Even though it says "No Cancellation Fees" on RideCabs website, they are charging me a 40% cancellation which includes 40% of prepaid tips. This was for transfers from port to hotel then hotel to airport in Venice. My trip was cancelled by the company I was to sail with, my hotels have been cancelled, my tours and transfers are cancelled, my air fare is cancelled. Due to the circumstances affecting our lives, everyone has been offering a full refund with one exception.....RideCabs I was to fly into Nice and would have arrived during a mandatory 14 day quarantine.
I would recommend that no one uses them to save them unexpected surprises if it becomes necessary to cancel.
Has anyone else had this problem? Any suggestions? I travel quite a bit and have not had this unpleasant circumstance in the past although I've never cancelled during a pandemic.
Posted by
Davis CA
759 posts
I’m sorry, I’m a bit of a tough one on such topics but I do not read their terms and conditions as you do. Under their FAQ Cancellation Policy they indicate you can cancel for no charge during the free cancellation period. Thereafter there will be charges. They also indicate that the cancellation period is dependent upon the specific service you booked and is stated during the booking process and is also set forth in your confirmation email. At the time you cancelled were you still within your free cancellation period?
On the flip side is “life”. The money involved is peanuts- vacation fun money. It does not alter your life one bit but that company and it’s drivers are fighting for daily bread and a roof over their heads with NO income for months past and months to come. I personally wouldn’t sweat the small stuff. Consider it a donation to fellow humans in a great time of need.
Posted by
3458 posts
If I were you, I would be kind of upset, but try to chalk it up to "life in these unprecedented times".
Posted by
OP
San Francisco Bay Area
5 posts
Well, I can understand your point of view but....there were no terms and conditions on the RideCabs page when I made the arrangements. I wasn't given any sort of notice or information regarding cancellation fees. From my standpoint, because of their "no cancellation fees" on their website, I do not agree with you for a few reasons. One, I am 71 years old and pretty much live paycheck to paycheck (am currently unable to work due to COVID19) and I've been working since I was 13 years old. I cannot afford to "tip" that exorbitant amount for any service especially when it includes a prepaid tip. I save all of my money wherever I can so that I can travel once a year since I was never able to take time off or go anywhere in my younger years. I still think it was dishonest when she told me that I had asked for cancellation fees; I did not ask that. What I asked was how far in advance I needed to cancel and that question was never answered. So I waited to be sure everything else was going to cancel before I cancelled their transfers. 40% cancellation fee on a tip is wrong. That tip was never earned. Anyway, it is what it is and I will never use them or recommend them to anyone. I think they are dishonest
Posted by
OP
San Francisco Bay Area
5 posts
By the way, thank you for responding. I do appreciate that.
Posted by
Portland
3644 posts
Unfortunately, we are all learning new things during this unprecedented time, or are relearning stuff that had gotten shoved to the back of our minds. One, for me, is not to do non-critical reservations too far in advance. Most transfers can be reserved with very little lead time. Full disclosure: I almost booked a shuttle from MXP to Turin, for two of us. It was “fully refundable.” However, the thought crossed my mind, “do I want to have to deal with an Italian company to get my money back?” I waited, and we all know what happened to April travel plans
By the way, a 40% tip is ridiculous, in my opinion. It’s a blatant way of making the price look lower than it really is. What’s more, you don’t even know how much, if any, actually goes to the driver. My guess is not the entire 40%.
Posted by
Davis CA
759 posts
There is NO 40% tip. The OP is upset (understandable) about losing 40% of the prepaid tip as nonrefundable. She wasn’t charged a 40% tip.
Posted by
Portland
3644 posts
I am left speculating as to whether the driver got that 40% of the prepaid tip. H-m-m?
Also, if a tip is a reward for good service, how do you know how much you want to give? I think Europeans had it right, i.e., no tipping, before we American came on the scene.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco Bay Area
5 posts
I always try to tip because I realize that is how some people are paid. My thinking was also that it would be easier having that already taken care of. I'm afraid that you are probably right that the driver will never receive that tip.
On another note, I have been fully refunded by all of the other transfers and tours in Italy that I booked with Italian companies. One of my very favorite #1 go to companies is Papillon for transfers and tours. Their website https://www.papillonservice.com/ I would give them more than 5 stars if that were possible.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco Bay Area
5 posts
Interesting....on their website the cancellation fee has been changed to 30%