travel2015
Junior Member
Hi Everyone,
Would really appreciate if you guys can suggest to sort my situation out or advice about lawyers who can assist.
I am based in Houston and booked a pilgrimage trip with a travel agency for which he( the travel agent/owner) charged me $ 2500 for visa, air fare and hotel accommodations. He emailed me the business bank account number and I went into a branch and deposited into his account and he emailed me a receipt. Later I payed an additional $500 as I wanted a room close to the holy site so this $500 went towards a premium/close by hotel and I deposited the money same way and he emailed me the invoice. Our conversations happened on phone and he used to email me suggested itineraries and I picked up one itinerary which suited me and hence trip was booked.
This itinerary was in form of trip case document and pdf without an actual ticket number. I was not advised in any documented way about the cancellation policy.
Later my plans changed and I emailed him to cancel the ticket- and he advised me on phone that after cancellation of airfare, hotel and visa charges he would refund the remaining amount and I said okay. After multiple inquiries on phone he said that he is waiting for refund from hotel and airline and would update me once he gets an deducted amount information from airline and hotel.
Its been 5 months now (I payed in November 2015) and there has been no refund and after numerous emails, call, text messages, whatsapp messages the agent has stopped replying. One day I sent 15 emails so he can reply and got one reply that we are looking into billing and please wait and of course there is no email or update after that.
Interesting point to note is that I called airline through another agent based on the PNR number/booking reference number he sent in PDF document but airline said they don't see a ticket issued in the system - so either he didn't book a ticket OR did not send me the ticket with a ticket number.
I am now travelling for work and have tried sending him a demand letter but that has also returned so I really don't know where and how to begin to have him refund my money.
$2800 is a lot of money for me as new immigrant in US and am at a lost what to do- lawyer or small court? just ticket refund or any other punitive charges too- I am sure a lot of learned experts will read this and I would appreciate your guidance in this matter.
thanksalot,
Ali
Would really appreciate if you guys can suggest to sort my situation out or advice about lawyers who can assist.
I am based in Houston and booked a pilgrimage trip with a travel agency for which he( the travel agent/owner) charged me $ 2500 for visa, air fare and hotel accommodations. He emailed me the business bank account number and I went into a branch and deposited into his account and he emailed me a receipt. Later I payed an additional $500 as I wanted a room close to the holy site so this $500 went towards a premium/close by hotel and I deposited the money same way and he emailed me the invoice. Our conversations happened on phone and he used to email me suggested itineraries and I picked up one itinerary which suited me and hence trip was booked.
This itinerary was in form of trip case document and pdf without an actual ticket number. I was not advised in any documented way about the cancellation policy.
Later my plans changed and I emailed him to cancel the ticket- and he advised me on phone that after cancellation of airfare, hotel and visa charges he would refund the remaining amount and I said okay. After multiple inquiries on phone he said that he is waiting for refund from hotel and airline and would update me once he gets an deducted amount information from airline and hotel.
Its been 5 months now (I payed in November 2015) and there has been no refund and after numerous emails, call, text messages, whatsapp messages the agent has stopped replying. One day I sent 15 emails so he can reply and got one reply that we are looking into billing and please wait and of course there is no email or update after that.
Interesting point to note is that I called airline through another agent based on the PNR number/booking reference number he sent in PDF document but airline said they don't see a ticket issued in the system - so either he didn't book a ticket OR did not send me the ticket with a ticket number.
I am now travelling for work and have tried sending him a demand letter but that has also returned so I really don't know where and how to begin to have him refund my money.
$2800 is a lot of money for me as new immigrant in US and am at a lost what to do- lawyer or small court? just ticket refund or any other punitive charges too- I am sure a lot of learned experts will read this and I would appreciate your guidance in this matter.
thanksalot,
Ali
