A Maddening EXperience

We had A Maddening EXperience with a credit card company yesterday.

I tried to make a booking for a cruise a week ago but was informed by the lifestyle department that it was only valid for another card type and all the slots were full. I disappointingly accepted it.

This week, DC received a newsletter from the card company that stated clearly in the terms and conditions that our card is eligible for the booking. I thought I could try my luck and so, I tried to call the hotline again. This time, another staff answered my call and surprisingly I had a different response - The slot I wanted was available and she did not tell me that the card I'm holding does not qualify for the booking. She helped me make a tentative booking and requested that I confirmed my booking with her the next day (which was yesterday).

I called back to confirm the booking but to be doubly sure, I checked with her on the card that I had to make payment with. I don't want any unwanted surprise during paying. Then, she told me it has to be that card. I brought up the newsletter that DC received but she insisted the card that was stated was not the one we were holding.(Also called Platinum card but this platinum was not that platinum?!!) DC took over the call and was so unhappy that he demanded to talk to the manager.

While waiting for the manager to call us back, we checked the newsletter and the website again. There were a number of discrepancies in both e.g. the prices were different, one with food inclusive and the other without, the size of the boat was different and the number allowable was different, etc. Even the versions given by the staffs were different! This caused us a lot of confusion! Although I would say that the customer service is good but this experience wasn't really pleasant. We ended up almost wanting to terminate the card! Almost! DC was very nice to me and he knew how much I wanted to take the cruise. So, he decided to go to the extent of upgrading his card (despite the unhappiness) so that we can go ahead with our plan. Thanks hubby, love ya! :)

P.S. To whom I've invited to be on board, you must be there wor cos we spent lots of time and effort (almost vomited blood) trying to make this to happen! :P


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