Maxjet Gone Bust

inmypocketnottheirs

There is no law governing this. Visa is the operator of the scheme and they offer the indemnity to their card holders. As a bank employee you should be trained in these matters.

jonesMUFCforever

I am, my bank do not offer this as a right.
VISA cannot overide any law in any country.
CCA covers credit cards only and I repeat any refunds made because a payment was made by a debit card is at the bank's discretion.

PandaPants_2

stoneman, any word from MJ?? We check out Sunday morning and STILL havent heard from them! We have phoned 4 times now and keep being told someone will phone us. Considering Virgin economy tickets are 1500 that day im getting very very worried!!

inmypocketnottheirs

ejones999 wrote: »

I am, my bank do not offer this as a right.
VISA cannot overide any law in any country.
CCA covers credit cards only and I repeat any refunds made because a payment was made by a debit card is at the bank's discretion.

You are missing the point - again.

It is not your bank that offer this right.

It is Visa. Your bank only issues the card. Visa operate it. Surely as a highly knowledgeable member of the banking profession you already know this and do not need a mere customer to point this out?:rolleyes:

Why seek to mislead people? Visa cards whether debit or credit are afforded the same protection, by Visa. Not the issuing bank.

Sam_Bee

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

Visa cards whether debit or credit are afforded the same protection, by Visa. Not the issuing bank.

This is correct from the information I have repeatedly been told. I learnt this when negotiating for a merchant account. Account Providers have to ensure potential losses for chargebacks for Visa Debit Cards are negated by protecting themselves to the same extent as Credit Cards. It was news to me as well at the time as it has not been publicised. This is the crux of the matter - it's relatively unknown protection, even within banks themselves.

Banks agree to it as part of the agreements for issuing Visa Cards from Visa themselves. AFAIK this protection does not carry to Switch & other debit cards.

nottmgal

Just heard about this thread from the Trip Advisor forum.

We were also stranded in Vegas when Maxjet went bust. Our flight home was scheduled for the 26th Dec. I called constantly for 2 days (24th and 25th) but could not get through to Customer Services, only Reservations (what a laugh!).

Reservations promised me that I would receive a call to arrange our travel home BUT THIS NEVER CAME. They also told me that Customer Services were not taking incoming calls.

Luckily on the morning of the 24th I called American Airlines and put flights on hold to Stansted via JFK, then on the afternoon of the 25th I gave up on Maxjet and booked the American flights. Beware though that they would not take payment from a UK credit card over the phone. I had to go to the airport to pay in person. These flights cost $1258 each plus $300 each to upgrade to 1st/business with my AAdvantage miles.

If you are still stuck in Vegas/LA/New York I would advise you do the same and call American as at least they will get you back to Stansted.

I also called EOS & Virgin while I was in Vegas but they told me I had to wait for a call from Maxjet.

Continental were taking Maxjet passengers on a standby basis for a nominal fee of $50 per sector (in coach, no upgrades) and if you can get yourself to New York, Silverjet were also offering to fly Maxjet customers home to Luton (check their website, there was a link on the home page).

Anyway, we are home safely now after a really crap Christmas thanks to Maxjet.

Good luck to those of you who are still stuck.

dmg24

Visa do offer chargebacks on their debit cards. I know this because I have used the facility. As others have said, it is nothing to do with the law (and nothing in the law says that they cannot offer this facility!).

Hi nottmgal,

Welcome to MSE, and what a nightmare!

Were you covered on your travel insurance for the cost of getting home? I hope so ... x

fitorbust

I have been trying to get our money back from M&S money since the 24th December as the news about Maxjet was posted on the BBC news website, and am being passed from pillar to post!!!
I have just pointed out that they are legally obliged to refund my money, and he agreed that was so, however after being told to ring back yesterday, I was told 'the relevant department is closed today'..........
I wanted to know about the interest situation on the amount, and was told that if the money was reversed I would be repaid all the interest paid on that amount.
Incidentally this was a 0% card, but as GE money have messed up a 0% balance transfer to this card they are now paying the interest on my M&S card until they sort that out - complicated - moi???
I do find this very frustrating as we were supposed to travel on the 10th January, but don't want to pay for more flights until we are sure we are getting our maxjet money back. I think we will have to postpone til Easter now.
I have now made 4 phone calls to M&Smoney, and whilst the people in the overseas call centres are very polite I don't feel they can actually do anything....aghhhhh.
I have come across a freephone number that gets you through if this helps anyone for M&S cards - 0800363459.
Good luck.

stoneman

Panda, I would go down to the airport today during normal checkin times, as they will surley have to have someone there for the people they have not been able to contact. I think regards nottmgal's comments you better ge pro active on this. Let me know how you get on

nottmgal

Hi DMG24, thanks for the welcome.

No, most travel insurance does not cover you for the failure/bankruptcy of any transportation provider. I have Amex Premier Plus at over £250pa and am not covered.

I am claiming half the fare back from my cc provider. They are jointly liable under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. There is a good letter template at http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/after_you_buy/making-complaint/template-letters/faulty-goods-credit which I adapted.

To anyone who's getting the run around from their cc provider - threaten to sue them under the above act, it should do the trick! I have had to claim before when a furniture company went into receivership.