CheapTickets.com CheapTickets Double billed after website error, dragging their feet on refunding, no refund on service charge Internet

Just a warning to those who might be using (or consider using) CheapTickets.com to buy airline tickets - don't do it! I won't use CheapTickets again.

Problem #1 - After trying to buy tickets online, an error msg appeared on their webpage stating that the search results were no longer available (Message 1010). OK - no problem, I understand, so I searched again and purchased my tickets. Then I get 2 email confirmations - the first transaction really did go through! I now have 2 tickets for the same flight.

Problem #2 - They make it vary awkward to cancel and you don't really know if you can. After receiving an email from their Customer Service dept, I went ahead and canceled, but then they say that 1) they will still charge you the $5.99 service charge (even though this error was their fault) and 2) "it may still take a couple of billing cycles to refund this on your credit card, so just wait for us to issue a credit." Riiiight!!! No, I disputed the payment with my card card issuer.

The credit card company requires a lot of documentation and you must pay the postage and you should probably send it certified or at least delivery confirmation. The bottom line - CheapTickets may have originally saved me $2 or $3 on my flight, but now I'm spending hours fighting this false billing and spending more than $5 on postage and photocopying. CheapTickets - NEVER AGAIN!

ConsumerRightsGuy
Incognito, Texas
U.S.A.