Our passports were lost by FedEx on Saturday morning.
All that I could think of was...THANK GOD WE WEREN'T LEAVING FOR OUR COURTDATE!
After 6 hours of waiting, our passports were finally found and shipped to the closest FedEx Hub. Just 3 hours shy of our plane tickets being able to be switched to a Sunday departure.
I talked to several people at FedEx and begged, pleaded, and cried for help. We waited one time, 1 hour for a call back and when we got it, it was a manager saying that it was lost....somewhere in Tennessee with no tracking at all to be found.
I can't tell you how much $ and time we've lost, but it's alot!
I have to say that I'm pretty upset at our travel agency Russian-American Consulting, which I've never used before. They made the plane and visa arrangements. They told me to send it on date "X" and that the visas would arrive Nov. 30th. Knowing that we were leaving on the 1st (because they also made our flight arrangements), they failed to send the passports/visas out on time, but assured me that a 9:30am pick-up at the FedEx Hub was fine (on the 1st just 3.5 hours before our flight)..."People have to do it all the time!" I actually had a very funny feeling about it once I heard that the visa's weren't sent on time.
I also can't tell you what a big emotional toll this has taken on me. It took so much for me to get up the courage to take this trip...without my family. I was totally packed and on my way to the airport, totally prepared to go to Russia.
I actually had a mini-panic attack that morning at about 4am. It's just so hard to leave, but I knew in my heart that this was a good thing for me to do. AND I was excited to do it!
Anyway, I don't really know where to go from here. I could tell that the person who planned the trip was very upset that we wouldn't re-buy tickets...$2800.00 last minute tickets. (granted our original tickets were just $900.00). I know alot was riding on us going and helping, but we just couldn't justify spending this kind of $ to volunteer...volunteer ourselves to this cause. We had already put our jobs, family, lots of $, and ourselves on the line for the cause. It was asking just too much.
I guess I'm venting a little, but at the same time I guess I would love to hear some feedback. What would you do in this situation...?
Plan to go on another date.
Cut our loses and move on.
Do you think the Travel Agency and the Fed Ex people need to held accountable?
I just need to hear what you all think.
We do have a phone conference with FedEx tomorrow morning.
Jen
4 comments:
How horribly dissappointing.
So sorry.
It does seem like the travel agency or fedex should somehow be accountable.
If it were me, I'd pursue that. I'd also try to go again a different time. But, I don't think I'd have been willing to fork over $2800 last minute either. Did you have some sort of travel insurance?
OMG Jen,
Gosh I am so sorry! How frustrating and horrilbe.
Yes Fedx should absolutely be responsible and the travel agency! Who has and extra $2800 right now after already doing the adoption and the holidays.
Please keep us informed of the outcome.
I also can't believe the person who scheduled the trip would be upset that you wouldn't pay that either, if it was not a big deal, why didn't they pay?
hugs,
Laura
OMG - I agree it's horrible. I'm so sorry for your disappointment. You must have been just beside your self.
Go after Fed Ex and your travel service. You may need to make some noise to get any compensation but it does happen. Fed Ex lost two competition bikes on the way back from France for my client. I made a very, very, very loud noise for a long time. Eventually the bikes were found, all charges (thousands of dollars) were refunded and Fed Ex gave us a shipping credit. Go get 'em. Perhaps the travel agency can get you a complimentary flight for another date -- they owe you that.
Ronda
OMG!!!! That is horrible. I'm so sorry this has happened. I know you must be very disappointed.
If it were me, I'd want to try to go at another time. BUT right now, wouldn't be feasable. $2800 is a lot of money... I don't care who you are. I agree with Laura, I can't believe the person who scheduled the trip is upset with you for not going. I understand that they were counting on you, but really, they have to understand. It's not as if you just changed your mind.
FEDEX and the travel agency should definitely be held accountable, but I'm not sure how that could happen.
Please keep us posted! Again, I'm so sorry you missed your trip.
Post a Comment