MetaChat - EthicsFilter

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15 October 2007

EthicsFilter Not sure if I posted this, but in July, I was forced into a decision to either pay for a flight I had already paid for, →[More:]or miss my connection to Hawaii, forfeiting our non-refundable tickets. The feeder airline had our reservations (the itinerary had been changed twice by the airline) but they would not honor that we had paid for the tickets.

After a LOT of trying, many hours in voicemail hell, a lot of emails, I finally found someone who understood the issue and credited the money ($500 and change) back to my account.

So today, I get a letter saying that they are going to give me a refund. I think that I had tried so many times, that two different "cases" had been initiated, but it had been a long time.

So, if I get another $500, I know the right thing to do would be to return it. But I also know that this airline jerked me around and caused a lot of stress.

WWBD, B being Bunnies, being y'all?

post by: danf at: 16:26 | 10 comments

I'd have to give it back, but then that's part of my 12-step programme. I also think that if you get the extra money, bad karma will attach to whatever you spend it on that will ultimately end up costing you more than $500, perhaps not just in monetary terms.

posted by essexjan 15 October | 16:29

I'd bring it to their attention and tell them I already received the money from them.

posted by CitrusFreak12 15 October | 16:32

I would call whoever sent you the letter and tell them that you were eventually able to get credit for the airline's mistake. If I were feeling up to it, I would probably try to pitch the tone of my voice in such a way as to indicate a question, leaving open the possibility that the airline would go ahead and say, "Well, we've already started this process as well, so you may as well take this refund, too."

But I wouldn't expect it.

I would, however, require myself to notify the airline of the prior credit.

posted by occhiblu 15 October | 16:34

Me too.

posted by Miko 15 October | 16:35

...one reason aside from ethics being that they could find out anyway and issue a bill for it later.

posted by Miko 15 October | 16:35

I'd bring it to their attention. If you don't (because you're an anarchist or something), some accountant will notice it and ask for the money back.

posted by muddgirl 15 October | 16:35

Well for ethical as well as practical reasons, you are all right.

I am not on a 12-step program(me) but I try to live as immaculately as possible (don't look at my office) and that indicates that one should get only what is coming to one, even from a huge corporation.

But for me, $500 is significant money, so I had to put myself through this process.

Thanks for all of your answers.

posted by danf 15 October | 16:42

I think you have no choice but to bring it to their attention and then return any money they send you. But then, I'm an attorney and I have been in litigation that involves people who keep money mistakenly given them and believe me, when the accountant figures it out, it will not be worth the $500 or the satisfaction of getting two refunds.

Document the hell out of your interactions with them. Copies, scans, mail receipts, triple back-ups and CC a supervisor at the airline on every single interaction you have with someone about this.

posted by crush-onastick 15 October | 16:44

Give them the money back quickly with a snotty letter telling them that *this* is how you honour a refund. Quickly, without prompting and without trying to screw the other party around.

But yeah - give the money back.

posted by seanyboy 16 October | 02:57

Looks like you already made the decision--so good on ya!

Let's see, 500 dollars--that'd be a cool 20,000 Rupees... I can see why you'd be tempted, but like I said--good call.

I'm sure you'll be rewarded handsomely for this good deed, in some other karmic way--as essexjan put it.

Cheers!

posted by hadjiboy 16 October | 09:48

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