Travel Agency Charges Woman $1,000 for Flight She Didn't Book

After a Maryland woman got a great deal on a flight through a travel agency, she asked for a quote on another ticket, but she said she was charged for that ticket despite not confirming it.

Susan Schauer of Laurel found the great Cyber Monday deal on airfare to Tobago through Traveler HelpDesk.

“Mine was just under $800,” she said.

She said she asked for a quote on another ticket and was told she had 24 hours to decide if she wanted to book it at the quoted price.

“I never called so I figured that nothing would happen,” Schauer said.

But she was charged almost $1,000 without confirming, she said.

The travel agency recorded her initial call, she said, so she assumed they'd identify their mistake and issue her a refund.

“That’s what I was told, that they’ll listen to the call,” she said. “They’ll listen to the agent conversation and they’ll get back to me within two weeks.”

But they never called back, she said.

“At the same December, I found out that I was pregnant,” Schauer said. “And at the end of that month I found out that I’m over my credit card limit and I’m stuck paying a 22 percent interest rate.”

After more than a year of frustration, she called NBC4 Responds, which contacted Traveler HelpDesk as well as her credit card company, Capital One.

Within days she received a refund of more than $1,200 from Capital One.

"We fixed this issue for Ms. Schauer, and she was very happy with the resolution,” Capital One said in a statement. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention."

Traveler HelpDesk never responded to a request for comment.

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