Disney’s daylight robbery charges

Disney’s daylight robbery charges

Back in February, I made a telephonebooking with Disneyland Paris for two adults and one child to travel first class on April 21 for one night, at a total cost of £960.

The confirmation from Disneyland Paris, dated February 20, did not indicate which class had been booked, but as I was certain I had booked first class, I didn’t query it.

When the tickets were received – too late for any changes – they had been issued as second class. Unfortunately, the error was not picked up until the day before departure.

When I contacted Disneyland Paris to have the tickets upgraded, the first person I spoke to informed me there would be a surcharge of £60 and that Ineeded to make the request by fax. We gave a credit card number for the supplement and did as we were told.

Three hours later, having not heard from Disneyland Paris, I rang again only to be told that nothing had been done and, in any case, to make this change there would be an amendment fee of 75% of the cost of the trip – a staggering £720. Needless to say, Iargued that this could not possibly be right.

I eventually spoke to someone (I assumed he was a supervisor although I could not obtain his surname) and this extortionate amendment fee was confirmed.

I booked the clients direct first class with Eurostar at a cost of £530. That means Disneyland would have made a further profit of £190 out of an amendment fee.

Having faxed Disneyland Paris on the same day to express my dismay, Ihave not, as yet, received a reply.

Is it any wonder the Office of Fair Trading intends to investigate these daylight robbery cancellation charges? And that the industry is so mistrusted by the general public?

Needless to say, our supply of Disneyland Paris brochures is now in the rubbish bin.

G Sazlo, Brompton Travel, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey