Need advice for fubar'd France tour

According to their website, france.com "is a United States corporation based in Miami, Florida." I'd suggest you keep calling until you get a human. There certainly shouldn't be any language barrier.

erin, Given the unsatisfactory response from the tour company, I'd consider cancelling the tours completely even if it means paying a penalty. This will give you the opportunity to re-book with a more reputable firm. It's certainly your choice, but I wouldn't tolerate performance like that from a firm that has demonstrated such shoddy customer service. You could easily take the train from Paris to Normandy (ie: Bayeux) and arrange a tour with one of the established firms in that area. I can suggest a few tour operators if you need information. I don't have any information on tours of Mount St. Michel, but I'm sure some of the others here will be able to provide that. Good luck!

First and foremost, keep all further communication with them in email form so you have a written record. Tell them you are cancelling because of their poor service and inability to communicate. Tell them you even suspect they may be fraudulent. Detail in the email the steps you have taken. Tell them you want refunded in full, no fees or service charges, or you will take the matter up with your credit card company. In fact, tell them you are instructing your card company to accept no further charges from them. This should scare them off from any charges. Remember, while it's nice to speak to a real person, email leaves a record.

I'm not an expert, but I have the vague idea that you can tell the cc company your problem and you don't want to pay for any of it - - especially since so little time has elapsed and you haven't received the goods for which you paid. The mecahnics from the cc outfit are relatively simple (based on my experience with unauthorized use of mine). A few keystrokes and the money is out of the vendor's account and back into yours. It then becomes tuff stuff to the vendor.

Thank you guys for all of the great replies. I woke up this morning to find an email saying they've refunded the cost and received a receipt stating such. Obviously, I'll call the CC company to confirm this. @ Karen - Wise idea. I've kept them all together in a special folder just in case. @ Ken - recommendations would be fantastic. thanks! :)

erin, Here are a few listings for D-Day tours. Some used to require tour members to stay in Bayeux the night prior to the tour, as they depart at 08:00 precisely (I assume that's still the case?). While in Bayeux you could see the famous Bayeux Tapestry and there's also a WW-II Museum there. The Gun Batteries at Longues sur Mer are only about a 15-minute drive from town, but you'd need a Car. > D-Day Historian (this firm is operated by Paul & Miriam, who formerly owned BattleBus) > Dale Booth Tours (Dale previously worked for BattleBus and provides outstanding tours) > Ellwood von Seibold (I've never taken these tours, but have heard that they're excellent) > Overlord Tours (I don't have any information on these, but they look good) You'll need to contact each firm to obtain information on the format and cost of their tours, in order to find the one that best fits your needs. Pre-booking is highly advisable as some of the tour prices are based on groups. If there's only one or two, they may be able to place you on the tour with others. Hope this helps. Good luck and happy travels!

The subject acronym stands for ****** up beyond recognition. Used frequently in the military since WW II.

What is this FUBAR? Must be some crazy French word!!!

No, not French. American abbreviation. Michael, you must have never been in the military. :-)) Use google to find out what it means, as it wouldn't be appropriate to print it on the Helpline.

@ Ken - Thank you! @ Michael - You learn something new every day! haha ;)

It can also mean ****** up by Army regulations.

Um, I was joking. Note I capitalized it for the acronym it is.