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Comment by BlackFly | Hacker News Reader

I'd refuse to pay the charge on check out. If they charged my card anyways I would demand a refund and inform the consumer protection agency, wait 30 days and issue the chargeback. Luckily these things work well in my nation.

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AmEx used to be good about doing chargebacks generally, but they once sided with the merchant during covid when I was sold an impossible itinerary and cost me $2k.

Since then I realized that I won’t always be able to do a chargeback, and I am much more cautious with vendors.

Chase was really weird about doing a chargeback for me when a restaurant charged me a second time under a different name a month after my visit. It took several phone calls and they eventually credited my account but they would not do a chargeback. Two identical charges a month apart. I could show that I wasn't even in the same state for the second one.

Yeah the frequent advice to just do a chargeback as a consumer protection action is out of date. It is quite hard to get a bank or CC company to do one now even if you have solid evidence you're in the right. I don't really know when this changed, I guess over the last 5-8 years.

I think there are exceptions about "exigent circumstances" and COVID was considered one. My EU flight was not refunded as well despite the EU having strong protections. The airlines, at the time, were given a life-line.

I think these once in-a-decade or more events can be swallowed. But wouldn't be happy with a regular occurrence.

Which is crazy to me. I had purchased international airline tickets 9 months prior to COVID.

Covid happened and everything was cancelled. The airline refused to refund, only give credit. The issue is that it was on an airline that was useless to me because this trip was cancelled and we were going to be rescheduling.

Did a chargeback with Apple even though I was past the date, they still gave me my money back. I was shocked

That's just credit (and for that matter most debit) cards working as designed. A card payment is only considered final once goods or services have been delivered on the agreed-upon date. For travel, this can well be months after the actual transaction date, but doesn't change anything about your dispute rights.

Unfortunately some European banks aren't too familiar with these rules, especially when bankruptcy law is involved.

Ive had good experiences with Apple doing chargebacks although my cases were pretty open and shut. Can’t say that about other issuers though including amex surprisingly

Yes they should be swallowed, but by the business/card company, not the consumer. They can decide if they want to get insured for that or not. It's ridiculous to subsidize their business risks.

Was the flight canceled or were you not able to go due to travel restrictions?

If it's the former, then your bank didn't properly handle your chargeback case. There was no Covid exemption for regular "goods/services not provided" chargebacks, which includes canceled flights.

You not being able to take a flight due to travel restrictions (even if imposed after booking) is usually not covered under that, though.

GP said impossible itinerary though, not that it was unexpectedly canceled due to the pandemic.

Impossible for what reason. Sounds like the airline would be happy to adjust if things like minimum connection times changed, but the flights still ran (or maybe a minor timing change)

If the country entry requirements changed, that’s not the airline that’s liable - just like if the country cancelled your visa. Talk to your insurance company.

Well the point is you can’t really refuse it. They won’t rent you the room unless you have a card on file authorized to make charges for incidentals.

the fact they have a card on file is irrelevant

they're not allowed to make up charges wherever they feel like it just because they have your card details

the payment doesn't settle for something like 6 months anyway

But of course you sign a contract upon check-in that says you will pay a fee if you’re caught smoking, and they’re paying a service to make a paper trail to that effect.

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