Last Sunday evening I went to the Direct Flights website and booked a Virgin flight from Fiji at a cost of $283 and paid for it with my credit card. I also gave my passport details as requested. I got a confirmation notice of the booking from Direct Flights - it all looked good. Then I noticed a link to a 'Credit Card Authorisation' form which requested a photo-copy of the credit card and details; the form stated that unless it was faxed to them within 12 hours the booking would be cancelled with a fee charged. I smelt a rat.
Next day, I tried calling Direct Flights numerous times; there was a recorded message saying you were in a queue and after waiting for ages the phone would either go dead or start ringing endlessly or go to another recorded message saying the operator was busy and to leave a message. I have never spoken to them or got a call back.
I sent them emails asking for a response. After 24 hours I got an email message from 'Budhika' saying their website had made a mistake with the price and for me to send them another $29 and my credit card details again otherwise the flight would be cancelled.
I called my bank and they advised that transaction of $283 was pending on my card.
I called Virgin and asked for confirmation of my flight - they had no record of my booking. I have reported the incident to them.
Then I called my bank and cancelled my credit card and they issued a new one - but the Direct Flight transaction of $283 has been charged. The bank is pursuing Direct Flights to return the money and regards it as a fraudulent transaction as no goods have been received.
0 comments