Did online seller try to scam me?

supa34

So I was on google flights looking for summer holiday and a online retailer came the cheapest. Did a quick check on trustpilot and it had 5 stars. So went ahead and booked it. 

When I made the payment I realised there was apostrophe ‘ next to one name. Maybe my typo error. So I called them straightaway and they demanded I pay £100 for changing ticket. By that point I didn’t even have ticket in email. So I called the airline and they said I need to speak to site I purchased from. So I called again and they insisted I have to pay £100 to change name and there is no 24 hour cooling off period. So I did email them and on 5 minutes my old ticket came with the ‘ and then 5 minutes later another email came with the ‘ removed. 

I don’t know if the ‘ was accidental or if they do it so they can get an extra £100 from customers as when I checked online a lot of people get calls saying “you forgot you’re middle name on ticket and you might not be able to board”. 

Has anyone else has issues? 

On google flights they have 4.5/5 so I don’t know if it’s genuine my mistake or their doing but in the end id was sorted. 

I know on these groups you get a lot of people complaining but my experience is when things go well no one puts up a review, if it goes bad they put up 10 reviews. So you have to take it with a pinch of salt. 

eskbanker

supa34 said:

So I was on google flights looking for summer holiday and a online retailer came the cheapest. Did a quick check on trustpilot and it had 5 stars. So went ahead and booked it. 

[...]

Has anyone else has issues? 

On google flights they have 4.5/5 so I don’t know if it’s genuine my mistake or their doing but in the end id was sorted. 

You'd probably get more meaningful input if you named the seller!

bagand96

It will be in the T&Cs that you agreed to that the agent can charge admin fees to make changes to the booking.  It's unlikely the airline even charged the agent anything, but that's how these agents make money - they make very little from actually selling the flight, sometimes nothing at all or even a small loss.

Too late now but I expect you'd probably have been ok with just an errant apostrophe.  Also too late but if you'd booked directly with the airline I doubt you'd have been charged anything for the change, and you may well have had a 24 hour cancellation period anyway.

How the apostrophe got there, probably was a typo on your part.  If it was a widespread scam we'd probably have heard about it, although I suppose there'll always be a first!

supa34

eskbanker said:

supa34 said:

So I was on google flights looking for summer holiday and a online retailer came the cheapest. Did a quick check on trustpilot and it had 5 stars. So went ahead and booked it. 

[...]

Has anyone else has issues? 

On google flights they have 4.5/5 so I don’t know if it’s genuine my mistake or their doing but in the end id was sorted. 

You'd probably get more meaningful input if you named the seller!

I did mention one but then edited it put as I read one person mention the seller cancelled their tickets lol. So I didn’t want that happen. Let me fly back and then tell you lol 

supa34

bagand96 said:

It will be in the T&Cs that you agreed to that the agent can charge admin fees to make changes to the booking.  It's unlikely the airline even charged the agent anything, but that's how these agents make money - they make very little from actually selling the flight, sometimes nothing at all or even a small loss.

Too late now but I expect you'd probably have been ok with just an errant apostrophe.  Also too late but if you'd booked directly with the airline I doubt you'd have been charged anything for the change, and you may well have had a 24 hour cancellation period anyway.

How the apostrophe got there, probably was a typo on your part.  If it was a widespread scam we'd probably have heard about it, although I suppose there'll always be a first!

I did call the airline but then I didn’t want to get to airport and find out I can’t fly. It’s happened to me on past and not a pleasant  experience.  

It’s something that surprised me as it’s a good way of selling a ticket cheaper and then finding faults and making money on top. On this country some sites and business practise is still like the Wild West.  

bagand96

supa34 said:

On this country some sites and business practise is still like the Wild West.  

They may not even be based in the UK.  Although admin fees are not illegal and part of dealing with bargain basement agents.

sheramber

supa34 said:

bagand96 said:

It will be in the T&Cs that you agreed to that the agent can charge admin fees to make changes to the booking.  It's unlikely the airline even charged the agent anything, but that's how these agents make money - they make very little from actually selling the flight, sometimes nothing at all or even a small loss.

Too late now but I expect you'd probably have been ok with just an errant apostrophe.  Also too late but if you'd booked directly with the airline I doubt you'd have been charged anything for the change, and you may well have had a 24 hour cancellation period anyway.

How the apostrophe got there, probably was a typo on your part.  If it was a widespread scam we'd probably have heard about it, although I suppose there'll always be a first!

I did call the airline but then I didn’t want to get to airport and find out I can’t fly. It’s happened to me on past and not a pleasant  experience.  

It’s something that surprised me as it’s a good way of selling a ticket cheaper and then finding faults and making money on top. On this country some sites and business practise is still like the Wild West.  

As you didn’t book direct with the airline they passed you back to the company you did book with.

Booking direct with the airline might have resulted in a free change.