Disgusted with Delta customer "care"
 

This is a complaint I plan on posting on every site I can find...as well as recommending to anyone I know to NOT fly Delta...

Upon making plans to fly to North Carolina in October, I made my initial reservation for only me through Priceline.com with no problems. A couple days later, we decided to add a ticket for our youngest to travel with me. Upon finding out that I could not purchase her ticket through Priceline, I called Delta, and was told I could purchase it through their website.
I proceeded to attempt to make her reservation. Delta's website would not accept my Visa check card number. I was given a message stating that this card number could not be accepted, and to try another card. I do not have any other cards, so I called Delta. I was advised to try a different browser, as the one I was using may not support their website. I tried that, and got the same result, so I called back. This time, I spoke with Heather, who thought it was odd, so she offered to try entering the information for me. She did that, and also received the same message. She informed that I could use a friend\'s credit card, and she would waive the normal $20 fee for making a reservation by phone...which by the way, I feel is a little ridiculous. I agreed, and called a friend. I called back about 30 minutes later to confirm the reservation for my daughter, and spoke to a different representative who was unable to transfer me to Heather. I went through the process with her once again, and when she gave me my total, it was $20 higher than I was previously quoted. She explained the $20 fee, and I explained that the fee was to be waived due the problems with the website not accepting my Visa number. She refused to waive the fee, so I asked for a supervisor. I was then connected to Junaid. Again...I explain the whole story, and again was refused, and was told by Junaid that if I didn't want to pay the $20, I would have to go back online and make the reservation myself with the friend's cc number. although frustrated, I proceeded to do so. Of course, Heather had kindly offered to hold that reservation for me, so when I tried to book seats next to mine for my daughter, they were taken on the reservation being held. So, I had to call back again, and ask for the seats to be released. When that was done, I continued on to purchasing her ticket. After entering the credit card information, I was directed to a screen to verify the credit card, which asks for t
he last 4 numbers of the SSN of the card holder. Obviously, I'm not going to ask anyone to give me that information, as I don\'t find it acceptable or appropriate. So, I call that friend, and she has to make the reservation for me, which she agrees to do.
Finally...5 hours after starting this process, I had confirmation of a ticket purchased for my daughter.
The following day, I was balancing out my checking account, and discovered that Delta Airlines was holding almost $900 against my checking account...4 separate transactions from each time the attempt was made to purchase a ticket - including the attempts by the Delta representative. Never once was it indicated or suggested that these funds would be held, since their website would not accept my card number.
I immediately called Delta Airlines and got the number for their corporate office. I called that number, and after remaining on hold for over 15 minutes, I explained my situation to them. I was told they would not release any funds until I retrieved all the necessary information from my bank. I called the bank and got that information, and called Delta back yet again. It was explained to me by Delta, that the necessary fax would be sent in 2-3 business days for the funds to be released. I explained that this was not an option, as this was not due to my error, it was an error with their website, and I would have several checks trying to clear my account...for rent and for bills...that would be bouncing before that time. After an hour on the phone, I was told the fax would be sent to my bank.
The bank had not received that fax by the end of that business day. So, on the phone to Delta yet again... and I'm told the fax was not sent, but was put in queue to be sent within a couple days. Again, I stress the importance of clearing this matter up immediately, and I\'m basically told "too bad so sad". Meanwhile, my rent check bounces.
I try several more times to contact customer care at Delta Airlines, and get a recording stating that they are experiencing a high call volume, and are not taking calls.
I've sent more than one email to them explaining my problem, and have stated the only way to satisfy me, as a consumer, at this point, is for me and my daughter to fly for free in October. I have gotten no response.
I will continue to try contacting them. In the meantime, I am telling everyone that I possibly can to never fly Delta Airlines. And I, myself, will certainly not have them on my top list of airlines to use ever again. Their complete lack of customer service is beyond disappointing.
I will continue to spread the word wherever I can to not fly Delta.
And I will also plan on shipping my belongings to where I will be staying as 1) I don't trust Delta to get my luggage to my destination and 2) I've discovered that their charge per bag is $60 each way...outrageous!!!
Also...on another side-note...my bank tells me this is a frequent problem they have Delta Airlines, but have not had this problem with other airlines. That tells me that Delta Airlines has a faulty system that they choose not to change.
Nice way to lose customers...
Damage Resulting = I have to try to explain to my landlord, and anyone else whose checks have bounced from my account, what happened, and how it is not my fault. Neither Delta Airlines nor my bank will agree to composing and official letter from their companies on their company letterhead to prove this was not my doing...

If you had damages, and can prove it, you have a cast iron case for suing Delta in Small Claims Court. You will win, and will be able to recover your costs. However, you would have to be able to prove you had damages. This would be in the form of bank charges for a returned cheque fee or late charges imposed by your landlord for example.

Delta compounded the problem. One of the legal principles established is that if the person who is damaged (the plaintiff) had drawn attention to the defendant the likely consequences of their actions, and the defendant did not take timely action to prevent it, this is an aggravating factor. In this case, Delta was fully aware of the consequences for you and ignored you and failed to take action.

YOU WILL WIN THIS CASE IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT DOCUMENTATION. Delta will ultimately not defend it, but will wait until the last minute to settle the case with you and will attempt to offer you vouchers. You should refuse all offers which involve you having to fly with them again demand cash compensation.

There are previous posts on this website complaining about this problem, specifically with Delta. They are aware there is a problem. For this reason you may wish to consider filing a complaint about their website practices with the State Attorney General's office in your state.

Delta are arrogant and anti customer.. they have disempowered their employees from resolving customer complaints and have adopted a hard and aggressive line in dealing with any customer complaints. Even when they know they are wrong, they will initially reject all complaints and hope that customers will give up. I hope you will persist with this complaint and make Delta pay for their outrageous conduct.

I just wanted to get this out there but it happened in 2007. I see Delta hasn't changed one bit.

We flew to Greece on KLM to Amsterdam and then a smaller plane to Athens. Perfect service!! Great crew, amazing food and each seat had a personal entertainment center. Also, cocktails were free. We were treated so warmly and kindly. All the passengers were. We decided we would always try to fly KLM whenever we travel.

The flight home was horrible as it was on Delta. The flight attendants were horrible, rude, inconsiderate, mean, lazy and well...just plain jerks.

They played one movie and the flight was something like 12 hours long??? The food was terrible, you had to buy cocktails and you always felt like you were in the way of the flight attendants. We actually were treated like dirt. No kidding.

Now, anytime we fly, we choose another airline even if it costs us a bit more. Delta?? You are a waste!

When travelling on an international flight, it is almost never the right choice to fly on an American based airline... and this story illustrates the difference very well.