On May 27. I noticed that three (3) seperate charges for tickets on ATA had been charged to my Bank of America (BOA) account. The total ammount was 750.00.
I immedietly called BOA and informed them that I had no idea who did this and these charges were not mine. The bank informed me that they would do an investigation and issued a temporary credit for the ammount.
I then called ATA to find out how this happened and a supervisor informed me that the tickets were purchased online for travel on or about the 4th of July from Ft. Myers to Indiana. No other information could be given to me since the tickets were not in my name. I informed them that this was a case of fraud and that these tickets being purchased with stolen credit card information for travel on a major holiday with huge public gatherings sounded a little suspicious.
Amazingly ata said that they were not concerned, that these tickets were purchased correctly and i should report this to my bank.
I told the supervisor that I had already done that and since the tickets were for travel in July and it was May 27. She has a whole month to insure that these individuals do not get on that plane. Once again she informed that ATA is not concerned with origins of the purchase of the tickets and my bank will investigate the matter.
The more I thought about the possibility that these people are TERRORISTS and ATA AIRLINES SEEMED TO HAVE NO CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THIER PASSENGERS the more it bothered me. A major airline, a major public holiday, I decided the next day to call the police in Weston, Fl. May 28th., and bring this matter to law enforcments attention.
On or about July 1st. I recieved a letter from BOA stating that thier investigation has concluded the transaction activity in question was authorized and posted correctly to my account. This is all i have recieved on this matter.
lets start with boa. I am not sure if the classaction lawsuit by venders against charge-backs for fraudulent credit card use has made them stupid or whether Inspector Gadget in doing thier investigations but I am not sure how they arrived at this decision. I have a advantage account and thus keep a balance of 5,000 so the 750.00 did not cause any checks or any overdrafts or things of that nature, but I am sure that this would have been a devastating move by this incompetent bank to someone who had a more modest ammount in thier account.
The real criminal actions in this matter have to with ATA. I am not sure if the tickets were used or what happened, BUT IN THIER GREED TO SELL 750.00 WORTH OF TRAVEL TICKETS THEY SEEMED WILLING TO RISK THE LIVES OF AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE. NOT ONLY THE FLYIONG PUBLIC BUT THIER EMPLOYEES ON THE PLANE AND POSSIBLY YOU AND ME HERE ON THE GROUND.
The people that bought the tickets did not have the corrct billing address and when I called they asked me what the billing address was to prove I was indeed the card holder, I gave it to them, they said it did not match, AND THEN THEY CORRECTED IT SO WHEN BOA DID THIER 'INVESTIGATION' IT LOOKED LIKE ALL THE INFORMATION WAS CORRECT AND THIS WAS A LEGITIMATE TRANSACTION.
My point is this, if you have a bank visa debit/credit card, consider turning it in for a straight debit card that requires a PIN, and using a credit card for other purcheses. At least the money will not come straight out of your account and you are assured that a credit card company will do a real 'investigation' since it is thier money that is being stolen. I use AMEX.
If you travel, stay away from ATA. They seem to have no regard for your safety and one can only wonder if thier apathetic attitude has extended to thier maintenance people. They do not have the history or reputation of other more established airlines and seem to have no interest in gaining either. It may cost a little more, but I know my family's or my safety for that matter is worth it.
PS. Dont worry about that 750.00, rest assured I will get that money back from those geniuses at Bank of America. I am just trying to figure out the most expensive way for them to have to give it back.
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