My travel agent says I need to pay him back some commission?

Question

Under any circumstances, do I pay my TA?

I have not signed any agreement with him at all, but after receiving a discount from the cruise line (not the TA), he said he thinks they may have discounted me more and I may have to pay back some of the commission. I know that if the cost of my cruise goes down, their commission goes down, but that doesn't mean I fork out the money for their commission. How do I get around this? I don't want to p**s them off and cancel my booking. What if I just said "I would be more comfortable if you work it out with the cruiseline and not with me". ?

Answer 1

That does not sound right to me either... You may be responsible for a fee that is charged all people, but if you found a better price or the cruise line offered him one and consequently reduced his comission from them, I can not imagine that you would be responsible for "making up" the amount that he is now not going to make because there is a better deal out there.

You can always book the trip yourself and save that way as well. DO be sure to ask another travel agent about this if no one else responds to this question. You can also call a consumer advice line as well.

http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/publicati...

http://community.lawyers.com/messageboar...

Answer 2

Every cost should be on paper from the beggining , don`t pay him cash or a tip not specified in the travel cost.

Answer 3

Tell him you will do some office work like dusting or something

Answer 4

If they really made a mistake with the commission, which is about 15%, then I guess it is up to you. He may have marked it down more than 15% and is actually losing money.

He can't legally get it from you and if he cancels the reservation I don't know what you could do other than sue him. By the time any lawsuit is settled the trip would be long gone.

Answer 5

Call the better business bureau and do business elsewhere.

Answer 6

Why would you agree to pay him back for an agreement that isn't documented?

Answer 7

Alright, I'm a travel agent and I see what's going on.  Basically your travel agent worked to find you a cruise (or you called and asked him) and at the same time you were talking to the cruise line directly.  They gave you a discount and you cut your agent out.  Just to let you know, we make a living selling travel.  It's not cool when clients do that.  Trust me.  I understand why you do it, but if you're going to do that, why get us involved from the beginning?

If you travel agent informed you there was a planning fee, then that's what you'd pay.   HOWEVER, a travel agent cannot demand that you pay them the commission.  Commission for what? That's stupid.

If you want, you can authorize the cruise line to turn the booking over to the agent.  You may need to fax a letter over.  That way the agent can handle your booking for you and will get some sort of compensation with the cruise line.  

Also, cruise lines are not supposed to discount cruises to one person and not to another.  Most of them will NOT do this anymore because they want to make $$$$$.  So be careful.

Good luck and enjoy your cruise.

Oh and if you booked something with the cruise line directly, a travel agent cannot call with your name and cancel your cruise.  That's the same if you booked with me...your other agent cannot call and cancel that cruise.  They wouldn't even be able to get info on the cruise.  That's a way to protect you and your privacy.

Answer 8

I think I just answered your other question.  

1. If you are contracted with a TA and have a confirmation that shows you need to pay X amount of dollars and you did that then you should not owe him anything.  Keep that confirmation.

2. If there is a price drop most cruise lines will only prorate you cost if you are outside of final payment.  If they offer this rate to you, you are not required to pay your TA the difference in commission.  Commissions are paid by the cruise from the amount that you pay.  You should not be paying any higher prices that what the cruise line offers.

3. Cruise lines have made contracts with travel agents that they can not work with you if you are booked through a travel agent.  This is to protect the cruise line and the TA.

I would suggest contacting the manager or supervisor of the travel agency.  Keep all confirmations and emails or any other written confirmation that you have and fight it.  Unless the TA says there are commission you pay upon making a reseravtion then you owe them nothing.  Tell the cruise line that you need to speak with a supervisor and see if you can transfer the reseravtion back to them so that no commission is involved.  The line can not do anything about him making you pay more, but they can assist you with transferring the booking if it is not paid in full.

Answer 9

Did he get you the discount though, through the cruiseline??  If so he already knows about his commission.  Cruiselines can not talk commission with a passenger.  Its agaisnt the rules.  Ive seen may corupt TAs since i have worked with the biggest cruise company.  He will still get his commission from the cruise agency.  You dont have to pay him anything extra.

Answer 10

It honestly sounds as if he's trying to s***w you out of money.

Answer 11

they are paid a commission from the cruise line not from you.  Once the booking is in place they cannot cancel it since the tickets are non refundable.  Unless you signed a contract with him or you had to pay him a membership fee then you are fine.  I have been on four cruises and never had a problem.  And just to let you know 95% of the time you can get a better rate online

Answer 12

Hmm.  Never heard of that before.  I'd probably have the same reaction.

Answer 13

h**l no.  And I'd contact the cruiseline to let them know he is doing this.  He's being sneaky and you don't owe him a thing.  His commission contract with with the cruise line, not you.  Perhaps the cruise line can flag your booking to make sure he does not mess around with it / cancel it.

Answer 14

I wouldn't pay the TA anything. I think he's trying to scam ya.

Answer 15

Get some consumer advice.