Greyhound Ripoff!
May 12, 2009 | 8:28 am
#1
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Greyhound Ripoff!
Greyhound Lines is apparently engaging in some less than honest billing to enhance their bottom line. Yesterday I booked a one way trip for my mother-in-law from San Diego to San Bernardino. I put the $22.00 ticket on my credit card as she had left her purse in her guest room. After booking the fare I received an e-mail confirmation - for the $22.00 PLUS an $18.00 "Guest Ticket Fee"!! There was no mention of any such fee during the booking process. When I immediately called Greyhound Customer Service - I was informed that this fee is "standard" whenever a ticket is paid for by someone other than the traveler - and that since it was a non-refundable fare - I was simply out of luck. Hmmmm. A word to the wise............
May 12, 2009 | 8:43 am
#2
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We're going to switch this thread to TravelBuzz! where it's perhaps more apropos.
Please follow at it's new location.
Thanks.
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Cholula
CommunityBuzz! Co-Moderator
Please follow at it's new location.
Thanks.
___________________
Cholula
CommunityBuzz! Co-Moderator
May 12, 2009 | 9:03 am
#4
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When I go to their site to book a ticket, the initial fare display shows the price ($26.50 for my date) and there's a choice to select "Is the credit card holder traveling?". There's no indication of the effect of that selection. But when I choose "no" and click to purchase, on the credit card info page right above the purchase button, it clearly shows:
The info page says
Yes, it's an absurd fee, but it is disclosed (relatively clearly) before purchase.
Purchase Price
Subtotal: $26.50
Gift Ticket Fee: $18.00
Total: $44.50
Subtotal: $26.50
Gift Ticket Fee: $18.00
Total: $44.50
Credit card holder not traveling: The reference number and valid photo ID are required to pick up tickets. As an option, you can create a pick-up password for the traveler to use as ID when picking up the tickets. Please arrive at the counter at least one hour before departure to receive your ticket and check luggage, if applicable.
A non-refundable gift ticket fee is applied to each Will Call transaction where the credit card holder purchasing tickets is not traveling on that trip.
A non-refundable gift ticket fee is applied to each Will Call transaction where the credit card holder purchasing tickets is not traveling on that trip.
May 12, 2009 | 9:12 am
#5
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May 12, 2009 | 9:35 am
#6
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The fee probably pays for the amount of fraud they encounter on bus tickets paid for by credit card and collected by someone else....
With such a huge fee, nobody would pay it unless they had someone elses card!
With such a huge fee, nobody would pay it unless they had someone elses card!
May 12, 2009 | 1:14 pm
#7
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May 12, 2009 | 3:02 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 297
this is stupid...i dont think processing someone who is not the card holder is that bad...after all...you could just show up at the station, get the ticket witout the fee and then hand it over to someone elce....
im suprised that they are trying to pull this .... off...
im suprised that they are trying to pull this .... off...
May 13, 2009 | 9:22 am
#11
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Complete nonsense and bad business. A fee that is proportionately that large as compared to the fare should be displayed in large letters to the consumer prior to purchase. 
Greyhound
Greyhound
May 13, 2009 | 10:44 am
#12
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Is Greyhound following the business model of a certain airline based in Tempe, AZ?
May 14, 2009 | 10:24 am
#14
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There are plenty of reasons why using Greyhound may have been the best option in this case. A $22 bus ticket versus making a three-hour round-trip? I'll bet a lot of people would buy the bus ticket.
Obviously the OP ended up paying more than $22, which makes the choice less attractive. That said, I'm inclined to agree with those who point out that the extra fee was properly disclosed. I don't feel that it's a fair fee to charge, but I do feel that it is made known in advance.