Card Name : Duncan McGregor
Card Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Shipping Details:
Address:XXX
Alton
Hants
United Kingdom
XXXX XXX

Once again, thank you for your purchase.

http://www.papillon.com