In 2002 I donated two Delta certificates to a charity auction that was being held by a 13 year old girl with brittle bone disease. All the monies went directly to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (non-DL charity). I had called Delta and was told that the donation was not in violation of their rules.

On April 1, 2003, I received a call from Greg Thomas of the SkyMiles Program Control Revenue Protection Unit, who claimed to have evidence that I had "sold" the tickets (or that the tickets had been bought). I explained to him that I had donated the tickets and received no financial compensation whatsoever for them. His reply was that it made no difference how kind my act was, it was still against their rules, and that I would receive notification of their penalty.

I received his letter today, indicating that my account was assessed a penalty of 50,000 miles for this donation. He also included a copy of the Membership Guide & Program Rules 2001, which he claims is the current version.

I read the booklet, and nowhere could I find any mention where selling, trading or assigning award certificates is in violation of their rules. Their rule book even states that "It's all here, everything you need to know to attain the must-have advantages of the SkyMiles program."

Just two months ago, a class action lawsuit was filed by Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP against Delta Air Lines (www.insideflyer.com/articles/printable/o2.php?key=59). Fact 43 states "Although there is no rule in Delta's Membership Guide and Program Rules that prohibits the sale, exchange or barter of Delta SkyMiles, Delta has repeatedly advised participants in the program that the sale, exchange or barter of SkyMiles is against program rules."

I've already contacted the plaintiff's attorney asking to join the suit!

Has anyone else received similar threats and penalties?