Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Falsely arrested trying to get PL on the phone, says customer

According to this story, (http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2006/01/22/belligerent_pia.php) a PL customer tried 215 times to reach a human being before being carted away by the NYPD in handcuffs on telephone-harassment charges filed by PL.

A judge did later dismiss the charges, but the damage was done and Segev had already spent 40 hours in a holding cell ("A tough-looking cellmate asked him, 'So, what are you in for?' 'Priceline refund' the musician sheepishly replied. It went downhill from there.").

According to this story, (http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2006/01/22/belligerent_pia.php) a PL customer tried 215 times to reach a human being before being carted away by the NYPD in handcuffs on telephone-harassment charges filed by PL.

A judge did later dismiss the charges, but the damage was done and Segev had already spent 40 hours in a holding cell ("A tough-looking cellmate asked him, 'So, what are you in for?' 'Priceline refund' the musician sheepishly replied. It went downhill from there.").
Why didn't he simply try disputing the charges with his credit card company after the first or second refusal.

Saw this on Inside Edition this evening :o

Not even sure how the system would botch that up so bad? Have to say I had trouble with a Priceline reservation in July and was such a mess to clear up. Finding a telephone number on that website was very hard!

215 calls to dispute?, that does seem a wee tad bit much. Logic would seem to be if they refused two or three times, dispute with CC company and small claims court as last resort.

but jail ? :confused: :(

I have had nothing but outstanding service and value from Priceline.
I don't use it as much since anything points bit the dust
But yes they do everything they can to keep you from calling.

They must have learned some customer service skills from Sheryl! ;)

Persistance. Harassment of a PBX system! That's great. I call the number that is part of my purchase authorization number on my online bank statement. Get a live body everytime.

Harassment? Who did he harass anyway, the answering machine?
Next time I try to bid on Priceline, I better be careful not to put in too many low-ball bids, I may be charged with harassing the bidding server.

They must have learned some customer service skills from Sheryl! ;)

I think Biddingfortravel.com would be aghast at how this person was jailed for so little time.

I think Biddingfortravel.com would be aghast at how this person was jailed for so little time.


:)

telephone-harassment charges filed by PL. [/I]

This sounds so ridiculous. Not suprised at all - Only in the USA can such ridiculous charges be filed against someone by a company :rolleyes: