WEBJET Penalty for Late Payment

[ALLAN]

I booked an International flight to the US with Webjet and made a reservation fee of AUD$300 thru credit card payment. That was about 1PM 3 July 2010. The invoice I got say that I have to pay it in full within 3 days or my payment will be forfeited. The third day was yesterday, 5 July 2010. At about 2pm (5July - same day, 73hrs later) I received a call from Webjet saying that the offer has expired and that my payment are forfeited. I was told that the offer was only good for 72 hrs. I replied that the invoice I got from you says that I need to pay no later than the 5th of July which is the 3rd day. Obviously, it did not work out with them and I have to pay a penalty of AUD$100 on top of the plane fare to have my reservation reinstated. I feel they made a fast one on me. Nowhere in the invoice is there that say I have to pay within 72 hrs since the day is not over yet. I thought of paying the penalty so as not to lose my flight and probably lodge a complain later or not? Anyway, lessons learned. Does anyone have a similar experience?

 

[JeniSkunk]

I booked an International flight to the US with Webjet and made a reservation fee of AUD$300 thru credit card payment. That was about 1PM 3 July 2010. The invoice I got say that I have to pay it in full within 3 days or my payment will be forfeited. The third day was yesterday, 5 July 2010. At about 2pm (5July - same day, 73hrs later) I received a call from Webjet saying that the offer has expired and that my payment are forfeited. I was told that the offer was only good for 72 hrs. I replied that the invoice I got from you says that I need to pay no later than the 5th of July which is the 3rd day. Obviously, it did not work out with them and I have to pay a penalty of AUD$100 on top of the plane fare to have my reservation reinstated. I feel they made a fast one on me. Nowhere in the invoice is there that say I have to pay within 72 hrs since the day is not over yet. I thought of paying the penalty so as not to lose my flight and probably lodge a complain later or not? Anyway, lessons learned. Does anyone have a similar experience?

Basing things on the first date/time you gave, 3 July 1pm, July 5 2pm is only 49 hours after you made that reservation fee.
For Webjet to claim that you had missed the offer, despite the elapsed time not actually having reached the expiry time (72 hours after 3 July 1pm is 6 July 1pm) and now have to pay more, sounds like a fradulent claim to me.
Were I you, I'd be talking to my bank and also seeking legal advice ASAP.

Jenifur Charne

 

[straitman]

I booked an International flight to the US with Webjet and made a reservation fee of AUD$300 thru credit card payment. That was about 1PM 3 July 2010. The invoice I got say that I have to pay it in full within 3 days or my payment will be forfeited. The third day was yesterday, 5 July 2010. At about 2pm (5July - same day, 73hrs later) I received a call from Webjet saying that the offer has expired and that my payment are forfeited. I was told that the offer was only good for 72 hrs. I replied that the invoice I got from you says that I need to pay no later than the 5th of July which is the 3rd day. Obviously, it did not work out with them and I have to pay a penalty of AUD$100 on top of the plane fare to have my reservation reinstated. I feel they made a fast one on me. Nowhere in the invoice is there that say I have to pay within 72 hrs since the day is not over yet. I thought of paying the penalty so as not to lose my flight and probably lodge a complain later or not? Anyway, lessons learned. Does anyone have a similar experience?

ALLAN,

Welcome to AFF.

If the dates and numbers that you have posted are correct then it is as per the post from JeniSkunk and you are well within the time limit. I would chase them up again and if no joy then follow up through the bank.

The best lesson here though, is do not book through Webjet.

 

[JohnK]

It sounds like an attempt by Webjet to exhort extra money.

The best lesson here though, is do not book through Webjet.

Not necessarily. I have used a number of online travel agents successfully in the past but I have always paid by credit card at the time of the booking.

Do not give them the opportunity to inflate the airfare/their costs.

 

[trooper]

Yes.. but if it was actually three days.. (after all the OP DID describe 5 July as "the third day"..) then I would suggest nothing is "wrong"..

3 days is 72 hours. Not 72 hours plus whatever-to-midnight...:shock:

 

[medhead]

Yes.. but if it was actually three days.. (after all the OP DID describe 5 July as "the third day"..) then I would suggest nothing is "wrong"..

3 days is 72 hours. Not 72 hours plus whatever-to-midnight...:shock:

but one would say 5 july was the third day if counting 3 july as the first day. whereas 49 hours is < 72 hours.

 

[MelUser]

There was an issue with Webjet here last month which was resolved to passenger's satisfaction.

Hopefully the Webjet rep will read this Thread and can reply to you to sort this out.

I think Webjet want to protect their name on here so you can expect a reasonable outcome.

Do tell us how Webjet resolve this.

 

[Andyzx]

As a suggestion try to make a dummy booking all the way up to paying for it and check that the terms and conditions and other web wording did not say anything different. You might even try to take screen shots and save them for later. To me 72 hours is approx 1pm 6th. It seems odd that they rang you an hour after "2 days" and charge you. I would go back and get a written invoice / statement for the charge.

I had a quick look at the Webjet site T&C's but didnt see anything on delayed payment,

NB
Dont try and stop payment via CC, refer t's & C's "If payment is not received from the card issuer or its agents for any reason, you agree to pay us all amounts due on demand.":arrow:

 

[straitman]

It sounds like an attempt by Webjet to exhort extra money.

The best lesson here though, is do not book through Webjet.

Not necessarily. I have used a number of online travel agents successfully in the past but I have always paid by credit card at the time of the booking.

Do not give them the opportunity to inflate the airfare/their costs.

IMHO Webjet have fees that cannot be justified when compared to other options let alone the extra money grabbing situations such as the one shown here.