Unbelievable aa reply to account closure for fraudulent credit card use
#16
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
If that's the case, damages are really easy. It's not really lost revenue for the tickets stuck in limbo; it's the purchase price of the tickets.
#17
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: United Premier Platinum
Posts: 638
My guess would be AA does not expect to recover any money from OP nor do they sincerely believe their direct damages in lost revenue approach the numbers quoted. Instead, this looks to me like they noticed a persistent pattern of dodgy and obnoxious behavior from OP and essentially washed their hands of them as a customer. The dollar amount quoted is probably just the lump sum of all unpaid tickets that were purchased, and the settlement amount is essentially what OP would have to pay to return to neutral ground as a customer in AA’s eyes.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,663
My guess would be AA does not expect to recover any money from OP nor do they sincerely believe their direct damages in lost revenue approach the numbers quoted. Instead, this looks to me like they noticed a persistent pattern of dodgy and obnoxious behavior from OP and essentially washed their hands of them as a customer. The dollar amount quoted is probably just the lump sum of all unpaid tickets that were purchased, and the settlement amount is essentially what OP would have to pay to return to neutral ground as a customer in AA’s eyes.
It sounds like a learning experience for both sides and for the bystanders... He can probably still use online OTAs to book AA and credit to BA though, right?
Last edited by nk15; Apr 1, 2019 at 11:45 pm
#20
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,573
If I am reading this correctly, over the course of 3 years, you have been deliberately booking flights as a member whilst using an invalid credit card and now AA has stated that it does not want you as a member
Booking once or twice using an invalid card could be accidental ; this seems that it was deliberate
If this is the case, not sure why you think that AA's actions are unfair
Booking once or twice using an invalid card could be accidental ; this seems that it was deliberate
If this is the case, not sure why you think that AA's actions are unfair
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,269
Let’s not mince words. You knew exactly what you were doing. You taunted the bull for three years and finally got the horns.
#22
Join Date: May 2010
Location: YLMQ
Programs: QF Gold, WY Gold
Posts: 682
It sounds like you may have committed fraud, although their calculation for damages is questionable. Flexible tickets are generally priced higher than a normal or saver ticket, therefore you have found an unethical way to leverage some flexibility. It would be prudent to determine how close to departure some of the trips have 'cancelled' and if any have cancelled on the day of departure or through no show?
You probably should contact them in writing with a good explanation or perhaps contact a lawyer and spend a few hundred dollars for them to draft an appropriate letter for you.
You probably should contact them in writing with a good explanation or perhaps contact a lawyer and spend a few hundred dollars for them to draft an appropriate letter for you.
#24
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 372
If you for some reason really want to keep your aadvantage account I suggest you tell them that you pay the amount as prepaid airpass so you get to actually use the value in travel. They might bite. Though hard to see the value here unless you have millions of unused miles in your account.
#25
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
I am struggling to understand how someone could think it was acceptable to an airline to have an invalid credit card on file in order to hold tickets and the fares. And then complain it took 3 years for the airline to detect the problem.
With over a hundred million passengers annually it takes time for unusual behavior to be detected.
I would not like my clients to give me a deposit by check on a closed account so I block out time for a project but they want to continue to shop around or change their mind while I hold the time for them.
How could this behavior be rationalized?
With over a hundred million passengers annually it takes time for unusual behavior to be detected.
I would not like my clients to give me a deposit by check on a closed account so I block out time for a project but they want to continue to shop around or change their mind while I hold the time for them.
How could this behavior be rationalized?
#26
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,353
I think AA's position here is pretty simple -- OP agreed to purchase nonrefundable tickets and owed the amount agreed to. The fact that OP gave an invalid credit card number makes it harder for AA to collect, but doesn't change that agreement. Not really much different than if OP gave a store a forged $100 bill for nonreturnable products, planning to either come back and exchange it for a valid $100 if he really wants to keep them, or to just say "Sorry, here's your nonreturnable product back" instead of paying.
#27
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Owner of 2,000 TWA shares
Posts: 812
The stove is hot. Don't touch. Don't touch. Don't touch.You touched. I think it's interesting that AA has put a price ($21k) on continuing it's relationship with you. AA and their customers continue to find unique ways to get under each other's skin. That's gotta be worth sort of new award decal on the side of the plane.
#29
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,274
You knew you cancelled the credit card, why not update your account with your new payment method and avoid this issue? All of this could be avoided with a small amount of personal responsibility.
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 29,993