Hello, We just cancelled a tour of the Acropolis with Athens Walking Tours, in plenty of time before our tour. I received an email that our refund would be minus a 3 percent “bank commission “. Their published return policy states cancelled tours within the time frame will be refunded in full. Is this a common practice? If so, I think it should not be tolerated unless this is fully stated in their website. Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Posted by
France Southwest
2728 posts
The 3% is fully stated in their "Terms and Conditions" page in paragraph 8.
... 3% commission is kept for credit card refunds if you cancel the tour. If the tour is canceled by us, no commission is kept.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
17020 posts
I'm seeing this on the website under "General Terms of Use of the Website":
https://www.athenswalkingtours.gr/terms.html?_gl=1*ckez4v*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo6-G2orBjAMVAUB_AB1Dbwk8EAAYASAAEgJM5_D_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAAD93rvokT0Lge_0zLkgTpHdMYXfQS
8. Cancellations, changes
The Special Terms and Conditions of AWT provide for the possibility of changing or canceling an agreed product or service. In case of a need for a refund, please note that Athens Walking Tours does all refunds 4 weeks after the cancellation date. 3% commission is kept for credit card refunds if you cancel the tour. If the tour is canceled by us, no commission is kept.
From restaurants to retail, passing along CC surcharges to the customer is becoming increasingly common.
Edit: Sorry for the redundancy, JoLui; I was still typing while you were posting!
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8231 posts
I imagine that their bank charged them 3% for processing your charge payment, and they aren’t getting that 3% back from the bank, so can’t pass it on to the customer as a refund. For the customer, of course, that doesn’t return everything charged, but I don’t suspect that the tour company is actually “keeping” the 3% - it’s the bank that gets the money.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8231 posts
If it helps, we toured the Acropolis using Rick Steves’ guidebook, which was very helpful. We went towards the end of the day, and the security guards eventually chased us (and a few other folks) down the stairs as they closed up the site for the day.
Posted by
OP
77 posts
Face red. Thanks to all who took the time to correct me. Yes, the 3% policy is clearly stated. I have no excuse. Temporary insanity?
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12371 posts
I have no excuse. Temporary insanity?
No.
Call it 'caffeine deprivation"
Posted by
OP
77 posts
That too. Thanks